DJ Premier Blog » Blog Archive » Exclusive: DJ Premier – JJ Beat (Rejected Kanye West Beat) CDQ

Exclusive: DJ Premier – JJ Beat (Rejected Kanye West Beat) CDQ

What do we have here? Aaaaah yes, a beat specially made for Kanye West when he requested some for his “Dark Twisted Fantasy” album. Sad he never used is though… Later on it was also given to Bun B, but also he didn’t record on it… That’s the history behind it, now it’s known as the “JJ Beat”. Btw: another beat that Kanye West didn’t used went to Bumpy Knuckles for the collabo album “The Kolexion”. Masterpiece, listen up:

Now we can only hope Jay-Z pick some Premo beats for his collabo album!

EDIT: You have to know the beat was rejected because Kanye West changed the direction of his album… this was created when everybody thought he was going to make that “Boom Bap” album.


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46 Responses to “Exclusive: DJ Premier – JJ Beat (Rejected Kanye West Beat) CDQ”


  • Comment from KAZAM92

    Man, this one would’ve been great for Kanye….

  • Comment from James

    I see why Ye and Bun passed on it definitely not Preemo’s best work.

  • Comment from yoyo

    Would have been nice with Kanye or Bun B on this one. Fits them good!

    but didn’t you put up a fake remix with this beat earlier this year?

  • Comment from yoyo

    Can someone please make a blend with a Kanye or Bun B acapella on this one and put it out on YouTube.. maybe that mf Kanye West undersands wtf he’s doing by rejecting CRAZY HOT beats like this!

    download link:
    http://download011b.hulkshare.com/d/vcg7a5oi5h5hi7xhesfqmhrdukj4yar62zopevak6a/song.mp3

  • Comment from spaceman

    yo this is hot
    damn kanye

  • Comment from Furgersen7

    Im not sure I like the beat. I would have to listen to it a few times. Its nice but not album material.

  • Comment from Moose

    Premo played me the beat on laptop speakers. This isn’t the whole thing. The beat he gave Kanye also changed in the middle.

  • Comment from KAZAM92

    Some dissent here, but I personally really liked it

  • Comment from Ghostman22

    Yeah this beat isn’t anything special, and it is borderline trash, it just didn’t fit the colossal, epic, mind-blowing tracks that was on mbdtf. kanye took hip-hop to another higher level and this beat just took it back 3 levels down.

  • Comment from Annah

    If a beat like this only not could be showend to this website but to the hole world who needs original hiphop sounds and needs to listen at pure beautifull music… Well this is it ! Premier a true artist and a great artist !!!

  • Comment from bctw

    Haven’t we heard this instrumental somewhere before? It sounds so familiar to me. I’ve only heard it as an instrumental but I just can’t remember where from.

  • Comment from Bronx Steele

    Well this beat was used on the Busta Rhymes remix “The Heist”.

  • Comment from dll32

    Beat is boring. 3/10

  • Comment from Silver

    Another example of such an average, boring Primo beat. If it didn’t have preems name on it surely some of you fans wouldn’t be loving this so much. If anything it’d make a nice interlude/outro beat.

  • Comment from nOF

    If this was made by Albert from Kansas, nobody would care about this beat

  • Wow, I think this beat is dope and it would have fit KanYe perfectly! I could even hear Common on this. Bun B though? Nah, not on this.

    You cats hating on this are lame. Imagine this with vocals and scratches??? Shit, it would be GOLD!

  • Comment from Silver

    Gold? Really? Really?
    Preem is a legend, has classics etc… I’m a fan. I’m giving my honest opinion. There are tons of producers who could make this beat.. something similar.

    There comes a point when you have to listen to something for what it is. Not cuz of who it is. So many fans are scared to say their beloved artist has made an average track. I’m not necessarily talking bout primo fans here.

    I’m just talking about this particular beat. My fave Preem beat as of late is the Soulkast track..

    @nOF Exactly!

  • Comment from Silver

    I could possibly hear Kanye or Common on this. But no way on MBDTF. It wouldn’t have fit what so ever.

  • Comment from Weirdo

    Nice beat, my man Kool Sphere (from Verbal Threat) used it.
    Check: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYBkYExraD4

  • Comment from plainfacts

    ^^now that shit is dope!

  • Comment from zryii

    Pretty average beat… sounds unfinished. Regardless, the sound doesn’t fit the album at all. I hope he kept it for Watch the Throne though because I could see this being a dope track with some polishing

  • Comment from wickwickwack

    i miss Guru

  • Comment from j0oftheworld

    Kanye doesn’t have the lyrical skill to fill a Premo beat..
    It would undoubtedly make him sound weak, IMO.

  • Comment from LG ROC

    You know when Kannie West do that happy voice?

    Like the joint I Still love Her (Hontou ii rap), with the Teriyaki Boys?
    Yeah.. it would be a nice Kanye Track… I’m telling you.

    The chops are raw.

  • Comment from The Analyzt

    Beats kool, but definitely would not have Kanye’s album, which was good, but don’t think it took Hip Hop to another level.

  • Comment from Schwanzenstueck

    Kanye is such a stupid MF. I mean this beat is so dope and Kanye wouldn´t recognize Hip Hop if you throw it after him. He already sucked big time at the “Classic” joint. Just ruined the whole thing with his I-got-no-Testosteron-Style. Stupid MF.

  • Comment from SirBiatch

    this sounds like an unfinished beat.

    In its current state, it’s only fit for an interlude. something super short. It has a pleasant melody but it’s too damn repetitive. If this is a finished beat, then yeah, it’s weak as fuck. If I were Kanye, I would have denied the hell out of this, lol.

    and of course Premo would have Premo stans, but really guys… stop it. Premo’s amazing and all, arguably the best to ever do it, but please don’t dickride. It’s just not necessary.

  • Comment from phatphillie

    thats not a Kanye beat Primo played me at a soundcheck in macedonia…

  • Comment from John Doe

    Kanye doesn’t deserve this! The Heist remix was nice….Roc Marce!
    dude has skills! wheres Primo and Roc at??????

  • Comment from BIG T

    @nOF

    “If this was made by Albert from Kansas, nobody would care about this beat”

    sad but so true

  • Comment from BIG T

    @nOF

    gotta agree with you. if anybody else produced this kind of beat, nobody would appreciate his work. still lovin´ primo beats.
    G.O.A.T.

  • Comment from Brock Middlebrooks

    Never heard so much frontin’ on an incomplete beat??? Nice, mellow track by Preem!!

  • Comment from Frederik

    I like this one 10/10.

  • Comment from Thomas

    Just because people say they like this beat you automatically assume they’re dickriding Primo! Has it ever come into your head that they genuinely just like the beat and you dont cos you have different tastes?

  • Comment from DJ Guttah

    This beat is nice. I like the way it’s chopped. It may be average, but it’s nowhere near “borderline trash” like someone else said. That’s taking it too far IMO. This is simple, and it kind of represents Premos style. Though I agree with you guys, I prefer his nasty, gutter beats better.

    If y’all are demanding something nasty, that’s fine with me. I’m all for something more nastier than this myself. But come on. I heard ghostface and Raekwon over this and it sounded sick. There’s no need to call this “trash.”

  • Comment from bctw

    I agree with dude who said this sounds more like a hot interlude or an outro for a rapper to talk over.

    But I can’t see Kanye, let alone too many people making an effective song from this beat. Doesn’t mean it’s not dope, it just means it’s not song material.

  • Comment from Real Talk

    It’s a different time now, everybody is spoiled and thinking they’re on any type of level to actually attempt to judge “Dj Premier on his style of beats?” cmon son. I think the criticism should be kept off the comments and keep the posts positive commending his dedication and dopeness he’s brought to the game if anything. Boarderline trash type comments are disrespectful and remember your on his blog looking to hear what’s happenin next so don’t front like your not a fan. The beat is dope, chopped up and right in the cut Primo style. dude is always consistent, 2011 is going to be a lot of dope shit coming from Premier so bow down and kiss the ring…and stop slobbin the knob.

  • Comment from Zach

    @ Real Talk
    Do not judge people`s criticism based on time, who did what…..so and so..I am one of the biggest Primo fans out there. But if I don’t like it, then I don’t like it, doesn’t mean that I’m hatin’….Primo does the same thing with his top 25. It’s aight. This is HipHop!!! Diversity and competition are an integral part.Another example is that I love Preem’s Yearround roster except for Nick Javas. I’m a hungry MC myself, so when someone gets spoiled with Premo beats and doesn’t nail it…guess what..I don’t have to like it, eventhough Premo remains to be one of the greatest, for me and million others!

  • Comment from Silver

    @Zach Spot on son. Nick Javas is kinda dope but I feel preem coulda chosen someone so much better than him. For a new ‘protege’ type rapper Little Vic would’ve fit the bill better IMO.

  • Comment from yoyo

    “If this was made by Albert from Kansas, nobody would care about this beat”
    LOL.. that’s actually true.

    This beat need some variation, but I know those of you who hate on it wouldn’t if it was a finished track. Most tracks usually gets repetitive and boring when listening to the instrumental version for a long time. Please understand that!! Try to listen to that NYGz/50 Cent instrumental. Exactly the same. Short loop,

  • Comment from Dick B.

    Gim put this up ages ago for the Def Jam video game thing and a couple weeks ago or so we found out it was the beat Kanye rejected.

    On Premier standards this is supremely mediocre and that goes as a testament to Premier’s greatness. On normal standards this is like a B-.

    Surprised he didn’t bring more heat this time around.

  • Comment from Righ-On-In >

    SORRY BUT THE BEAT THAT PREMO GAVE REKS FOR “25TH HOUR” GOES WAY HARDER THAN THIS BEAT THAT PREMO DISHED OUT OUT TO KANYE…PREMO SHOULD’VE GIVEN THAT “25TH HOUR” BEAT TO KANYE INSTEAD OF REKS…SORRY BUT PREMIER SHOULD’VE KNOWN BETTER THAN TO SEND SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO KANYE…I BELIEVE THAT PREMO COULD’VE MANAGED ENOUGH TIME TO TALK SOMETHING OUT WITH KANYE FOR THEM TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING MORE KILLER AND DYNAMIC…THEY BOTH SHOULD’VE GOTTEN IN CONTACT PHYSICALLY TO GET INTO THE STUDIO AND CREATE SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT WOULD’VE BEEN CERTIFIED AND CONSIDERED OFFICIAL THAT THEY BOTH COULD HAVE APPROVED OF…NOT JUST SEND KANYE A BEAT VIA E-MAIL AND CALL IT DAY BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT IT SEEMED LIKE PREMO DID WITH THIS BEAT…PREMIER NEEDS TO MANAGE AND ARRANGE SOME SORT OF PHYSICAL TIME WITH KANYE AND JAY-Z TO WHERE THEY ALL CAN BE IN THE SAME ROOM AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT THEY ALL CAN APPROVE OF RIGHT ON THE SPOT AS OPPOSED TO JUST DISHING THEM ANY OLD BEAT AND PRAYING THAT KANYE OR JAY IS JUST SIMPLY GONNA TAKE IT…AND I’M A DIE HARD DJ PREMIER FAN FOR LIFE AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS ISN’T HIS BEST WORK…SO YOU CAN’T GET MAD AT KANYE AND BUN-B FOR PASSING SOMETHING LIKE THIS UP…IT’S NOT HORRIBLE BUT IT’S MORE SO A BIT AVERAGE AND I WOULD SAY A LOT OF DJ PREMIER’S PAST MATERIAL IS FAR MORE KILLER THAN THIS…

  • Comment from Righ-On-In >

    What Premo did for REKS’ “25th Hour” is way better than this beat…Should’ve given Kanye the “25th Hour” beat instead of REKS…

  • Comment from Concizzle

    Sorry but this is way too delicate and boring. It would make an alright track but for a Kanye album I can see why he passed. I am a huge Premo fan so don’t get it twisted but man you need to go back to the formula you had when you made “The Realness” for an album of that level. Give him some GROUP HOME BEATS. You laced them cats into classic status on the beats alone. This is soft fam.

  • Comment from bctw

    OK I found where I heard this beat first!
    Preem blended it with that old Busta Rhymes song The Heist feat. Ghost, Rae and Roc Marc!
    I figured I got that track from this site but I guess not?
    Anyway here it is for those who don’t have it.
    It’s a radio rip but legit nonetheless.

    http://hulkshare.com/fs2yp227w7ak

  • Comment from ziombel

    Beat is boring. 3/10


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