DJ Premier Blog » 2012 » January

Live From HeadQCourterz (01/27/2012)

Guest: Sadat X

A-Trak Names “Ten Crack Commandments” As His 3rd Favorite Sample Flip

A-Trak: “Premier beats were always so iconic that you became ultra-familiar with the samples, and then one day you’d hear the original source and it would be just a couple passing notes in the middle of a song and you’d respect him even more for noticing that section! I could easily do a Top 10 Sample Flips of just Premier. The “Ten Crack Commandments” beat speaks to me in particular because he scratched the sample and it make the scratching part of the production. It wasn’t a solo, it became an essential part of what the sample brought to the track.”

“Ten Crack Commandments” samples Les McCann – “Vallarta” (ABC, 1977).

Click here for A-Trak’s 10 Favorite Sample Flips.

Related: Ten Crack Commandments used in Modern Business

Exclusive: MC Eiht – All Hood (Prod. by Brenk Sinatra) CDQ

CDQ for MC Eiht & Austrian producer Brink Sinatra mellow relaxing collabo “All Hood”:

MC Eiht – All Hood (Prod. by Brenk Sinatra)

“Which Way Iz West” coming in 2012 on Year Round Records/Blue Stamp Records.

Related: MC Eiht – All Hood (Prod. by Brenk Sinatra) (Radio Rip)

Rap Is Outta Control (01/22/2011)

Filled in by DJ Premier.
Guests: Bishop Lamont & Mr. Mecca.

Director Fab 5 Freddy Talks Music Video “Just To Get A Rep”

Hard to believe but this month marks 21 years since the release of Gang Starr’s sophomore album, Step In the Arena. The LP’s lead single, and some would argue, the definitive Gang Starr song, “Just To Get a Rep,” neatly encapsulates all the group’s signature musical elements (e.g. Guru’s detailed street narrative with a conscience; DJ Premier’s peerless production and precisely dispensed scratch hooks). But nearly as important to the record’s success with hip-hop devotees upon its release was its accompanying video. Inventively directed by Yo! MTV Raps host Fab 5 Freddy, shot in stark black and white, and prominently featuring several Gang Starr Foundation members, the “Just To Get a Rep” music video is perhaps the ideal visual rendering of the song imaginable. Ever the gentleman, Fab 5 Freddy recalls the making of this classic music video. Along the way, Fab talks no-budget shooting constraints and casting concerns, Williamsburg before the hipstaz took over, and how Guru and Premier captured the essence of a BK street institution: the stick up kid.

Read more…

Live From HeadQCourterz (01/20/2012)

Exclusive: DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles – wEaRe aT WaR (Prod. by DJ Premier) CDQ

And we’re back from the SOPA Blackout Strike with a new fresh CDQ leak. This is how we do… at least for now: UNCENSORED. The track is number 5 on the collabo album between DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles and it’s called “wEaRe aT WaR”. The new album will be fully produced by DJ Premier and with features of Nas & Flava Flav! Enjoy:

DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles – wEaRe aT WaR (Prod. by DJ Premier) CDQ

Out March 27th on Gracie Productions/Works of Mart (Digital, CD & Wax). And an EP is coming sooner with 5 non album tracks!

One last thing, it’s beautiful how many people (and hip hop blogs) stand together against SOPA & PIPA and the major entertainend industry!

Related: DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles Album “The Kolexion” Tracklist Revealed

Large Professor Names “Supa Star” As His 3rd Favorite Sample Flip

Large Professor: “This is when Premier really started to take flight. This song musically translates decades of ghetto life. Those chops from Cameo “Hanging Downtown” sound like a hot summer night standing under a streetlight to me. When you hear how wobbly the original is, and [then] hear how Premier placed those sounds to the beat, that’s drum machine magic.”

“Supa Star” samples Cameo – “Hanging Downtown” (Atlanta Artists, 1984).

Click here for Large Professor’s 10 Favorite Sample Flips.

Afu-Ra – What You Want (Prod. by Digital Cut) Video

So tell me, what do you want from this Gang Starr Foundation member?

Related: Afu-Ra Says DJ Premier Doesn’t Have Time For Him To Record

Live From HeadQCourterz (01/13/2012)