DJ Premier Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records
By Jaeki Cho | Feb 18, 2011 | 2:07 pm | Permalink
Nas “N.Y. State of Mind” (1994)
DJ Premier: “That was just amazing because it happened in this room. Actually, anything from ‘92 and on, we did it here. It was just amazing watching him work because I was already a fan of him when he did ‘Back to the Grill,’ ‘Halftime,’ ‘It Ain't Hard to Tell,’ and ‘Live at the Barbeque.’ So when I heard him on those records I was like, ‘Yo, I got to do something that’s on the same level.’ So I came in here, and flipped the ill, gutter, Joe Chambers sample (‘Mind Rain’). I can tell you because it’s cleared. [Laughs.] Nas watched me build the beat from scratch. And he wrote the verse in the studio. If you listen to ‘N.Y. State of Mind’ you’ll hear him going, ‘I don’t know how to start this shit,’ because he literally just wrote it. Before he started the verse, I was signaling him going, ‘One, two, three,’ and he just goes in like, ‘Rappers I monkey flip’em, in the funky rhythm." He did that in one take. After he did that first verse, he goes, ‘How was that? Did that sound all right?’ And we were just like, ‘Oh, my God! The streets are going to go crazy when they hear this!’
“It was one take, but he would format it before. He’ll sit at the front, cover his mouth when the beat’s playing, and would mumble it. So we can’t hear what he’s saying. He was real quiet, but he would bring his whole army. Rest in peace to Drawz, by the way. He just died not too long ago. I remember [Nas] bringing Slate, Wallet Head, basically, all the people he was shouting out. They would be like, ‘Can we go in [the booth] too?’ They just wanted to feel it, you know? It was just funny to watch them all in the booth doing ‘Represent,’ and yelling in the background.”
Bobby W. February 18th, 2011 at 03:11 PM
Further proof that Canibus is a moron and has the worst ear for beats [#28].
BillyAndyIII February 19th, 2011 at 06:25 AM
For real. What the hell was THAT fool thinking? Canibus' ear for beats is highly flawed.
Tiggidy February 25th, 2011 at 09:58 PM
I think Canibus made the right decision.
triPAUD February 19th, 2011 at 10:50 PM
I don't know what you're referencing, but that bis has had one of the better primo beats in the last year or so.
rick February 22nd, 2011 at 12:21 PM
^^^hahah did you read teh D'Angelo primo track?
kidtruth April 18th, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Canibus has a sick Premiere beat on his newest album (track is called Golden Terra of Rap) which he kills. go check it out on Youtube. Maybe the dude is finally learning how to pick beats.
dmfslimm February 18th, 2011 at 04:07 PM
once again, thank you complex. and thank you preemo. @bobby w i know right. wtf was he thinking.
Harris February 18th, 2011 at 04:24 PM
Rah Digga really passed on It's All Real? God damn, that's one of Preme's hottest beats of the last decade.
Tiggidy February 25th, 2011 at 10:00 PM
That is hard to fathom.
Phillz February 18th, 2011 at 04:28 PM
Premo is KING. GREAT breakdowns. Legendary! Want EVERYBODY who LOVES HIPHOP to check out my ode to Premo & Guru. "World Premier...Now Premiering" Hosted By DJ OnPoint featured on Thisis50.com! http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/dj-on-point-amp-phillz-the-mc
yprichb February 18th, 2011 at 05:04 PM
Premier=G.O.A.T.
Rick February 18th, 2011 at 06:03 PM
If you look at Dailey Operation's track list. You'll see DWYCK is listed as one of the tracks.
Shawn Biggs February 18th, 2011 at 06:58 PM
Where's "Bring it On" with Jay-Z off Reasonable Doubt. I'm upset it aint make the cut lol -_- SOUNDCLOUD.COM/SHAWNBIGGS
JAJ February 18th, 2011 at 07:08 PM
i cant believe all these artists passing on these dope Premo beats , Royce's Hip hop beats is a straight up banger , how anyone can pass on this beat is beyond me. Canibus & Rah Digga passing on dope Premo beats , it is crazy. Premo is the Best hip hop producer ever hands down. Keep it up Premo as long as your doing beats hip hop is alive & well !
JAJ February 18th, 2011 at 07:16 PM
Rah Digga should just retire , you know how many mcs would kill for a Premo beat & she passing on & not using these classic beats. I know she is dope 4 a female mc but damn girl get your ish 2gether. Ya & big ups 2 complex 4 this dope ass interview , love when artists go back & talk about old albums & songs.
hudes February 18th, 2011 at 07:30 PM
wheres the FORMAT with AZ or the come up? but nonetheless nice fucking read