DJ Premier, also known as Preem or Primo, is an American record producer and DJ. He is best known as one half of the iconic hip-hop duo Gang Starr, alongside the late MC Guru. He is also a well-known producer for various hip-hop and R&B artists, having produced hits for artists such as Nas, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Lil Kim, and many more. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential hip-hop producers of all time, having been credited with creating the classic “East Coast sound” of the 1990s.
| Name | DJ Premier |
| Birth Date | March 21, 1966 |
| Genre | Hip Hop |
| Instruments | Turntable, Sampler, Drum Machine |
| Labels | Payday, Loud Records |
| Notable Collaborations | Gang Starr, Nas, Notorious B.I.G. |
10 Best DJ Premier Quotes
“I think the way I produce records is a testament to my influences, which are all the great producers from Pete Rock to The Bomb Squad to Marley Marl to the RZA”
– DJ Premier, from Red Bull
“I don’t care about trends. I’ve always been the same. I don’t care what’s hot today; I just want to make something that sounds timeless.”
– DJ Premier, from Interview Magazine
“I think the most important thing I’ve learned is that you have to stay true to yourself.”
– DJ Premier, from Billboard
“I don’t have any regrets. I love it all. I love the good and I love the bad.”
– DJ Premier, from The Guardian
“I have to have the trust of the artist. I have to feel that they trust me and that they believe in me and that they believe in my process, so that’s very important.”
– DJ Premier, from Grammy
“My job is to capture the moment, to capture the attitude and the energy of the artist and to make that be heard in the music.”
– DJ Premier, from Forbes
“I’m a fan of making real music. When I hear something that has soul, it has a place in my heart.”
– DJ Premier, from Rolling Stone
“I’m an old-school hip-hop producer and I will never change.”
– DJ Premier, from The Fader
“I love the challenge of making a classic out of something that’s a modern sound.”
– DJ Premier, from Complex
“When I’m producing a record, I don’t think about the audience or what people want to hear. I’m just trying to make something that I can be proud of.”
– DJ Premier, from HuffPost
7 DJ Premier Quotes About Gang Starr
“Gang Starr was just for the love of Hip Hop.”
– DJ Premier, from Real Hip Hop Daily
“We wanted to have a group that was just like, ‘Hey, here’s a piece of the culture.”
– DJ Premier, from The Red Bull Music Academy
“Gang Starr was really a thing of, ‘Let’s just be honest and give you the truth.’”
– DJ Premier, from The Red Bull Music Academy
“When it was Gang Starr, it was just me and Guru, and it was all about the music.”
– DJ Premier, from The Red Bull Music Academy
“Gang Starr was really the first-ever crew of two.”
– DJ Premier, from Real Hip Hop Daily
“Guru was the professor and I was the student. We were like a classic duo.”
– DJ Premier, from Real Hip Hop Daily
“Gang Starr was the first group to ever have a song with a sample and a scratch on it.”
– DJ Premier, from The Red Bull Music Academy
5 Inspirational DJ Premier Quotes
1.
“I don’t think you ever stop learning. The day you think you’ve learned it all is the day you should stop producing.”
– DJ Premier, from Grammy.com
2.
“I’ve been blessed and fortunate enough to travel around the world and see how the music is appreciated in all these different places, and it’s truly humbling.”
– DJ Premier, from Rolling Stone
3.
“It’s really the experience of the culture that you get in the studio. That’s what makes it so special, that’s what makes it so unique.”
– DJ Premier, from Billboard
4.
“I just want to keep inspiring and innovating with the music.”
– DJ Premier, from The Line of Best Fit
5.
“I’ve learned to use my experiences to be able to be better and to be able to create something that may inspire someone else.”
– DJ Premier, from Hot New Hip Hop
6 Famous DJ Premier Quotes
“You have to be a real student of the game and stay humble, because this game will humble you if you don’t stay humble.”
–DJ Premier, from DJ Booth
“I just want to make music that makes people feel good and give them an escape from the everyday pressures of living.”
–DJ Premier, from The Guardian
“I think I have a unique ear for blending samples that shouldn’t work together, but they do.”
–DJ Premier, from Red Bull
“I don’t produce with a computer. I use a sampler and drum machine and make it all from scratch.”
–DJ Premier, from Consequence of Sound
“I’m a producer and a DJ, so I’m always trying to make the best song I can make.”
–DJ Premier, from The Boombox
“You have to be able to take criticism, and you have to be able to be able to look at yourself and say ‘I have to get better.’”
–DJ Premier, from Complex
8 DJ Premier Quotes About Love
“Love is the most important thing—it transcends all.”
– DJ Premier, from Complex
“Love is the most important thing in the world. No money, no power, no nothing can replace it.”
– DJ Premier, from Complex
“What would I do without love? That’s all I got. Love is all I got.”
– DJ Premier, from NPR
“To me, Love is the most important thing in the world.”
– DJ Premier, from The Fader
“Love is the only thing that’s real.”
– DJ Premier, from The Fader
“Love is the only thing that matters.”
– DJ Premier, from Spin
“Love is the only thing that will never let you down.”
– DJ Premier, from The Fader
“Love is the only thing that can make you feel better.”
– DJ Premier, from Spin
8 DJ Premier Quotes About Life
“I think life is about change. You have to keep moving, no matter what.”
– DJ Premier, from Rolling Stone
“It’s a learning process. But life is too short to not enjoy it.”
– DJ Premier, from Rolling Stone
“I think life is about giving back, too.”
– DJ Premier, from Rolling Stone
“Life is about having goals.”
– DJ Premier, from Complex
“You can’t control life, but you have to live it.”
– DJ Premier, from Complex
“You can’t take life too seriously.”
– DJ Premier, from Complex
“Life is too short to be living somebody else’s life.”
– DJ Premier, from VICE
“Life is too short to not take risks and go after your dreams.”
– DJ Premier, from VICE
6 Quotes About DJ Premier
“DJ Premier is the best hip hop producer of all time. He has a distinct sound and style that was always ahead of its time.”
– DJ Kool Herc, from djkoolherc.com
“DJ Premier is the quintessential hip-hop producer. He has a distinct sound and style that has been influential in the hip-hop community for nearly three decades.”
– Rakim, from Complex
“DJ Premier has defined the sound of hip-hop production for the past two decades. His pioneering use of samples and sound manipulation has become the foundation of modern hip-hop production.”
– Pete Rock, from DJ Booth
“DJ Premier is a living legend in hip hop production. His ear for beats and samples is unparalleled, and his iconic sound has been the foundation of countless classic hip hop tracks.”
– Q-Tip, from Hot New Hip Hop
“DJ Premier is a master of the craft of Hip Hop production. He has a knack for creating original sounds from samples and manipulating them to create something entirely new.”
– RZA, from Fact Magazine
“DJ Premier is the king of hip hop production. His production style is unlike any other, and his beats have been the foundation of many classic hip hop songs.”
– DJ Jazzy Jeff, from DJ Booth
Interview with DJ Premier
Frequently Asked Questions About DJ Premier
1. What is DJ Premier best known for?
DJ Premier (also known as Preemo) is a hip-hop producer and DJ from Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his hard-hitting, soulful production style and for his work with hip-hop legends such as Gang Starr, Nas, Jay-Z, and Notorious B.I.G.
He is recognized for his signature sound, which relies heavily on samples from classic soul, funk, and jazz records. He often combines these samples with live instrumentation, creating a unique and powerful style of music. His production is highly influential in the hip-hop genre, with many modern producers citing him as an influence.
DJ Premier is also known for his turntablism skills, often incorporating scratches and sound effects into his tracks. He is considered one of the pioneering DJs of the hip-hop genre, and is credited with popularizing the “chopping” technique which involves cutting up samples and phrasing them in a unique way.
Some of DJ Premier’s most well-known works include:
- Gang Starr’s Step in the Arena (1991)
- Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt (1996)
- Nas’ Illmatic (1994)
- Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die (1994)
- Guru’s Jazzmatazz (1993)
2. What is the most famous DJ Premier quote?
DJ Premier is one of the most influential hip-hop producers of all time. He has produced classic tracks for the likes of Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas, and many more. Throughout his career, DJ Premier has dropped some gems in the form of quotes that have inspired generations of hip-hop fans. Here are some of the most famous DJ Premier quotes:
- “Don’t be afraid to be different, because that’s when you stand out.”
- “The hardest part of making music is coming up with the idea.”
- “I don’t believe in luck. I believe in work ethic and preparation.”
- “You can’t be afraid to be different and make something that’s not out there.”
- “It’s not about the money, it’s about the music.”
- “I’m a perfectionist, so I’m never satisfied with anything I do.”
- “You have to be an artist to be a producer.”
- “I never let anything I don’t like out of the studio.”
- “My beats are like my children, I love them all.”
One of the most famous DJ Premier quotes is, “It’s not about the money, it’s about the music.” This quote perfectly sums up the ethos of DJ Premier and his work as a producer. He believes that the music should always come first, no matter how much money is involved. This quote has become an inspiration for many hip-hop producers and artists alike, and it speaks to the importance of creating art for art’s sake.
3. What is the origin of DJ Premier’s name?
DJ Premier is the moniker of one of the most influential and innovative hip-hop producers in the music industry. His real name is Christopher Edward Martin, and the origin of his stage name, DJ Premier, is quite interesting.
- The “DJ” part of his name comes from the fact that he started his career as a disc jockey.
- The “Premier” part of his name is derived from his production style. He creates a unique sound that is often referred to as “premiering” – it’s something that no one else has done before.
This unique combination of his original name and production style is what gave him his iconic name, DJ Premier. He has since become one of the most respected and sought-after producers in all of hip-hop and has worked with some of the biggest names in the genre, such as Jay Z, Nas, and The Notorious B.I.G.
4. What is DJ Premier’s Musical Style?
DJ Premier is a celebrated hip-hop producer and DJ known for his signature sound of soulful samples, hard-hitting drums, and creative scratching techniques. His musical style is characterized by:
- Layering samples from classic soul and funk records to create an original sound
- Incorporating hard-hitting drums to emphasize the beat
- Utilizing creative scratching techniques to add texture and flavor
- Incorporating musical elements from jazz and other genres
His style has been highly influential in the hip-hop world, with many artists citing him as an influence. He has worked with some of the most iconic names in hip-hop, including Nas, Jay-Z, and The Notorious B.I.G. His iconic sound has helped to shape the sound of hip-hop for decades.
5. What are some of DJ Premier’s most iconic collaborations?
DJ Premier is one of the most successful and influential producers in hip-hop, working with many of the genre’s biggest names. Here are some of his most iconic collaborations:
- Nas – “N.Y. State of Mind”
- Gang Starr – “Mass Appeal”
- Jay-Z – “D’Evils”
- Big L – “M.V.P.”
- Notorious B.I.G. – “Kick In The Door”
- KRS-One – “Step Into A World”
- Mos Def – “Mathematics”
- Talib Kweli – “Get By”
- Kanye West – “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”
- Drake – “Started From The Bottom”
Conclusion
In conclusion, DJ Premier is an iconic hip-hop producer, having created some of the most memorable beats and instrumental tracks in the genre. His music has been sampled and featured in many songs, and his influence on the music industry is undeniable. He has earned the respect and admiration of many of the most influential figures in music, and his quotes serve as a testament to his wisdom and insight.
