DX: I have to ask this follow-up: Did you ever regret at all suing over the “Shut ‘Em Down” [vocal] sample in “Ten Crack Commandments”? ‘Cause I know DJ Premier was seriously pissed at you for years after that.

Chuck D: Me and [DJ Premier] is cool. Matter fact, that was an issue before I even knew Preemo was a part of the thing.

Remember, Bad Boy [Records] was going around saying how much money they had and this and that, and I had songwriters who are connected to me who were basically saying, “Well, the song that they’re using, Chuck what’s up?” And the fact is that the crack commandments were something that I was like okay … I don’t agree with it, but … it’s a master use, whatever. But songwriters want their piece. And they, [the song’s producers, The Imperial Grand Ministers Of Funk], said, “Well, if they’re going around and flaunting and falutin about how much they got … then what’s up with our rights to the song?” And I’m like, “Okay, alright you guys.” So, I mean, this is not no kids game, this is real shit.

Taking [my] voice to me is a defamation of character, but really the songwriters pushed the issue as saying, “Alright, that’s part of our song too and we helped write that, so where’s our royalties? Who handles that?”

DX: So this was more business really than a personal issue?

Chuck D: Well, my thing is I don’t go after anybody. But in that particular case, which was coming from Bad Boy, which was BMG, which was who sued me on another end – it was like one of those things. So it really had nothing to do with Biggie. Nothing. It had nothing to do with Premier. And at the end of the day, it was Def Jam and Bad Boy, it was BMG and Universal. It was really one of those … it was just stupid.

But at the same time, I told Puffy, I said, “You know, you guys, when it comes down to me give me a heads-up. Don’t be doing something [when] you know where I am and you know where I come from. How you gonna just go and do some shit like that and not talk to me?” And from that point on, it was cool. That’s when you seen [Diddy remake] “Public Enemy No. 1.” And he called me [about that] when I was in the middle of Guitar Center or whatever and said, “Yo, I just wanna know if it’s cool?”

So, that was the biggest thing … talk to me. And, kids only look at the lawsuit. They’re kids, what do they know? They scream and holler about anything, but at the end of the day it was a settlement between Universal and BMG, Bad Boy and Def Jam. It had nothing to really do with me.

Those guys are all in bed with each other, but nobody asks that question.

DX: Well let me ask that question –

Chuck D: For the longest Puffy was mad at Russell [Simmons]. [Laughs] So I’m like, “Look, I ain’t in the middle of all that. Just make sure you call me before you do anything regarding me if you gonna go in that direction. Simple as that.” It’s simple. And it’s been cool ever since.

And me and Premo’s been fine ever since, but you know … initially Premo had nothing to do with it. Not with me. I’m like, “Okay, you tied with this by default,” but … I don’t know.

DX: I think he just took it as maybe a personal slight [since he produced the track].

Chuck D: Yeah, because he was tied up with that whole Bad Boy operation, and so when it came down to him actually receiving his royalty for the song they wanna tie him up. So I’m like, “Yo, man, forget all that. Let’s deal with each other as people.”

People have the understanding now, [but] at that time people were sticking their noses all up in the corporations booty.

DX: At that time, you mean, what, last week? [Laughs]

Chuck D: No, especially back [in the ‘90s]. As much money as they was paying people, and people flaunting and throwing money at the camera, it was like the majors had a dominant hold on people’s … everything. And I was rebelling against that structure. Hard. I was like, “Man, fuck BMG. Fuck Sony. And fuck Universal too.” I was going after them hard. And still to this day.

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We heard this story a lot from Premo’s side, now (detailed) Chuck D. Don’t worry, Premo and Chuck are cool now!

When it comes to a “Natural”, Biggie fits the description 100%. My time with him always came with a laugh and then another and then another even when he was dealing with a good or bad situation in which i have witnessed both.

I remember one day my partner GURU was arrested on Fulton Ave in Brooklyn late night while he was with Biggie and a few members of Junior Mafia while he was leaning on his Jaguar over an accidental fraud on his credit card, making him the guilty party of his own card without any proof.

The police officer said that one of us could watch his car and park it for him so that it would not get impounded.
When they took Guru in, Biggie offered to watch his car while i went to the precinct to find out if he posted bail. BIG got in the drivers seat and just sat there staring at the dashboard as if he was lost and i asked him if there’s anything wrong. He said “Nah I’m aight. i just don’t know how to drive a car, but i wanted to see how it feels to sit behind the wheel of a Jag”.

We all laughed and one of the members of Junior Mafia moved the car and gave me the keys to give back to GURU.
Back at the precinct, the officer ran full check on Guru’s identity and he was free & clear of any wrongdoing and was released.

One of the most memorable days of great history amongst two great icons, fathers and human beings my life has ever come across… -DJ Premier

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R.I.P. Christopher George Latore “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997)