Christopher E. Martin (born March 21, 1966), better known as DJ Premier (or… Read Full Bio ↴Christopher E. Martin (born March 21, 1966), better known as DJ Premier (or Primo by his fans, fellow musicians, and critics), is a prominent American hip hop producer and DJ, and the instrumental half of the duos Gang Starr and PRhyme.
Contrary to popular belief, he did not found nor even co-found Gang Starr.
He was introduced to DJing while attending school at Prairie View A&M in Houston, Texas. DJ Premier's original stage name was Waxmaster C, the "C" taken from his first name, Chris, although he had already changed it to DJ Premier at the time he joined Gang Starr.
Considered by many fans to be one of the greatest hip hop producers, DJ Premier has produced countless tracks, for many groups and solo artists since the early 1990s. These include notable tracks for artists such as Jay-Z ("D'Evils", "So Ghetto"), Big L ("The Enemy"), The Notorious B.I.G. ("Unbelievable", "Kick In The Door", "Ten Crack Commandments"), Nas ("N.Y. State of Mind", "Nas Is Like"), Pitch Black ("It's All Real"), M.O.P. ("Downtown Swinga"), Jeru the Damaja ("Come Clean", "My Mind Spray"), KRS-One ("MC's Act Like They Don't Know"), Mos Def ("Mathematics"), Non Phixion ("Rockstars"), and Royce da 5'9" ("Boom").(Full list: djpremiertrackology.8kilo.com)
Collaborations
Outside of Gang Starr, some of Premier's most lauded work is his collaborations with Jeru the Damaja and Group Home. With the former, Premier crafted one of the East Coast's landmark albums in the form of The Sun Rises in the East, released in 1994. Their follow up to this, 1996's Wrath of the Math, was regarded as a solid effort but not on par with its predecessor, although it did contain Jeru's biggest hit to date, "Ya Playin' Yaself". Group Home's Livin' Proof (1995), although greatly overlooked at the time of its release, has eventually come to be critically acclaimed.
In 1994, DJ Premier collaborated extensively with jazz musician Branford Marsalis's experimental group, Buckshot Lefonque, for their debut album. During the making of music video director, Hype Williams' 1998 film, Belly, DJ Premier collaborated with neo soul leader D'Angelo for a song called "Devil's Pie", which was originally intended only for the film's accompanying soundtrack. However D'Angelo soon changed his mind and decided to include the song on his sophomore album Voodoo (2000) In 2006 he co-produced Christina Aguilera's Back To Basics album.
Samples
DJ Premier's style of production epitomises the New York sound from his earlier peers. He is known for sampling jazz, funk, and soul artists, as well as sampling an artist's past work, when he is creating a new track for that same artist. In addition, his photographic memory of rap lyrics allows him to distinctively "speak with his hands" by scratching in lyrics from several different songs to construct new phrases [1]. Premier's non-Gang Starr collaborations are well-known for his often-imitated signature of combining short vocal samples, often from multiple artists, to create a chorus. For example, for the chorus of Mos Def's "Mathematics", Premier cuts, in quick succession:
"The Mighty Mos Def..." (from Mos Def's "Body Rock"),
"It's simple mathematics" (from Fat Joe's "John Blaze"),
"I revolve around science..." (from Ghostface Killah's verse on Raekwon's "Criminology"),
"What are we talking about here..." (unknown origin),
"Do your math.." (from Erykah Badu's "On & On"), and
"One, two, three, four" (from James Brown's "Funky Drummer")
On certain artists' work the vocal samples will all be vocal samples of the artist from the artists' past work; "Nas Is Like" and "2nd Childhood" with Nas are two well-known examples of this.
On Jeru the Damaja's "Physical Stamina," however, Premier sampled and chopped up recordings of seminal electro-acoustic music from the 1960s.
Melodies
Premier usually creates a two-bar melody that repeats itself throughout the song. The aim of this is to showcase the MC's skills by bringing focus away from the beat, while creating the song's mood and a solid backdrop. Premier often changes speeds, filters and chops his breaks and adds scope to the melody with chimes and strings.
He has also shown innovation by playing rarely-used elements into a rap song (such as the xylophones on Biggie's "Kick in the Door" or the ambient nature sounds on Nas' "Nas is Like"), and his wide range of instruments (the piano loop on Jay-Z's "D'Evils" versus the strings on Rakim's "New York (Ya Out There?") and production techniques (he played the melody backwards during the second half of Jay-Z's "A Million and One Questions (Rhyme No More)").
Drums
Premier's drums have been known for complimenting his melodies. For example, during Nas' "NY State of Mind", two bars have a simple round of kicks and snares; in the following two, a complementing second set of drums plays out. This is repeated throughout.
Label ownership and future projects
DJ Premier currently owns two record labels. "Year Round Records" was founded in 2002 and has so far released several DJ Premier mixtapes as well as two 12" vinyl singles for NYG'z and Blaq Poet. "Works Of Mart", which is also the name of his publishing company, was founded in mid 2006 and released 12" vinyl singles for artists Tef (aka Teflon) and F.A.B.I.D. (H. Stax and Mike Rone).
Since 2001, DJ Premier mentioned several times the plan to release a solo album entitled "A Man Of Few Words", which has yet to be released. Other confirmed upcoming projects are a full-length colaboration with Nas, Blaq Poet's long delayed album "The Best That Never Did It", Tef's (aka Teflon) long announced album "Contraband" and last but not least protegés NYG'z long delayed debut album "Pros and Cons".
Contrary to popular belief, he did not found nor even co-found Gang Starr.
He was introduced to DJing while attending school at Prairie View A&M in Houston, Texas. DJ Premier's original stage name was Waxmaster C, the "C" taken from his first name, Chris, although he had already changed it to DJ Premier at the time he joined Gang Starr.
Considered by many fans to be one of the greatest hip hop producers, DJ Premier has produced countless tracks, for many groups and solo artists since the early 1990s. These include notable tracks for artists such as Jay-Z ("D'Evils", "So Ghetto"), Big L ("The Enemy"), The Notorious B.I.G. ("Unbelievable", "Kick In The Door", "Ten Crack Commandments"), Nas ("N.Y. State of Mind", "Nas Is Like"), Pitch Black ("It's All Real"), M.O.P. ("Downtown Swinga"), Jeru the Damaja ("Come Clean", "My Mind Spray"), KRS-One ("MC's Act Like They Don't Know"), Mos Def ("Mathematics"), Non Phixion ("Rockstars"), and Royce da 5'9" ("Boom").(Full list: djpremiertrackology.8kilo.com)
Collaborations
Outside of Gang Starr, some of Premier's most lauded work is his collaborations with Jeru the Damaja and Group Home. With the former, Premier crafted one of the East Coast's landmark albums in the form of The Sun Rises in the East, released in 1994. Their follow up to this, 1996's Wrath of the Math, was regarded as a solid effort but not on par with its predecessor, although it did contain Jeru's biggest hit to date, "Ya Playin' Yaself". Group Home's Livin' Proof (1995), although greatly overlooked at the time of its release, has eventually come to be critically acclaimed.
In 1994, DJ Premier collaborated extensively with jazz musician Branford Marsalis's experimental group, Buckshot Lefonque, for their debut album. During the making of music video director, Hype Williams' 1998 film, Belly, DJ Premier collaborated with neo soul leader D'Angelo for a song called "Devil's Pie", which was originally intended only for the film's accompanying soundtrack. However D'Angelo soon changed his mind and decided to include the song on his sophomore album Voodoo (2000) In 2006 he co-produced Christina Aguilera's Back To Basics album.
Samples
DJ Premier's style of production epitomises the New York sound from his earlier peers. He is known for sampling jazz, funk, and soul artists, as well as sampling an artist's past work, when he is creating a new track for that same artist. In addition, his photographic memory of rap lyrics allows him to distinctively "speak with his hands" by scratching in lyrics from several different songs to construct new phrases [1]. Premier's non-Gang Starr collaborations are well-known for his often-imitated signature of combining short vocal samples, often from multiple artists, to create a chorus. For example, for the chorus of Mos Def's "Mathematics", Premier cuts, in quick succession:
"The Mighty Mos Def..." (from Mos Def's "Body Rock"),
"It's simple mathematics" (from Fat Joe's "John Blaze"),
"I revolve around science..." (from Ghostface Killah's verse on Raekwon's "Criminology"),
"What are we talking about here..." (unknown origin),
"Do your math.." (from Erykah Badu's "On & On"), and
"One, two, three, four" (from James Brown's "Funky Drummer")
On certain artists' work the vocal samples will all be vocal samples of the artist from the artists' past work; "Nas Is Like" and "2nd Childhood" with Nas are two well-known examples of this.
On Jeru the Damaja's "Physical Stamina," however, Premier sampled and chopped up recordings of seminal electro-acoustic music from the 1960s.
Melodies
Premier usually creates a two-bar melody that repeats itself throughout the song. The aim of this is to showcase the MC's skills by bringing focus away from the beat, while creating the song's mood and a solid backdrop. Premier often changes speeds, filters and chops his breaks and adds scope to the melody with chimes and strings.
He has also shown innovation by playing rarely-used elements into a rap song (such as the xylophones on Biggie's "Kick in the Door" or the ambient nature sounds on Nas' "Nas is Like"), and his wide range of instruments (the piano loop on Jay-Z's "D'Evils" versus the strings on Rakim's "New York (Ya Out There?") and production techniques (he played the melody backwards during the second half of Jay-Z's "A Million and One Questions (Rhyme No More)").
Drums
Premier's drums have been known for complimenting his melodies. For example, during Nas' "NY State of Mind", two bars have a simple round of kicks and snares; in the following two, a complementing second set of drums plays out. This is repeated throughout.
Label ownership and future projects
DJ Premier currently owns two record labels. "Year Round Records" was founded in 2002 and has so far released several DJ Premier mixtapes as well as two 12" vinyl singles for NYG'z and Blaq Poet. "Works Of Mart", which is also the name of his publishing company, was founded in mid 2006 and released 12" vinyl singles for artists Tef (aka Teflon) and F.A.B.I.D. (H. Stax and Mike Rone).
Since 2001, DJ Premier mentioned several times the plan to release a solo album entitled "A Man Of Few Words", which has yet to be released. Other confirmed upcoming projects are a full-length colaboration with Nas, Blaq Poet's long delayed album "The Best That Never Did It", Tef's (aka Teflon) long announced album "Contraband" and last but not least protegés NYG'z long delayed debut album "Pros and Cons".
I'm Good
DJ Premier Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'I'm Good' by these artists:
11:11 Ain't nothin' else here better to do (ain't none better) Ain…
28. David Guetta I'm good, yeah, I'm feelin' alright Baby, I'ma have the best…
40 Akerz feat. Q. Parker All the things that I want in life It could all…
A-wall Well i'm good, I'm good, I'm gray I just had a…
A.R. SKIP Hmmmmm Yeah yeahee yeah It feels better when you talk to me …
Abby Anderson No more rackin' my brain wonderin' what I did wrong No…
Abstract & Drumma Battalion You're no hero So don't act like it And please don't treat…
Amir Obe I'm good, I'm good, I'm good, I'll always be good I'm…
Amir Obè Feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR I'm good, I'm good, I'm good, I'll always be good I'm…
Amir Obe PARTYNEXTDOOR I'm good, I'm good, I'm good, I'll always be good I'm…
Amplify Dot You can probably tell from the Attitude I got it them…
Ashton Shepherd You call me up to tell me that you're sorry,…
B-Phraze You stole my heart and I want it back I fell…
B.Hill Hold up Momma just called Said i'm good Dad on the phone Sai…
Bebe Rexha & David Guetta I'm good, yeah, I'm feelin' alright Baby, I'ma have the best…
Blaque Yeah Uh huh New Blaque Darckchild, Darkchizzle The jump …
Blaque Ivory Yeah Uh New Blaque Darckchild, Darkchizzle The jump o…
Bucky Covington Got my eye on the deacon's daughter But I'm diesel fuel,…
Busta Rhymes You can probably tell from the Attitude I got it them…
Cam The Artist Sipping henny with my momma, chopping up All the doubts…
Charles A. Kelly Woke up this mornin' feelin' fine There's somethin' special …
Clara Kent I'm good, I'm good, I'm good, I'm good I'm good, I'm…
Clipse Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You can find …
Clipse (Feat. Rick Ross & Pharrell) Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You …
Clipse feat. Pharrell Williams Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You can find …
Clipse Featuring Pharrell & Ab-Liva Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You …
Clipse featuring Pharrell Williams Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You can find …
Clipse Ft Pharell Williams Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You …
Clipse ft Pharrell Williams Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You can find …
Clipse Ft Rick Ross & Pharrell Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You …
Clipse ft. Pharrell Williams Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You can find …
Clipse Ft. Rick Ross & Pharrell Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You …
Clipse Pharrell Williams Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You can find …
Clipse/Pharrell Williams Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You …
Covington Bucky Got my eye on the deacon's daughter But I'm diesel fuel,…
Crown J I look so good Yellow diamonds on my neck I'm Gucci, Louis,…
Cupido I'm good, yeah, I'm feelin' alright Baby, I&#…
D.NO 네가 없는 하루가 지났어 딱히 달라질 것 없는 하루가 갔어 이제 지워보려…
Danny McCartney I'm good, yeah, I'm feelin' alright Baby, I'ma have the best…
David Guetta Bebe Rexha R3HAB I′m good, yeah, I'm feeling alright Baby, I′ma have the best…
David Guetta feat. Bebe Rexha I'm good, yeah, I'm feelin' alright Baby, I'ma have the best…
David Guetta LUDMILLA LIT killah Bebe Rexha Sábado é dia de alegria Quem gosta de ousadia Joga as…
David Guetta&Bebe Rexha I'm good, yeah, I'm feelin' alright Baby, I'ma have the best…
Dizzy Fae I'm Good (lyrics) Don't tell me It's easy It's okay if it's…
DJ Format (Transcribed by Rishijin) -Verse 1- I'm good But I pr…
Dr. Awkward I'm the Shadowstrider, watch me glide Through the darkest al…
Ebony Loren I've been out of my head Can't get out of bed Too…
Elsie feat. K.Will When it rains I think of you When all them nights…
En Vogue I made it all back down today Glad I can finally…
Erin Reese I'm Good Calderon, Frank, Miley White lies Broke ties all …
Eun Jung [feat. K.Will] When it rains I think of you When all them nights…
Glaceo I'm good, yeah, I'm feelin' alright Baby, I'ma have the best…
Good Band Oh I'm good I'm too good, it's true There's so much I…
Griz Ha ha! Oh shit, my bad Tell 'em how it is, yeah! Oh,…
Grynch Feat. Sol I aint givin up I aint givin up I aint givin up Im…
hilltop hoods I've been better, I'm in bed and I'm embedded, man, I…
Honey Yeah Uh huh New blaque Darkchild, darkchizzle The jump o…
Huego Call my phone you got my digits on stock Grey CL…
J Molley Deep in the cut Six feet underground Eight stacks for the pa…
Jack Harlow Wondering how the fuck this shit gon' pan out All my…
jamare’on Everything is feeling right House on the hills and the grass…
Jay Prince The crowd live with it Late night, it's gonna sleep Tryina r…
Jessica-Jade I'm a good girl I don't have any tattoos I'm a good…
Jibran You're so cringe when you sing it Just stings in my…
Joey Trap Akachi in this mother fucker yo', I told you I already…
Johnny Winter I'm good, y'all know I'm good I'm good, you know I'm…
K Camp When it rains I think of you When all them nights…
K Flay Hopped in the back of a car, accepted an offer To…
K-Drama & MC Till When it rains I think of you When all them nights…
K.Flay Hopped in the back of a car, accepted an offer To…
K.Flay Audiotree When it rains I think of you When all them nights…
KamB.I.N.O. I'm good in any hood that I go to I'm doing…
Katie Keller It used to be Like when you′re turned to me I don't…
KJ-52 & Goldinchild My alarm start going off at 545 I can barely…
Landon Tewers If I don't catch a break If I'm in seventh place Trust…
Lecrae ft. Trip Lee I hear the drummers coming for me death is at…
Lenisha Nelson you know you messed up, oh baby so i heard u…
LeToya Bet you remember how I Used to put it down…
LeToya Luckett (feat. Ebony Eyez) Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo…
Letoya Luckett feat. Lil' Jon & Ebiny Eyez Did you remember how i used to put it down…
Levi Riggs I'm not good at waking up early n doin' my…
Lil Wayne Feat The Weeknd Uh Uh No Ceilings, nigga Got T in here, Fuque in here Street…
Lil Wayne Feat. T-Streets Everything I said I do, I did I'm good, I'm good Everythin…
Lil Wayne ft Meek Mill Uh Uh No Ceilings, nigga Got T in here, Fuque in here Street…
Lil Wayne ft The Weeknd Everything I said I do, I did I'm good, I'm good Everythin…
Lil Wayne Ft. Meek Mill [Verse One - Lil Wayne] Okay, Boston Red Sox cap, I…
Lil Wayne [Feat. Lucci Lou] Uh Uh No Ceilings, nigga Got T in here, Fuque in here Street…
Lil' Wayne [Verse One - Lil Wayne] Okay, Boston Red Sox cap, I…
Lil' Wayne feat. Meek Mill Uh Uh No Ceilings, nigga Got T in here, Fuque in here Street…
Lil' Wayne ft. Meek Mill Everything I said I do, I did I'm good, I'm good Everythin…
Lucci Lou Uh Uh No Ceilings, nigga Got T in here, Fuque in here Street…
Luke Goliath I spent seconds Bleeding into hours over you baby Yeah we ha…
MAR-K [feat. Ty Juan & GGC] From the heavens you looked down and called me good So…
MC Till & K-Drama When it rains I think of you When all them nights…
Meek Mill I'm so fucking awesome - my marbles I lost 'em i'm…
Millic The fruit don't hang too far from the tree She might…
Miranda Joan Got some friends Having good food Got this good music In a g…
Mook TBG Its Mook I been up all night I ain’t sleep in like…
Natalie jane Thanks (thanks) For telling me that you never felt this way …
Nick Graves Yeah Nah forreal It's the first track off the album The Come…
No Suits I'm good She good We good It's all good And thats good That'…
PARTYNEXTDOOR Fuck around and get rich fuckin' with OVO Might get another…
Pia Toscano I put my heart out on my sleeve I was naked…
PRINCELY Turn my headphones up cight cool Yea yea yea I…
Rafael Casal Better put em' up let me get a little more Rhythm…
Retro Pak You're no hero So don't act like it And please don't treat…
Rick Ross Feat. The Clipse & Pharell Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You can find …
Rico M.O.B You stole my heart and I want it back I fell…
RJ Benjamin So good, yeah Something's gotta give Working all night just…
S.L.M. Yo when the rain comes I like it a lot This cemetery…
Sal Ly I′m steadily changing, He's making me better I′m turning a n…
Sam Rui Don′t nobody understand it Trying to kick my bad habit Of si…
ScHoolboy Q As a younger age, never really gave a shit Just my…
Shantal You don’t know me So stop telling me what’s good for…
Sickick I don't need your help I'm good, I'm good How can you…
Snotty Nose Rez Kids The kids up feelin′ like a million bucks Aye, aye Catchin' d…
Sofia Loell To my life experience I would like to add All my freaked…
Tano Mark I ain’t been myself since last December (no, nope) Don’t ask…
Tedashii I ain't stressing I ain't stressing nah Feeling real good ab…
The Clipse & Pharell Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You can find …
The Clipse feat. Pharell Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You …
The Clipse Feat. Pharrell Williams Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You can find …
The Clipse feat. Rick Ross Yeah, Yeah, haha Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, haha ow! You …
The Mowgli's I'm good, I'm good, I'm good, I'm good Living life just…
the weeknd feat. lil wayne Uh Uh No Ceilings, nigga Got T in here, Fuque in here Street…
Tim Bowman Jr People say Tim Yo You're my hero How you doing? How you stay…
Tony Laf Yeh..... Alright.... When friends and family come around an…
Trae G'eah, ha ha hey real shit let's go J-O-D-Y, AKA the…
Trip Lee I hear the drummers coming for me death is at…
Wafia I'm good without my baby, better without him I was so…
Way 2 Fast I'm good, yeah, I'm feelin' alright Baby, I&#…
Wiz Khalifa Verse 1- Yeaa Im G - O - O......D Ya…
YG First off this beat bang Ask around I'm the muthafuckin' man…
Z-Ro I don't think I even got to introduce myself King of…
We have lyrics for these tracks by DJ Premier:
100 to 1 In city shoes, Of clueless blues, Pays the views, And no-man…
2 LOVIN U I pled my case with the Gods, woman Just place your…
Beat Breaks Ayy, yo, Nas, you know what I wanna do? Let's take…
Book of Rhymes I don't smile, I don't frown, get two up or…
Change At the end of 1974, when daddy dukes went raw The…
Dear Hip Hop This shit's special DJ Khaled! And if I cry two tears for…
dj premier 19-motherfuckin' 1985, I arrived 33 years, damn, I'm gratef…
Get Down ("Get nothin' but a beat down!") Refrain 4x Punks jump…
Head Over Wheels I guess I troop, honey, what the scoop? You're kinda…
Headlines Okay (okay) Yeah You know what's up, nigga (My team) living …
Hip Hop This shit's special DJ Khaled! And if I cry two tears for…
Hold The City Down "I got to hold down the city" "Got to let you…
I Damn, here we go again Common passed on this beat I made…
Lettin' Off Steam Joey Bad and Big Preem and we lettin' off steam And…
Mortgage Free What up Preem? That nigga Statik told me start sayin' 2…
Our Streets Ferg, Ferg Check it, check it, check it Pull up, pull up,…
Premier 19-motherfuckin' 1985, I arrived 33 years, damn, I'm gratef…
Remy Rap With the def female Let's rap Remy Ma No lie, it's only…
Runway That ol' real shit, that ol' real shit, that ol'…
Sing Like Bilal [Joell Ortiz] (Sample Of Lil' Fame) Uh! Uh! Y-Y, Y-Y-Y-YAOOO…
Terrible 2's Run your, run your Run your, run your damn jewels Run your,…
The Life It's always about money, It's always about money because... …
The Premier 19-motherfuckin' 1985, I arrived 33 years, damn, I'm gratef…
The root of all You know this ain't a game to us My future's lookin'…
WUT U SAID Yo what's good two time? What up g'z how were you? Ain't…
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