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".
Our Streets
DJ Premier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Check it, check it, check it
Pull up, pull up, pull up
Yo what up, neph', neph'?
(See this is Harlem, these our streets)
Turn the music back up
A$AP
Let's go
I got with Primo, I'm just pressin' the cheat code
We on a new level with the C-notes
I'm from where kids hustled on the block and rolled cee-lo
And niggas stay strapped like Girbauds
T-Nice with me week to week though
Life was different when they got him for that R.I.C.O
For a couple kilos
Coulda had 'em underground, he was livin' life illegal
Now he gettin' right and our pockets lookin' chicho
Sippin' cappuccino on a jet to Cannes
Couple models gettin' lit, they the best in France
Got Leonardo dough, catch me if you can
We had to kill Beijing and next Japan, man
This beat hot, I could catch a tan
My demographic in L.A. all Mexican
I love my supporters, they keep the check in hand
So every time I get a chance, I'ma bless the fam
What up, what up?
Check it, check it, check it
Pull up, pull up, pull up
Yo what up, neph', neph'?
(See this is Harlem, these our streets)
Turn the music back up
A$AP
Check it, check it, check it
Pull up, pull up, pull up
Yo what up, neph', neph'?
(See this is Harlem, these our streets)
Turn the music back up
A$AP
Done created a dream world, slept with my dream girl
Bought mama that new house, diamonds and mean pearls
Done went to Africa, talked to the have-nots
Donated some uniforms, teach 'em how to have guap
Primo put the soul in it, I make the track hot
And this thing forever, got the game in a padlock
I just want somethin' real, I'm tired of the ass shots
Don't wanna go to the club, I'm tired of them trap spots
My generation's stuck on stupid
Showin' guns on the 'Gram, but no one use it
Sometimes I feel like I'm about to lose it
Because the fake win when y'all know what the truth is
It's me, the F-E-R to the fuckin' G
My bars is Gang Starr, nobody can fuck with me
Rest in peace Guru, nobody can fuck with he
You rappers is coocoo, better wake up out your fuckin' dream
Check it, check it, check it
Pull up, pull up, pull up
Yo what up, neph', neph'?
(See this is Harlem, these our streets)
Turn the music back up
A$AP
Check it, check it, check it
Pull up, pull up, pull up
Yo what up, neph', neph'?
(See this is Harlem, these our streets)
Turn the music back up
A$AP
A$AP
A$AP
A$AP
The lyrics to DJ Premier's song Our Streets tell a story of the rapper's experiences growing up in Harlem, New York, and his present-day life as a successful artist. Ferg begins with a shoutout to his hometown, acknowledging that the streets he grew up on shape who he is today. He then brags about his collaboration with legendary producer DJ Premier, saying that they are operating at a new level in terms of quality and creativity. Ferg references the hustle and danger of life on the block, mentioning the game of cee-lo and the prevalence of guns. He name-drops a friend who was arrested for drug-related offenses but is now living a clean life. Ferg seems to be enjoying his success, sipping cappuccino on a jet to Cannes and hanging out with models. He also speaks on his social consciousness, referencing a trip to Africa where he donated uniforms to children in need. He expresses his frustration with the state of rap music, lamenting the lack of substance and encouragement of violence.
The song is a collaboration between rapper A$AP Ferg and producer DJ Premier, who is considered one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time.
The beat for the song is built around a sample from Gang Starr's "DWYCK," featuring verses from the late Guru and fellow legendary rapper Nice & Smooth.
The music video for the song features Ferg and Premier driving around New York City and hanging out on the block in Harlem, reinforcing the song's message of pride in one's hometown.
The song was released in 2017 as a single, but was not included on any full-length album by either Ferg or Premier.
Ferg mentions Girbaud jeans in the second verse, a popular brand in the 1990s hip-hop fashion scene.
Cee-lo is a game of chance played with dice, popular in African American communities.
The reference to "Leonardo dough" likely refers to Leonardo DiCaprio's wealth and successful film career.
Ferg's use of the term "ass shots" in the third verse likely refers to the popular trend of women getting butt implants or injections.
Gang Starr was a hugely influential hip-hop group in the 1990s, with DJ Premier producing all of their albums and providing the group's signature sound.
The final verse of the song pays homage to Guru, who died in 2010, and the legacy of Gang Starr's music.
Chords are not provided in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I got with Primo, I'm just pressin' the cheat code
I teamed up with DJ Premier to take our music to the next level
We on a new level with the C-notes
Our music has reached a new level of success and we are making lots of money
I'm from where kids hustled on the block and rolled cee-lo
I come from a neighborhood where kids played street games and hustled to get money
And niggas stay strapped like Girbauds
People in my neighborhood always carry weapons with them for protection
T-Nice with me week to week though
My friend T-Nice is always there for me and we hang out a lot
Life was different when they got him for that R.I.C.O
My life and my friend's life changed when he was arrested for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (R.I.C.O)
For a couple kilos
My friend got arrested for selling drugs
Coulda had 'em underground, he was livin' life illegal
My friend could have hidden from the police for selling drugs, but he didn't and was caught instead
Now he gettin' right and our pockets lookin' chicho
My friend is on the right path now, and we're able to make a lot of money together
Sippin' cappuccino on a jet to Cannes
We're traveling to Cannes by private jet, enjoying coffee, and having a good time
Couple models gettin' lit, they the best in France
We're having a good time with some of the most beautiful and famous models in France
Got Leonardo dough, catch me if you can
We have a lot of money and it's hard to catch us
We had to kill Beijing and next Japan, man
Our hit song is so hot, it's killing it in Beijing and we're planning on performing in Japan next
This beat hot, I could catch a tan
The beat of our song is so good it's like being under the sun tanning
My demographic in L.A. all Mexican
Most of my fans in Los Angeles are Mexican
I love my supporters, they keep the check in hand
I love my fans because they support my music and I make a lot of money from them
So every time I get a chance, I'ma bless the fam
Whenever I can, I help my family and friends out by giving them money
Done created a dream world, slept with my dream girl
I created a fantasy world for myself and slept with my dream woman
Bought mama that new house, diamonds and mean pearls
I bought my mom a new house and expensive jewelry
Done went to Africa, talked to the have-nots
I went to Africa and talked to people who are struggling to get by
Donated some uniforms, teach 'em how to have guap
I donated some uniforms to help them and taught them how to make money
Primo put the soul in it, I make the track hot
DJ Premier made the song deep and meaningful while I made it sound good and popular
And this thing forever, got the game in a padlock
Our music will last forever and we have the music industry locked down
I just want somethin' real, I'm tired of the ass shots
I want something genuine, I'm tired of all the fake and artificial things
Don't wanna go to the club, I'm tired of them trap spots
I'm tired of going to nightclubs that play trap music
My generation's stuck on stupid
My generation is foolish and makes many poor decisions
Showin' guns on the 'Gram, but no one use it
People show off guns on social media, but they don't actually use them
Sometimes I feel like I'm about to lose it
Sometimes I feel like I am losing my mind
Because the fake win when y'all know what the truth is
Dishonest people win despite everyone knowing the truth about them
It's me, the F-E-R to the fuckin' G
It's me, Ferg, the gangsta rapper
My bars is Gang Starr, nobody can fuck with me
My lyrics are as good as Gang Starr's and no one can beat me
Rest in peace Guru, nobody can fuck with he
Guru, a member of Gang Starr, was a great rapper and nobody can compare to him
You rappers is coocoo, better wake up out your fuckin' dream
Other rappers are crazy for thinking they can compete with me, they need to wake up
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Christopher Edward Martin, Darold Ferguson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PaydayRecords
"OUR STREETS" VINYL OUT NOW / http://smarturl.it/djpremier12
@blanchetthomas7815
00
@sebdusud006
done today
@gardensofthegods
VINYL IS KING ! .
ASS KICKING SONG .
@michalgolab4720
⅕
@mariosdemetriou3159
we want FERG X PREEMO album
@jeffjuliano8097
Marios Demetriou I'm down homey did primier justice
@dannyrodriguez9981
That will be some legendary shit fosho!
@Adrian95ak
Word!
@mikeross5627
Marios Demetriou YES SIR WE DO SON!!