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".
Strength
DJ Premier Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Strength' by these artists:
#Yoga I am filled with unlimited strength When a situation seems o…
10 Ft. Ganja Plant CHORUS: I'm strong inside, cool outside Let me show the pow…
12:06 Don't see what you do And I haven't for so long Where…
7 Seconds If what you see is what you get Just look toward…
7SECONDS If what you see is what you get Just look toward…
Aaron & Amanda Crabb How to walk, every step that I take forward seems…
Abingdon Boys School 乾いた唇いてつく太陽に晒されて あふれる涙が滴る まぶしさで僕をなぞるから 足りない箇所をただ埋めあうように …
Acrid Yesterday I had a vision of you, you were screaming Endless…
Agnostic Front Day after day See a world grow cold and grey Did you…
Alarm Give me love Give me hope Give me strength Give me someone t…
Avenged Sevenfold My story starts the day they said "she can't be…
B-Liminal Man they asking everyday how I do it Going off…
Bad Heaven LTD Strength beyond strength Found my way home Slept out on…
Blac Youngsta I don't need no negative vibes around me If you on…
Bridget Blucher The hands of time keep turning Theres a new day, thats…
Bryce Fox You want me sinking down with your anchor around me You…
Buchi Paul and Silas found themselves in prison A place of weeping…
Bvdub Some precious moments, just a few But eversince I think of…
Chrystina Lloree Don't know how she got in so deeply Now she's looking…
Coloursøund Who will light the fire that I need to survive? Who…
Comet Gain Baby, baby I really need you Give me the strength to…
Cuerpos Cósmicos Breathe in and out Conquer the South Leaving behind Blue k…
D.White Verse 1. ️You are my strength when I'm in trouble I raised…
Dave Patten When you grow weak Hell be there for you (there…
Dilated Peoples *Babu cuttin' it up* "Stay strong" Iriscience- Hey, yo w…
Donnie Vie Now is no time To judge our love With all the mess Around…
Embodyment Take me up from this world can't you see the…
Enuff Z'Nuff Now is no time To judge our love With all the mess Around…
Eternal Decision All my life I've lived my way No matter what was…
Ez Mil I reside inside the resonance of your love You resurrect my…
Fallout 4 S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Video Series (X10) One Bought me a shotgun after school, really went fro…
For All Eternity I will bare myself to the world. In my truest of…
Hacride You progress without stopping. You face, your destiny to de…
Ignite Give me strength To hold my head up high And spit back…
In.Verno This goes out to everyone who is sick and tired of…
Information Society This night is mine alone but All that I can do…
Insight YOU - THINK YOU'RE UNTOUCHABLE YOU - YOU KNOW YOU'RE ALWAYS…
Iona Strength of a flower, pushing up through the earth Strength…
Iya Oo no Gotta raise Jah Jah We've all been low We've all been…
j. pastel I'm a woman, hear me out Never claiming to be something…
Jacob & Matthew The Lord is my strength yah The Lord is my strength…
Jacob and Matthew Don't have the strength To get up today My other plans Got i…
John P. Kee Chorus: There will never be, another love like You No never …
Jonathan & Melissa Helser I climb up high above the tree line Cause I want…
K.Green (X10) One Bought me a shotgun after school, really went fro…
Kauê Marinasco the sky dark behind your black hair the sea caught…
KIND! Perseverance Is what sets the world and I Apart Sinking t…
Libby Koch Oh Lord, I am weaker than I used to be Cause…
Life... But How to Live It? Strength Oh.. He gives me Strength to make it, Strength to…
Lynda Randle I will go in the strength of the Lord because…
Melissa Helser I climb up high above the tree line Cause I want…
Meryn Cadell We both read the paper We both know that it's…
Mike Peters Give me love Give me hope Give me strength Give me someon…
Mike Peters And The Alarm Give me love Give me hope Give me strength Give me someone t…
MOM You should sing on And hope the notes will keep coming You…
Moonchild Memories misbehave A gift to save me from the same mistake I…
New Life Community Choir Chorus: There will never be, another love like You No neve…
New Life Community Choir featuring John P. Kee Chorus: There will never be, another love like You No never …
No Innocent Victim Strength beyond strength The confidence in knowing that th…
Nuclear Valdez You came to me a motherly song Teaching me the right…
P.A. Strength and pain this is my Purple Rain Nip' said no…
Reedukay Stay strong my brother (Reedukay Beatz Boi) Stay strong my s…
Refused A complex structure, a full circle of hate The victory…
Richie Kotzen I came to live here, I came to find some This…
Roy Hargrove & The RH Factor - Strength Mothers are crying Our babies are dying Fighting to breathe …
Samart Thank you Great Spirit Thank you for always guiding my life …
Shaman So now I know I won't slow down My mind will collapse…
Since The Flood From sacrifice comes strength. Strength what makes a man st…
Sister Soleil Gotta love yourself; gotta be your best friend. Ain't nobody…
Skid Row Give me love Give me hope Give me strength Give me someone t…
Skies Like the earth's spin switched direction Smiles mask aggress…
Sölus-Sun I don’t feel like myself right now floating away into…
Steve Grimmett How many time′s is it right to be over You give…
Stogie T To the three-thirty am waking up Paperboys Hate the job, you…
Suffocate Faster Take Notice, the end is now the beginning There are many…
Swollen Members (Prevail) My comparative dissention From high as an intens…
The Alarm Give me love Give me hope Give me strength Give me someone t…
The Corbans Dear friends take comfort In the joy you receive To those …
The New Life Community Choir Chorus: There will never be, another love like You No neve…
The New Life Community Choir feat. John P. Kee Chorus: There will never be, another love like You No never …
The Screaming Jets If you can't find the strength Then you won't fight the…
Tim Bowman Jr. Dear Lord I cannot funk up my fear Lord Life is…
Toko Furuuchi すれ違う だからこそ近くなる ふたりでいること This is our strength そう言えるように 愛されて 人…
Unshackled When I was young I saw these faces Staring me down In all…
Waajeed Strength…
X-1999 CHORUS: I'm strong inside, cool outside Let me show the pow…
Yoga I am filled with unlimited strength When a situation seems o…
Zebrahead Turn the TV off Turn me on Disbelief confidence is gone…
Æther Realm In the comfort of the water's cold embrace Gripped tight by…
古内東子 すれ違う だからこそ近くなる ふたりでいること This is our strength そう言えるように 愛されて 人…
小泉恒平 Kanashii yume no sekai de Ai suru hito mo naku Ikite yuku…
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…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Gaïus Baltar
DJ premier's got a special sound and this one is very strong.
9095
first time i heard these dudes,, pretty cool track.. i like how they go back and forth like MOP wit the eastcoast flows & oldschool beats,, deff gnna check out some more of their stuff
Sharveen Prasad
Cant wait till i get a car so I can blast this so loud to show my school what real hip hop is!!!
andygt888
if this track doesn't get you fired up then I don't know what will
gametight79
"Certified body snatcher, Right hook catch ya, think the ground came up out ya"..Fuego my dude!!!!
robnbmore tw 📚Robmaxwel fb 📚
One of my favorite NYGZ jts.
redlynchsb
Dope!
Sean l Johnson sr
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
kriminal majnd
banger
Caunstruct
Thank you jamonteiro15 for posting this.