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DJ Premier: The XXL Icon Interview (Must Read)
Posted December 15th 2010 at 11:56 PM by gimantalon
What did you contribute to Kanyeגs album?
I did a beat for him but he ended up not using it. He came here in the early stages of the album. It was me, him and Showbiz. He played us everything, even the one on Rick Rossג album, גLive Fast, Die Young.ג He was in here dancing around and was all into it. Thatגs Ye, man.
You also did some cuts on [the unreleased Kanye West song] גMamaגs Boyfriend,ג right?
Kanye gave me instructions but it was just as a guide. He let me play around with it. I was cutting a break and releasing it on the drum. He had this voice going, גIגm your best friend.ג I didnגt really like it but I made it work for me. I put it in my Serato from his acappella. He had it going through the whole song over his rapping and I thought it was a little cluttered. I just did my own version.
When was the first time you made one of your signature cut-up choruses?
My crew used to listen to גTaking It to the Topג by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. My MCגs name was Top and it was just doing variations of that word. גTop.ג If you listen to the old Gang Starr records it was just one line like, גMoneyגs growing like grass with the mass appeal.ג גDWYCKג didnגt have a hook, just a transition. Part of it is my DJ memory. I know almost every lyric from every artist; DJגs memorize because we cut and want to double copy shit. Thatגs how we remember so many lyrics. Thatגs why when I hear a line or a title, I know what I want to cut. It just comes to me. Sometimes I just hunt for lines. Then I have to figure where it should go ג first bar, second bar. Do I repeat it? Or do I use it once in the whole 8 bars? Maybe it shouldnגt be the first bar even though itגs fly. Iגll see where it sounds better depending on where the sample lands.
How about chopping a note down like what you did on Biggieגs גUnbelievable?ג
The S950 only holds 60 seconds of sample time so Iגm limited. My drum takes up memory, dope samples take up memory and when I want to add more it runs out of memory. I could just print that and add more but I donגt like that. Now, with technology with Fruity Loops and Logic, you can sample a whole album worth of stuff. People donגt have the same creativity. This worked for me so why take it away? Itגs like The Edge from U2. He has so many sounds but you know its U2 before Bono even starts singing. Same with Rush. Alex Lifeson plays a certain way. My musical knowledge goes beyond hip-hop. I love heavy metal, Metallica. Iגm into Jefferson Starship and acid rock. I used to pop acid when I was young.
Really?
Iגm 44 years old. I was around before crack. I was around when cocaine was normal like if you didnגt have coke, you werenגt cool. It was like, גYou aint got coke? You a sucka.ג It was part of our scene.
What were your acid trips like?
The first time I tripped on acid was right out of high school. I went to this rock concert, the Texas Jam. It was Uriah Heep, Styx, Ted Nugent, a big line up like a Summer Jam. When Uriah Heep came out, I was tripping a little too hard and the guitarist was making devil horns. It seemed like they turned into real horns and he turned into a red devil. Then it looked like his tail came out and was slapping me. I was sitting in the front row. I took off and went to get some water. While I was trying to find water, it seemed like they were following me. Another time in college, one of my suitemates was tripping. We had empty 40 bottles of Olde English everywhere. There was one lying on its side and he said it looked like Jesus was in the bottle saying, גCome here.ג He was trying to get into the bottle, like trying to put his feet in the bottle. I tripped the next day and saw the same thing. It wasnגt Jesus though, it was a guy in the bottle. Everybodyגs trip is not the same.
Legend has it that you stole your first set of turntables during college.
Yes, it was a college dorm thing. This guy had some 1200גs. We thought he was a sucker and we stole his turntables. He never did a thing about it.
When did you decide that you were going to pursue music full time?
It was 1985, ג86 when I decided to try and make it. I decided that if I couldnגt make it in New York, I would be a fan and just buy records and go to concerts.
Around 1987, you met Guru. What were thoughts after first hearing him rap?
I thought he was unique.
Each Gang Starr record, from your debut, No More Mr. Nice Guy, until 1992גs Daily Operation, got better and more successful. Then, in 1993, you branched out, doing production for other artists. I think KRS-Oneגs Return of the Boom-Bap was one of your first high profile freelance projects. Why make the jump?
Ice-Tגs גLifestyles of the Rich and Infamousג was the first but that was just a remix. I didnגt really want to be in Gang Starr. I just wanted to be a guy who made beats. I wanted to work with Gang Starr though so when Guru gave me that chance, I didnגt want to sign. I got a lawyer and he was like, גYouגre signing your life away if you sign this deal.ג But I wanted to make a record so bad so I signed it. We found a real good lawyer, who is still the Gang Starr lawyer, and he got us out of that contract with Wild Pitch. We never dissolved our contract. We are still signed as Gang Starr.
Youגve previously spoken about how you and Guru had some differences. Did those arguments inspire the art?
Yeah, Iגve had songs written about me when we were having problems. גNow Youגre Mineג was written about me. Guru was a lot of personalities. Not גwas,ג he has a lot of personalities. He goes from the coolest fun guy to the meanest, most dangerous guy. He is so many different moods. I used to think he was bipolar but it made our stuff great. We both had three different houses, cars and more cars and our homies are driving our old cars. We had Benzs, BMWגs, Jaguars and we did that with underground Gang Starr money. Thatגs why the last time we spoke, which was on April 1, 2004, we were on a good note. I still have this email stored in my inbox. It was a disagreement about a show in Vail, Colorado that he didnגt want to do. We already got paid for it and he didnגt want to give it back. He was like, גYou canגt do it without me.ג So I did the show. We got the money. It went to the Gang Starr account anyway. He sent me a letter after that saying he wanted to record [elsewhere]. I could mix it here though. That never happened. We even had some royalty issues. We were fighting with people who we sued in 1991. The money had been on hold for 18 years and we just got the money a year before he got sick. We had to correspond with each other because we both had to sign off on it. We got a nice fat six-figure check. We got to divvy that up. It wasnגt none of this, גMy ex-DJ.ג
I interviewed Solar for a story I wrote on Guru [גLost,ג XXL, June 2010]. He said that Guru was upset that you didnגt get him on those tracks you produced for other artists.
Whenever I was hired, I always pushed for Guru to spit a verse. If they are like, גNah,ג I canגt force them to do it. Thatגs why when he got the Jazzmatazz situation, I let that be his gig. I could have done that with him. He was getting all these big budgets and that was all him. He actually caught up with me financially. I was cool with that like, גYeah, now he wonגt complain about who is making more money.ג It was never a secret that his drinking was out of control. That triggered a lot of the jealousy too. Liquor makes you either violent or happy and he was both. He is both. Iגve lived with that for 23 years. I know the last six years we werenגt seeing each other face-to-face and he cleaned up his act.
How tough was it these last few years?
When I would see the stuff with him and old boy, I would be like, גThatגs not him.ג He didnגt look like he was in command.
Everyone has a theory about their relationship. Whatגs yours?
Definitely brainwash. I know Guru. Even when he didnגt like something, he spoke his mind. Now, he was told what to do. I almost wished that he drank a 40 and spazzed out. Even his face didnגt look the same. It looked like something had been taken away from him.
Do you remember Solar hanging around while you were recording The Ownerz?
Totally.
What was he like?
He would speak like he does in all the interviews I see but not to the degree of the controlling part of how Guru seemed to allow. It is what you allow. Thatגs why I canגt be mad at Solar. Iגm not mad at him. If Guru allowed this stuff he has to blame himself. People were like, גWhat are you going to do?ג I donגt need to do nothing because Solar is not my enemy. We werenגt there to witness it.
What do you wish you had the chance to tell Guru before he passed?
Letגs make another Gang Starr album. We could have done it independently. We could have shared it ג 7 Grand and Year Round. I wish I stepped to him with enough time to snap him out of that zone.
I spoke to Big Shug for that story and he saidג¦
About him being his real friend and all that stuff?
Yeah. He said that you and Guru were business associates and not friends. Was that true?
Half true. I called Shug the next day after reading it and said, גDamn, thanks for throwing me under the bus.ג He said, גYo man. You know I wouldnגt do that.ג I know how he said it. That statement can be taken the wrong way by readers. I had the right to step to Suge about it even though he originated Gang Starr with Guru. They were friends from Boston. He even said, גWhen I said it, I meant it in that context.ג But I was like, גShug, when you say that to a reporter, itגs going to be looked at like we didnגt have a friendship in the world.ג Shug and I are cool. Heגs my family but I was offended when I read that. Guru wasnגt my friend that I grew up with but you have to have a friendship to have that [business] relationship. Weגve shared two or three girls in a bed, shared hotel rooms because we were on a budget. I knew him like I did grow up with him.
Iגve heard you say that Group Homeגs Livinג Proof was your toughest project
Yup.
A lot of people think itגs your best work.
I had to make it that way [because of] their lack of lyrical ability and technique. Guru brought Lil Dap into the picture. Melachi lived on my block when Guru and I moved to the Bronx. Melachi was my little buddy. He was crazy and a violent kid. I mentored him to keep him out of trouble because he was 7:30. When he said גIגll hit your mother with a metal pipe,ג he will do it. Iגve seen him do stuff I wonגt say on tape. He would only listen to me though.
It seems like you surrounded yourself with all these loose cannons. Why?
My loyalty to Guru. He gave me the opportunity to get to that point in my career. Any smart person would have left Guru and Gang Starr and done their own thing and thatגs because I was tired of the negative energy but I stayed loyal to him. I still love Jeru [the Damaja]. We speak. We just spoke about doing music together again. I held a grudge for many years. Now Iגve learned to let go of that. That is poison in your body. I let go of that grudge I had with Chuck D over גTen Crack Commandments.ג [Writerגs Note: Chuck D sued Premier over sampling his voice on גTen Crack Commandments.ג He objected to his voice being used on a song about drugs.] He said he would dead the issue and when we got home from the Smokinג Grooves tour, he changed his numbers. Back in 1998, 1999, I ran into him at the 7-11. He had his kids with him and we got into it. I told him, גI canגt believe you lied to me.ג This is Chuck D, one of my idols, and I was cursing him out in front of his children. We got the lawsuit and it said Works of Mart, Bad Boy and the Estate of Christopher Wallace. I was like, גHave a heart and let her breath, man.ג She lost a son but he doesnגt like his name or voice associated with drugs or alcohol and I respect that. Just tell me, גFuck off, Iגm suing you.ג Donגt tell me that you are going to dead the issue when we get home from tour, and Donגt worry, youגre not going to pay the money and then I have to pay the money. Puffy helped me out and said he would split the costs. Thatגs why Iגm cool with Puff because he helped me deal with that.
Did you ever resolve the issue with Chuck?
When we were leaving Jam Master Jayגs wake, I was dapping up certain people and then I turned around and itגs Chuck. I just hugged him. I was like, גChuck, I love you.ג I apologized for yelling at him. Weגre cool now and kick it. Even though he got that moneyג$85,000 to be exact.
Did גYaג Playin Yaselfג strain your relationship with Puffy?
Biggie and them took that it the wrong way. We werenגt making that record to diss them. גPlayinג Yaselfג had popped off but Puff had power and got [the song] shut down on Hot 97. We werenגt talking about Kim [with the line about] skimpy ass dresses. It was a bigger scope than that. I wouldnגt have made a record like that and then played both sides of the fence. גOne Dayג is what set the whole thing off. That was talking about the state of hip-hop and how hip-hop had a Versace suit on. We werenגt doing that to diss Big. Big took it that way. I was like, גDude, why would I work with you and then diss you with my crew?ג Same thing when Foxy got mad. Jeru had a good point, he said, גAll I said was that she had fake alligator boots on. I said nothing else about her.ג She said that she was disease infested on גI Shot Ya.ג Jay Black got the worst of it. Jeru said, גWe snatched up Jay Black and beat his bitch ass down.ג Jay Black would be cool with Jeru to his face but then behind his back to this girl, he would be like, גWhy you hanging out with that punk motherfucker?ג She said, גWhat?ג And put the phone next to Jeruגs ear. He said, גWhy you hanging out with that punk motherfucker?ג So Jeru heard him say it on the phone. Next time we were at the Tunnel, Jay Black was right there and Jeru got in his face. When Jeru did גOne Day,ג he was like, גLetגs throw that dart.ג I wasnגt against that.
Did you get the phone call from Puff afterwards?
Oh yeah, Puff called and left the numbers to his house phone, cell phone and boat phone. Him and Jeru kept arguing. It was like, גWord is bond, donגt ever say my name on no more records.ג Jeru was like, גWord is bond? Do you know what גWord is bondג means?ג Puff was like, גYeah, I know what that means. Like I said, Donגt ever say my name on no more records.ג Jeru was like, גI can say whatever I want on my records.ג It didnגt end right. That was around the time I gave Big the track for גKick in the Door.ג Puff didnגt like it and told me that I ainגt hitting it like I used to. He said that with a security guy next to him so I thought he was trying to play me. Big called me the next day and told me to come to the studio. I was like, גSure but I have to make a new beat first.ג He goes, גNah, I want the one you did.ג I said, גPuff donגt like it.ג He said, גFuck Puff. Iגm going to kill it. I got some things to say though. Your man really got me tight.ג I was like, גDo what you got to do.ג I remember the night we held the session, it started off just me and Big. Slowly, throughout the night, more people came in. All of a sudden it looked like they were ganging up on me. I was there by myself on purpose because I [thought] if someone is going to act funny, itגs better if I go alone so if they move on me, we deal with things afterwards. I told Big, גAnyone move on Jeru, Iגm coming back with him.ג And I meant that. Gutta was there. D-Roc was there. Jay Black was there and I had to cover my laugh because I snickered.
What did you think when you heard גKick in the Door?ג
I was blown away by the first verse. Second verse, when he said, גSon, Iגm surprised you run with them,ג I stopped the tape. I was like, גThatגs how you feel?ג He goes, גI told you I had to get back at your man.ג Just on some real nigga shit, I said, גGo on and say what you have to say. Iגm going to let that one go.ג Puff was there. I told Puff, גYou and Jeru had your talk already.ג Big interrupted and goes, גPreme that wasnגt a talk, that was an argument. Nothing got solved.ג I was like, גThat has nothing to do with you.ג He goes, גCגmon man, Versace suit.ג I said in front of all of them, גAnyone has a problem with Jeru then you have a problem with me, so move on me. Beat me up. I donגt want to get beat up but if thatגs what I got to do to show you how loyal I am to my team and that weגre not dissing yaגll. Youגre making a big mistake if you do it.ג Iגll never forget Puff. He was there at Daddyגs House like, גYeah, weגre coming after Jeru the Damaja too!ג Iגll tell you an ill story. The day after Suge did that at the Source Awards was a New Music Seminar convention. [Writerגs Note: Suge Knight dissed Puffy at the 1995 Source Awards.] [People thought] that Suge needs to watch him himself because heגll get jumped in New York. No. We were at a panel with Buckwild and a couple other brothers. Then Big walked in. At the time, [Death Row] wanted Lady of Rage to work with me, I was like, I canגt do it until I get back from my tour. Rage and I were friends for a long time. But Sugeגs brother was like, גIf you canגt do it now, you canגt do it at all.ג We did the songs and they didnגt accept them. Me, Big and Buckwild are kicking it, laughing, chopping it up. All of a sudden, we hear someone go, גYou.ג We look and itגs Suge Knight. We were all leaning against the wall. I go, גMe?ג He goes, גYou.ג He comes over and goes, גYo man, I didnגt really like those songs you did for Rage.ג I was like, גYo, I didnגt want to do the songs but your staff told me I had to. I didnגt have time to do it but thatגs my homie and I want to be on her album.ג He goes, גDonגt worry about [it]. When can yo do some new beats?ג I go, גCouple of weeks.ג He goes, גWell, Dogg Pound is coming out first so you got another month.ג He was talking very civilized. I gave him a hug. Big walks up to Suge and says, גAyo, I want to get in touch with Dre to do a couple of songs on my new album Life After Death.ג Suge just looks at him and goes, גYeah, aight.ג And walks off.
Wow. Youגve worked with all three of these artists. Whoגs the best MC: Biggie, Jay-Z or Nas?
Biggie. I knew Jay before I knew Big though. We were label mates with Jaz-O so he brought Jay with him all the time.
Why did you stop working with Jay after גSo Ghetto?ג
Just timing issues. Iגm known for being slow. Everyone in the industry knows that.
I interviewed you for The Source in 2003. Back then, you told me that there was a time you had personal problems with Jay-Z. Can you elaborate?
I got mad at him for several things. When M.O.P. was coming out with First Family 4 Life, Rocafella said that they would use their logo on the back [of the CD] to promote but when it came time to do the video for ג4 Alarm Blaze,ג they wanted $25,000 for Jay to be in the video. But he said non-recoupable to M.O.P. At the time, I was ignorant. He wasnגt charging M.O.P. He was charging the label. We squashed it. I got mad when Big L died too. Jay said that he would get on The Big Picture. We already had Big Daddy Kane on גPlatinum Plus.ג I gave Jay the reel about a month in advance. I was calling his assistant and she was like, גHeגs going to do it. Itגs at the studio.ג She was telling me the same thing over and over. One day, I saw his assistant and she was like, גThe reels are not here.ג She got up to go the bathroom so I opened the drawer where I had first put it and it was still in there. We deaded that. American Gangster was just a misunderstanding with getting him the track. They found [the track] and took it to Jayגs house. We were calling, no response. One day it was like, גOh, heגs MIA.ג Next day, no response. I donגt care if you say, גNo.ג Just let me know.
There are always these rumors about you producing an entire album for Nas. Why havenגt you guys worked together since ג2nd Childhood?ג Is it just timing?
Yeah. Iגve been waiting for him to say, גLetגs go.ג I just saw him at Rock the Bells in D.C. That was the first time I seen him in a year. He came up to me and these were his exact words: גIf you do this album, will you tour with me?ג I said, גHell yeah.ג Nas and Premier on tour? Thatגs going to be a success. The album will bang.
Besides not working with certain artists, what do you consider to be the greatest disappointment of your career?
I wish I obligated my Terror Squad deal with Fat Joe when I was at Atlantic. I told Joe, גI donגt care if you need an album, Iגll do it for free.ג They gave me a grip of money and I never delivered an album. When I fuck up, I do make up.
The new compilation, DJ Premier Presents Year Round Records: Get Used to Us, has that classic DJ Premier sound. What prompts you to experiment or to switch styles?
I just liked to always top what I already done. There are always going to be similarities though. I can get away from it without you knowing its me. Iגve done Wal-Mart commercials that you wouldnגt know I did. Iגve done Back to School instrumentals for Wal-Mart. If you listen to them now, you will be like, גYup, those are your drums, those are your bounces.ג When it comes to hip-hop, I just always want to do something that will sound like me but be different from the last record I did. Thatגs how I think. Sometimes, I will do something and be like, גMan that cut sounds like the way I did it on that record. Scrap it.ג
How do you respond to criticism that your sound has gotten stagnant these last few years?
It doesnגt bother me. It reminds of something Angus Young from AC/DC said, גMan, they said that we make the same thing 11 or 12 times. Thatגs not true. We do the same thing 13 times.ג It may be stagnant to an over critical person but to a head, they are happy again.
Youגre one of the few big-time producers who never their tried to rap? Why is that?
Itגs not my calling. I might do it one day just for fun. I do plan on it.
Looking forward to it. [Laughs] What else is next for you?
Right now is just getting the label up and running. Iגve had Year Round Records for about six years now. We are finished with the NYGגz album now but we just started mixing so weגre not going to be done by the end of the year. There is the Pete projectגPete Rock vs. Premier. Weגre doing six songs each and not telling each other the artists. I already leaked out two artists that I wantedגBeatnuts and GZA. Iגm also putting together a Gang Starr DVD. Iגm putting out all this footage and sharing it with Guruגs son. We are splitting it 50/50. I went through my legal stuff and I have the rights to Gang Starr with the next of kin, which is his son.
What is the Gang Starr legacy?
The Gang Starr legacy is forever, period. It will never go away. Weגve been crowned icons. Weגve been crowned legends. From Jam Master Jay to Jay-Z to Rakim to Melle Mel to Marley Marl. Every idol that Iגve wanted to like what we were doing, has called us legends. Iגm good. And the music never dies.
Posted December 15th 2010 at 11:56 PM by gimantalon
What did you contribute to Kanyeגs album?
I did a beat for him but he ended up not using it. He came here in the early stages of the album. It was me, him and Showbiz. He played us everything, even the one on Rick Rossג album, גLive Fast, Die Young.ג He was in here dancing around and was all into it. Thatגs Ye, man.
You also did some cuts on [the unreleased Kanye West song] גMamaגs Boyfriend,ג right?
Kanye gave me instructions but it was just as a guide. He let me play around with it. I was cutting a break and releasing it on the drum. He had this voice going, גIגm your best friend.ג I didnגt really like it but I made it work for me. I put it in my Serato from his acappella. He had it going through the whole song over his rapping and I thought it was a little cluttered. I just did my own version.
When was the first time you made one of your signature cut-up choruses?
My crew used to listen to גTaking It to the Topג by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. My MCגs name was Top and it was just doing variations of that word. גTop.ג If you listen to the old Gang Starr records it was just one line like, גMoneyגs growing like grass with the mass appeal.ג גDWYCKג didnגt have a hook, just a transition. Part of it is my DJ memory. I know almost every lyric from every artist; DJגs memorize because we cut and want to double copy shit. Thatגs how we remember so many lyrics. Thatגs why when I hear a line or a title, I know what I want to cut. It just comes to me. Sometimes I just hunt for lines. Then I have to figure where it should go ג first bar, second bar. Do I repeat it? Or do I use it once in the whole 8 bars? Maybe it shouldnגt be the first bar even though itגs fly. Iגll see where it sounds better depending on where the sample lands.
How about chopping a note down like what you did on Biggieגs גUnbelievable?ג
The S950 only holds 60 seconds of sample time so Iגm limited. My drum takes up memory, dope samples take up memory and when I want to add more it runs out of memory. I could just print that and add more but I donגt like that. Now, with technology with Fruity Loops and Logic, you can sample a whole album worth of stuff. People donגt have the same creativity. This worked for me so why take it away? Itגs like The Edge from U2. He has so many sounds but you know its U2 before Bono even starts singing. Same with Rush. Alex Lifeson plays a certain way. My musical knowledge goes beyond hip-hop. I love heavy metal, Metallica. Iגm into Jefferson Starship and acid rock. I used to pop acid when I was young.
Really?
Iגm 44 years old. I was around before crack. I was around when cocaine was normal like if you didnגt have coke, you werenגt cool. It was like, גYou aint got coke? You a sucka.ג It was part of our scene.
What were your acid trips like?
The first time I tripped on acid was right out of high school. I went to this rock concert, the Texas Jam. It was Uriah Heep, Styx, Ted Nugent, a big line up like a Summer Jam. When Uriah Heep came out, I was tripping a little too hard and the guitarist was making devil horns. It seemed like they turned into real horns and he turned into a red devil. Then it looked like his tail came out and was slapping me. I was sitting in the front row. I took off and went to get some water. While I was trying to find water, it seemed like they were following me. Another time in college, one of my suitemates was tripping. We had empty 40 bottles of Olde English everywhere. There was one lying on its side and he said it looked like Jesus was in the bottle saying, גCome here.ג He was trying to get into the bottle, like trying to put his feet in the bottle. I tripped the next day and saw the same thing. It wasnגt Jesus though, it was a guy in the bottle. Everybodyגs trip is not the same.
Legend has it that you stole your first set of turntables during college.
Yes, it was a college dorm thing. This guy had some 1200גs. We thought he was a sucker and we stole his turntables. He never did a thing about it.
When did you decide that you were going to pursue music full time?
It was 1985, ג86 when I decided to try and make it. I decided that if I couldnגt make it in New York, I would be a fan and just buy records and go to concerts.
Around 1987, you met Guru. What were thoughts after first hearing him rap?
I thought he was unique.
Each Gang Starr record, from your debut, No More Mr. Nice Guy, until 1992גs Daily Operation, got better and more successful. Then, in 1993, you branched out, doing production for other artists. I think KRS-Oneגs Return of the Boom-Bap was one of your first high profile freelance projects. Why make the jump?
Ice-Tגs גLifestyles of the Rich and Infamousג was the first but that was just a remix. I didnגt really want to be in Gang Starr. I just wanted to be a guy who made beats. I wanted to work with Gang Starr though so when Guru gave me that chance, I didnגt want to sign. I got a lawyer and he was like, גYouגre signing your life away if you sign this deal.ג But I wanted to make a record so bad so I signed it. We found a real good lawyer, who is still the Gang Starr lawyer, and he got us out of that contract with Wild Pitch. We never dissolved our contract. We are still signed as Gang Starr.
Youגve previously spoken about how you and Guru had some differences. Did those arguments inspire the art?
Yeah, Iגve had songs written about me when we were having problems. גNow Youגre Mineג was written about me. Guru was a lot of personalities. Not גwas,ג he has a lot of personalities. He goes from the coolest fun guy to the meanest, most dangerous guy. He is so many different moods. I used to think he was bipolar but it made our stuff great. We both had three different houses, cars and more cars and our homies are driving our old cars. We had Benzs, BMWגs, Jaguars and we did that with underground Gang Starr money. Thatגs why the last time we spoke, which was on April 1, 2004, we were on a good note. I still have this email stored in my inbox. It was a disagreement about a show in Vail, Colorado that he didnגt want to do. We already got paid for it and he didnגt want to give it back. He was like, גYou canגt do it without me.ג So I did the show. We got the money. It went to the Gang Starr account anyway. He sent me a letter after that saying he wanted to record [elsewhere]. I could mix it here though. That never happened. We even had some royalty issues. We were fighting with people who we sued in 1991. The money had been on hold for 18 years and we just got the money a year before he got sick. We had to correspond with each other because we both had to sign off on it. We got a nice fat six-figure check. We got to divvy that up. It wasnגt none of this, גMy ex-DJ.ג
I interviewed Solar for a story I wrote on Guru [גLost,ג XXL, June 2010]. He said that Guru was upset that you didnגt get him on those tracks you produced for other artists.
Whenever I was hired, I always pushed for Guru to spit a verse. If they are like, גNah,ג I canגt force them to do it. Thatגs why when he got the Jazzmatazz situation, I let that be his gig. I could have done that with him. He was getting all these big budgets and that was all him. He actually caught up with me financially. I was cool with that like, גYeah, now he wonגt complain about who is making more money.ג It was never a secret that his drinking was out of control. That triggered a lot of the jealousy too. Liquor makes you either violent or happy and he was both. He is both. Iגve lived with that for 23 years. I know the last six years we werenגt seeing each other face-to-face and he cleaned up his act.
How tough was it these last few years?
When I would see the stuff with him and old boy, I would be like, גThatגs not him.ג He didnגt look like he was in command.
Everyone has a theory about their relationship. Whatגs yours?
Definitely brainwash. I know Guru. Even when he didnגt like something, he spoke his mind. Now, he was told what to do. I almost wished that he drank a 40 and spazzed out. Even his face didnגt look the same. It looked like something had been taken away from him.
Do you remember Solar hanging around while you were recording The Ownerz?
Totally.
What was he like?
He would speak like he does in all the interviews I see but not to the degree of the controlling part of how Guru seemed to allow. It is what you allow. Thatגs why I canגt be mad at Solar. Iגm not mad at him. If Guru allowed this stuff he has to blame himself. People were like, גWhat are you going to do?ג I donגt need to do nothing because Solar is not my enemy. We werenגt there to witness it.
What do you wish you had the chance to tell Guru before he passed?
Letגs make another Gang Starr album. We could have done it independently. We could have shared it ג 7 Grand and Year Round. I wish I stepped to him with enough time to snap him out of that zone.
I spoke to Big Shug for that story and he saidג¦
About him being his real friend and all that stuff?
Yeah. He said that you and Guru were business associates and not friends. Was that true?
Half true. I called Shug the next day after reading it and said, גDamn, thanks for throwing me under the bus.ג He said, גYo man. You know I wouldnגt do that.ג I know how he said it. That statement can be taken the wrong way by readers. I had the right to step to Suge about it even though he originated Gang Starr with Guru. They were friends from Boston. He even said, גWhen I said it, I meant it in that context.ג But I was like, גShug, when you say that to a reporter, itגs going to be looked at like we didnגt have a friendship in the world.ג Shug and I are cool. Heגs my family but I was offended when I read that. Guru wasnגt my friend that I grew up with but you have to have a friendship to have that [business] relationship. Weגve shared two or three girls in a bed, shared hotel rooms because we were on a budget. I knew him like I did grow up with him.
Iגve heard you say that Group Homeגs Livinג Proof was your toughest project
Yup.
A lot of people think itגs your best work.
I had to make it that way [because of] their lack of lyrical ability and technique. Guru brought Lil Dap into the picture. Melachi lived on my block when Guru and I moved to the Bronx. Melachi was my little buddy. He was crazy and a violent kid. I mentored him to keep him out of trouble because he was 7:30. When he said גIגll hit your mother with a metal pipe,ג he will do it. Iגve seen him do stuff I wonגt say on tape. He would only listen to me though.
It seems like you surrounded yourself with all these loose cannons. Why?
My loyalty to Guru. He gave me the opportunity to get to that point in my career. Any smart person would have left Guru and Gang Starr and done their own thing and thatגs because I was tired of the negative energy but I stayed loyal to him. I still love Jeru [the Damaja]. We speak. We just spoke about doing music together again. I held a grudge for many years. Now Iגve learned to let go of that. That is poison in your body. I let go of that grudge I had with Chuck D over גTen Crack Commandments.ג [Writerגs Note: Chuck D sued Premier over sampling his voice on גTen Crack Commandments.ג He objected to his voice being used on a song about drugs.] He said he would dead the issue and when we got home from the Smokinג Grooves tour, he changed his numbers. Back in 1998, 1999, I ran into him at the 7-11. He had his kids with him and we got into it. I told him, גI canגt believe you lied to me.ג This is Chuck D, one of my idols, and I was cursing him out in front of his children. We got the lawsuit and it said Works of Mart, Bad Boy and the Estate of Christopher Wallace. I was like, גHave a heart and let her breath, man.ג She lost a son but he doesnגt like his name or voice associated with drugs or alcohol and I respect that. Just tell me, גFuck off, Iגm suing you.ג Donגt tell me that you are going to dead the issue when we get home from tour, and Donגt worry, youגre not going to pay the money and then I have to pay the money. Puffy helped me out and said he would split the costs. Thatגs why Iגm cool with Puff because he helped me deal with that.
Did you ever resolve the issue with Chuck?
When we were leaving Jam Master Jayגs wake, I was dapping up certain people and then I turned around and itגs Chuck. I just hugged him. I was like, גChuck, I love you.ג I apologized for yelling at him. Weגre cool now and kick it. Even though he got that moneyג$85,000 to be exact.
Did גYaג Playin Yaselfג strain your relationship with Puffy?
Biggie and them took that it the wrong way. We werenגt making that record to diss them. גPlayinג Yaselfג had popped off but Puff had power and got [the song] shut down on Hot 97. We werenגt talking about Kim [with the line about] skimpy ass dresses. It was a bigger scope than that. I wouldnגt have made a record like that and then played both sides of the fence. גOne Dayג is what set the whole thing off. That was talking about the state of hip-hop and how hip-hop had a Versace suit on. We werenגt doing that to diss Big. Big took it that way. I was like, גDude, why would I work with you and then diss you with my crew?ג Same thing when Foxy got mad. Jeru had a good point, he said, גAll I said was that she had fake alligator boots on. I said nothing else about her.ג She said that she was disease infested on גI Shot Ya.ג Jay Black got the worst of it. Jeru said, גWe snatched up Jay Black and beat his bitch ass down.ג Jay Black would be cool with Jeru to his face but then behind his back to this girl, he would be like, גWhy you hanging out with that punk motherfucker?ג She said, גWhat?ג And put the phone next to Jeruגs ear. He said, גWhy you hanging out with that punk motherfucker?ג So Jeru heard him say it on the phone. Next time we were at the Tunnel, Jay Black was right there and Jeru got in his face. When Jeru did גOne Day,ג he was like, גLetגs throw that dart.ג I wasnגt against that.
Did you get the phone call from Puff afterwards?
Oh yeah, Puff called and left the numbers to his house phone, cell phone and boat phone. Him and Jeru kept arguing. It was like, גWord is bond, donגt ever say my name on no more records.ג Jeru was like, גWord is bond? Do you know what גWord is bondג means?ג Puff was like, גYeah, I know what that means. Like I said, Donגt ever say my name on no more records.ג Jeru was like, גI can say whatever I want on my records.ג It didnגt end right. That was around the time I gave Big the track for גKick in the Door.ג Puff didnגt like it and told me that I ainגt hitting it like I used to. He said that with a security guy next to him so I thought he was trying to play me. Big called me the next day and told me to come to the studio. I was like, גSure but I have to make a new beat first.ג He goes, גNah, I want the one you did.ג I said, גPuff donגt like it.ג He said, גFuck Puff. Iגm going to kill it. I got some things to say though. Your man really got me tight.ג I was like, גDo what you got to do.ג I remember the night we held the session, it started off just me and Big. Slowly, throughout the night, more people came in. All of a sudden it looked like they were ganging up on me. I was there by myself on purpose because I [thought] if someone is going to act funny, itגs better if I go alone so if they move on me, we deal with things afterwards. I told Big, גAnyone move on Jeru, Iגm coming back with him.ג And I meant that. Gutta was there. D-Roc was there. Jay Black was there and I had to cover my laugh because I snickered.
What did you think when you heard גKick in the Door?ג
I was blown away by the first verse. Second verse, when he said, גSon, Iגm surprised you run with them,ג I stopped the tape. I was like, גThatגs how you feel?ג He goes, גI told you I had to get back at your man.ג Just on some real nigga shit, I said, גGo on and say what you have to say. Iגm going to let that one go.ג Puff was there. I told Puff, גYou and Jeru had your talk already.ג Big interrupted and goes, גPreme that wasnגt a talk, that was an argument. Nothing got solved.ג I was like, גThat has nothing to do with you.ג He goes, גCגmon man, Versace suit.ג I said in front of all of them, גAnyone has a problem with Jeru then you have a problem with me, so move on me. Beat me up. I donגt want to get beat up but if thatגs what I got to do to show you how loyal I am to my team and that weגre not dissing yaגll. Youגre making a big mistake if you do it.ג Iגll never forget Puff. He was there at Daddyגs House like, גYeah, weגre coming after Jeru the Damaja too!ג Iגll tell you an ill story. The day after Suge did that at the Source Awards was a New Music Seminar convention. [Writerגs Note: Suge Knight dissed Puffy at the 1995 Source Awards.] [People thought] that Suge needs to watch him himself because heגll get jumped in New York. No. We were at a panel with Buckwild and a couple other brothers. Then Big walked in. At the time, [Death Row] wanted Lady of Rage to work with me, I was like, I canגt do it until I get back from my tour. Rage and I were friends for a long time. But Sugeגs brother was like, גIf you canגt do it now, you canגt do it at all.ג We did the songs and they didnגt accept them. Me, Big and Buckwild are kicking it, laughing, chopping it up. All of a sudden, we hear someone go, גYou.ג We look and itגs Suge Knight. We were all leaning against the wall. I go, גMe?ג He goes, גYou.ג He comes over and goes, גYo man, I didnגt really like those songs you did for Rage.ג I was like, גYo, I didnגt want to do the songs but your staff told me I had to. I didnגt have time to do it but thatגs my homie and I want to be on her album.ג He goes, גDonגt worry about [it]. When can yo do some new beats?ג I go, גCouple of weeks.ג He goes, גWell, Dogg Pound is coming out first so you got another month.ג He was talking very civilized. I gave him a hug. Big walks up to Suge and says, גAyo, I want to get in touch with Dre to do a couple of songs on my new album Life After Death.ג Suge just looks at him and goes, גYeah, aight.ג And walks off.
Wow. Youגve worked with all three of these artists. Whoגs the best MC: Biggie, Jay-Z or Nas?
Biggie. I knew Jay before I knew Big though. We were label mates with Jaz-O so he brought Jay with him all the time.
Why did you stop working with Jay after גSo Ghetto?ג
Just timing issues. Iגm known for being slow. Everyone in the industry knows that.
I interviewed you for The Source in 2003. Back then, you told me that there was a time you had personal problems with Jay-Z. Can you elaborate?
I got mad at him for several things. When M.O.P. was coming out with First Family 4 Life, Rocafella said that they would use their logo on the back [of the CD] to promote but when it came time to do the video for ג4 Alarm Blaze,ג they wanted $25,000 for Jay to be in the video. But he said non-recoupable to M.O.P. At the time, I was ignorant. He wasnגt charging M.O.P. He was charging the label. We squashed it. I got mad when Big L died too. Jay said that he would get on The Big Picture. We already had Big Daddy Kane on גPlatinum Plus.ג I gave Jay the reel about a month in advance. I was calling his assistant and she was like, גHeגs going to do it. Itגs at the studio.ג She was telling me the same thing over and over. One day, I saw his assistant and she was like, גThe reels are not here.ג She got up to go the bathroom so I opened the drawer where I had first put it and it was still in there. We deaded that. American Gangster was just a misunderstanding with getting him the track. They found [the track] and took it to Jayגs house. We were calling, no response. One day it was like, גOh, heגs MIA.ג Next day, no response. I donגt care if you say, גNo.ג Just let me know.
There are always these rumors about you producing an entire album for Nas. Why havenגt you guys worked together since ג2nd Childhood?ג Is it just timing?
Yeah. Iגve been waiting for him to say, גLetגs go.ג I just saw him at Rock the Bells in D.C. That was the first time I seen him in a year. He came up to me and these were his exact words: גIf you do this album, will you tour with me?ג I said, גHell yeah.ג Nas and Premier on tour? Thatגs going to be a success. The album will bang.
Besides not working with certain artists, what do you consider to be the greatest disappointment of your career?
I wish I obligated my Terror Squad deal with Fat Joe when I was at Atlantic. I told Joe, גI donגt care if you need an album, Iגll do it for free.ג They gave me a grip of money and I never delivered an album. When I fuck up, I do make up.
The new compilation, DJ Premier Presents Year Round Records: Get Used to Us, has that classic DJ Premier sound. What prompts you to experiment or to switch styles?
I just liked to always top what I already done. There are always going to be similarities though. I can get away from it without you knowing its me. Iגve done Wal-Mart commercials that you wouldnגt know I did. Iגve done Back to School instrumentals for Wal-Mart. If you listen to them now, you will be like, גYup, those are your drums, those are your bounces.ג When it comes to hip-hop, I just always want to do something that will sound like me but be different from the last record I did. Thatגs how I think. Sometimes, I will do something and be like, גMan that cut sounds like the way I did it on that record. Scrap it.ג
How do you respond to criticism that your sound has gotten stagnant these last few years?
It doesnגt bother me. It reminds of something Angus Young from AC/DC said, גMan, they said that we make the same thing 11 or 12 times. Thatגs not true. We do the same thing 13 times.ג It may be stagnant to an over critical person but to a head, they are happy again.
Youגre one of the few big-time producers who never their tried to rap? Why is that?
Itגs not my calling. I might do it one day just for fun. I do plan on it.
Looking forward to it. [Laughs] What else is next for you?
Right now is just getting the label up and running. Iגve had Year Round Records for about six years now. We are finished with the NYGגz album now but we just started mixing so weגre not going to be done by the end of the year. There is the Pete projectגPete Rock vs. Premier. Weגre doing six songs each and not telling each other the artists. I already leaked out two artists that I wantedגBeatnuts and GZA. Iגm also putting together a Gang Starr DVD. Iגm putting out all this footage and sharing it with Guruגs son. We are splitting it 50/50. I went through my legal stuff and I have the rights to Gang Starr with the next of kin, which is his son.
What is the Gang Starr legacy?
The Gang Starr legacy is forever, period. It will never go away. Weגve been crowned icons. Weגve been crowned legends. From Jam Master Jay to Jay-Z to Rakim to Melle Mel to Marley Marl. Every idol that Iגve wanted to like what we were doing, has called us legends. Iגm good. And the music never dies.
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Philaflava
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Philaflava
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in fairness to him he usually does his best to make them different, which cant be easy given that he's always asked about Nas/Jay/Biggie every fucking time.Thun wrote:Impressive, since he's done about 200 in the past year.Philaflava wrote:its the most honest interview he's ever done.
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stype_ones
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Escobar305
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at Puff shutting down 'Playin' Yaself.'What happened with this ?Philaflava wrote:Big walks up to Suge and says, גAyo, I want to get in touch with Dre to do a couple of songs on my new album Life After Death.ג Suge just looks at him and goes, גYeah, aight.ג And walks off.
If this could happen before Pun died then damn Preem.Philaflava wrote: I wish I obligated my Terror Squad deal with Fat Joe when I was at Atlantic.
Resolved Question
Does Biggie Smalls hate HipHop???
"Shoulda been a cop, Fukc Hiphop"
I've been wondering what he meant by this.
Additional Details
Rap sucks, HipHop is better
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Naw, he likes hip hop and rap. He was just referring to if he hadn't started rapping he would've been a cop.
So he's cursing it, not that he doesn't like it, just for the sake of it.
Does Biggie Smalls hate HipHop???
"Shoulda been a cop, Fukc Hiphop"
I've been wondering what he meant by this.
Additional Details
Rap sucks, HipHop is better
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Naw, he likes hip hop and rap. He was just referring to if he hadn't started rapping he would've been a cop.
So he's cursing it, not that he doesn't like it, just for the sake of it.
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Philaflava
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stype_ones
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How much do you think he is worth? A few million TOPS. And that is prob a stretch. He might have been commanding high fees in the mid to late 90's and early 2000's, but in the last few years, he could not have been getting much money for the beats he has been producing for the likes of Reks, AZ, Poet and whoever else. Jay, Nas and other artists who might actually have a big budget have not used him in years. He has not toured with Gangstarr is years.Philaflava wrote:He doesn't seem as well off as I originally thought. Having Puff split a bit for 85K or talking about splitting 50K with Guru on some old lawsuit seems like peanuts for a guy of his caliber.
I don't know, but I have to imagine that 80 or 100K is a lot of money to him.
He was in another interview recently saying he's done some music for ESPN which Id guess pays pretty well, plus he'll have got good money from things like the Limp Bizkit and Christina Aguilera stuff. He tours regularly. Im sure he's far from broke. I think he put alot of money into buying D&D though.
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