Coordinates	19°42′20″N155°5′9″N
name	Slick Rick
background	solo_singer
birth name	Richard Walters
born	January 14, 1965London, England
genre	Hip hop
occupation	Rapper, record producer
years active	1982–present
label	Def Jam, Columbia, CBS Records, PolyGram, Universal
associated acts	Doug E. Fresh, Nas, Prince Paul, Dana Dane
website	}}

Richard Walters (born January 14, 1965), better known by his stage name Slick Rick (also known as MC Ricky D and Rick the Ruler) is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper. He began his career in late 1983, in the hip hop genre, where he recorded a series of acclaimed recordings such as, "Children's Story", "La Di Da Di" and "Hey Young World." Walters is best known for his British accent and his story telling innovations in this genre. His music has been frequently sampled and interpolated by other artists such as, TLC, Black Star, The Notorious B.I.G. and Snoop Dogg, with many of these songs later becoming hit singles. Slick Rick rose to stardom in an era known to fans as the Golden age of hip hop.

Career

Originally from South Wimbledon in South West London, England, Walters moved with his British Jamaican family to The Bronx in 1977 where he met Dana Dane with whom he later formed a hip hop duo known as the Kangol Crew. Walters received his characteristic eye patch after being blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant. Once he gained a degree of wealth, Walters earned a reputation for wearing the eye patch over his right eye, and a significant amount of gold and diamond jewelry.

He first gained success in the rap industry by joining Doug E. Fresh's Get Fresh Crew, with the stage name MC Ricky D. He was featured on two singles, "The Show" and "La Di Da Di". "La Di Da Di" featured Walters' rapping over Doug E. Fresh's beatbox. These singles gained some mainstream attention. In 1988 Walters' solo debut ''The Great Adventures of Slick Rick'' came out on Def Jam Records. The album was very successful, reaching the #1 spot on Billboard's R&B;/Hip-Hop chart. It also featured three charting singles: "Children's Story", "Hey Young World", and "Teenage Love". These are now some of Walters' best known songs.

In 1990, Walters shot a bystander and his cousin whom he had hired as a bodyguard and who later admitted to having Walters shot outside a club. Walters was indicted on two counts of attempted murder and pled guilty to all charges, which included assault, use of a firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon. He spent five years in prison, two for the second degree attempted murder charges he received for the shooting, and three for his struggle with the Immigration and Naturalization Services over his residency in the US. He was bailed out by Russell Simmons, head of Def Jam records. After being bailed out Walters recorded his second album, ''The Ruler's Back''. The album got mixed reviews and wasn't as commercially successful as his debut. In the documentary film, The Show, Russell Simmons interviews Walters while he was a prisoner on Rikers Island.

Walters' third studio album ''Behind Bars'' was released while he was still incarcerated. It was met with lukewarm sales and reviews. After being released from prison in 1996, Walters remained with the Def Jam label and on May 25, 1999, released a fourth album entitled ''The Art of Storytelling''. Generally considered the authentic follow up to his 1988 debut, ''The Art of Storytelling'' was an artistically successful comeback album that paired him with prolific MCs like Nas, OutKast, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg among others. On October 6, 2008, Rick was honoured on the VH1 Hip Hop Honors show.

"La Di Da Di", "Mona Lisa" and "Children's Story" are among Walters most well known songs, with "La Di Da Di" being covered nearly word-for-word by Snoop Dogg on his 1993 album ''Doggystyle''. Lines from "La Di Da Di" were borrowed by other multiple high profile artists. "Children's Story" was sampled by Montell Jordan for his 1995 hit, "This Is How We Do It", and rapper Everlast covered the song for his album Eat at Whitey's. Rapper Eminem also borrowed from the song extensively in his diss track "Can-I-Bitch". "Children's Story" was covered with similar lyrics by the MC duo Black Star on their 1998 album "Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star", as well as by Tricky on the album Nearly God. It was also paid tribute to by A Tribe Called Quest on their song "8 Million Stories". With a similar backing and very similar lyrics, rapper The Game also made a similar song which was named "Compton Story". "Compton Story" was on the Mixtape BWS Radio 5 made in 2008. The chorus of Notorious B.I.G.'s song "Hypnotize" is also derived from "La Di Da Di".

Slick Rick was referenced in the Nicki Minaj song Super Bass: "...slicker than the guy with the thing on his eye."

Rapping style

Slick Rick’s style is commended by music critics - music journalist Peter Shapiro says, “‘La Di Da Di' was important because of its narrative structure and Rick’s understanding of how crucial little sonic details—such as his use of a female voice and his yawning rap—were to hip hop style.”

He is largely known for his story raps, such as ‘Children’s Story’ and ‘La Di Da Di' – “he largely introduced the art of narrative into hip hop… none of the spinners of picaresque rhymes who followed did it with the same grace or humor.” - Allmusic states that he has the “reputation as hip hop's greatest storyteller.” In the book ''Check the Technique'', Slick Rick says, “I was never the type to say freestyle raps, I usually tell a story, and to do that well I’ve always had to work things out beforehand.” Kool Moe Dee comments, “Slick Rick raised the lost art of hip hop storytelling to a level never seen again.” Devin the Dude notes that Slick Rick’s ‘Indian Girl’ is a good example of the type of humor that existed in hip hop’s golden era, and Peter Shapiro says that “he was funnier than Rudy Ray Moore or Red Foxx”.

Slick Rick uses very clear enunciation and raps with the “Queen’s English”. O.C. states: “''The Great Adventures of Slick Rick'' is one of the greatest albums ever… the stuff he was just saying on there, it was so clear… the [clear] syllable dude was Slick Rick for me”. He is also renowned for his unique “smooth, British-tinged flow” which contains distinct structures - in the book ''How to Rap'', it is noted that on the song ‘I Own America’, he “puts a rest on almost every other 1 beat so that each set of two lines begins with a rest,”. Kool Moe Dee states that, “Rick accomplished being totally original at a time when most MCs were using very similar cadences.” He has what is described as “singsong cadences” - Andy Cat of Ugly Duckling mentions that Slick Rick uses a melodic delivery on the track ‘Hey Young World’. Slick Rick is also known to extensively use punch ins, especially in his story rhymes as different characters - Kool Moe Dee says Rick used “multi-voices to portray multiple characters.”

Personal life

Rumours suggested that Walters planned to release a new album, "The Adventure Continues," in 2007. However, in a recent XXL Magazine interview, he denied the claim. Rick is supposedly "waiting for a market to open up for a mature audience."

Legal issues

After performing on a Caribbean cruise ship in June 2001, Walters was arrested by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) as he re-entered the United States through Florida. He was promptly told that he was being deported because he was a British citizen since he had been born in London and moved to the States as a youth. Rick was continuously refused bail, but after 17 months in prison he was released on November 7, 2003. In October 2006, the Department of Homeland Security began a new attempt to deport Walters, moving the case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit based in New York to the more conservative Eleventh Circuit. The court is based in Atlanta, Georgia but the trial was expected to proceed in Florida, where immigration agents originally arrested Walters.

On May 23, 2008, New York Gov. David Paterson granted Slick Rick a full and unconditional pardon on the attempted murder charges. The governor was pleased with his behavior since the mishap. He has volunteered his time to mentor youths about violence.

Discography

Albums

''The Great Adventures of Slick Rick''

*Released: November 3, 1988

*Billboard 200 chart position: #31

*R&B;/Hip-Hop chart position: #1

Last RIAA Certification: Platinum

*Singles: "Teenage Love", "Children's Story" & "Hey Young World"

''The Ruler's Back''

*Released: July 2, 1991

*Billboard 200 chart position: #29

*R&B;/Hip-Hop chart position: #18

*Last RIAA Certification: None

*Singles: " A Woman in Love With Other Men", "It's A Boy" & "I Shouldn't Have Done It"

''Behind Bars''

*Released: November 22, 1994

*Billboard 200 chart position: #51

*R&B;/Hip-Hop chart position: #11

*Last RIAA Certification: None

*Singles: "Behind Bars" & "Sittin' In My Car"

''The Art of Storytelling''

*Released: May 25, 1999

*Billboard 200 chart position: #8

*R&B;/Hip-Hop chart position: #1

Last RIAA Certification: Gold

*Singles: "Street Talkin'"

The Adventure Continues

2011

Singles

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Featured Singles

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Appearances

1986: "The Show (Oh My God! Remix)" (from the Doug E Fresh album ''Oh My God!'')

1989: "If I'm Not Your Lover (12" remix from the Al B. Sure! album ''In Effect Mode'')

1991: "Get Bizzy" (from the Greyson & Jaysun album ''Livin Like a Troopa'')

1994: "Let's All Get Down" (from the Nice & Smooth album ''Jewel of the Nile'')

1994: "Move On..." (from the compilation ''The Show (Original Soundtrack)'')

1996: ''I Like'' (From the Montell Jordan album ''More'')

1996: "Got To Give It Up" (from the Aaliyah album ''One in a Million'')

1997: "Just Another Case" (from the CRU album ''Da Dirty 30'')

1998: "Fresh" (from the Jermaine Dupri album ''Life In 1472'')

1998: "Faces Of Def" (bonus track on Jayo Felony's ''Watcha Gonna Do?'')

1998: "Unify" (from the Kid Capri album ''Soundtrack to the Streets'')

1998: "Pimpin' Ain't Easy" (from ''WWF Aggression'' with Ice-T & Charles Wright)

1999: "If We Give You A Chance" (from the Warren G album ''I Want It All'')

1999: "Your Moms House"

1999: "Night Riders" (from the Rahzel album ''Make The Music 2000'')

1999: "So Fresh" (from the Will Smith album ''Willennium'')

1999: "Don't Come My Way" (from the Whiteboys soundtrack with Common)

1999: "Da Art of Storytellin' (Pt. 1)" (from the OutKast album ''Aquemini'')

2000: "Why Not" (from the Erick Sermon album ''Def Squad Presents Erick Onasis'')

2001: "What We Do (For Love)" (from the De La Soul album ''AOI: Bionix'')

2001: "Pie" (from ''WWF The Music, Vol. 5'' with The Rock)

2001: "Girls, Girls, Girls" (from the Jay-Z album ''The Blueprint'')

2001: "Guidance Counselor"(from the Little-T And One Track Mike album ''Fome Is Dape'')

2001: "Hey Young World, Part 2" (from the Macy Gray album ''The Id'')

2002: "Women Lose Weight" (from the Morcheeba album ''Charango'')

2004: "The Return (Remix)" (from the Jay-Z/R. Kelly album ''Unfinished Business'')

2005: Performs live for Vox Entertainment @ Club Strata NYC

2005: "The Sun" (from the Ghostface Killah album ''Put It on the Line'')

2005: "Irresistible Delicious" (from the Missy Elliott album ''The Cookbook'')

2006: "Vows" (from the Juggaknots album ''Use Your Confusion'')

2007: "Hip Hop Police" (from the Chamillionaire album ''Ultimate Victory'')

2008: "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" (Honoree)

2009: "Y.O.U." (from the Asher Roth album ''Asleep in the Bread Aisle'' - UK bonus track)

2009: "Auditorium" (from the Mos Def album ''The Ecstatic'')

2009: "We Will Rob You" (from the Raekwon album ''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II'')

2009: "Family Jewels" (from the Dynas album ''The Apartment'')

2010: "Rock The Bells 2010" (from album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick)

Filmography

Backstage appearance on Jay-Z's ''Fade to Black'' DVD.

Cameo in Ludacris's music video for the single, "Number One Spot".

Cameo, wearing his excessive jewelry in the New York Shit music video (2:56) by Busta Rhymes featuring Swizz Beatz.

Himself in the game ''Def Jam: Fight for NY''.

Drug kingpin in the 1999 movie ''Whiteboyz'', co-starring fellow rappers Doug E. Fresh, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe, Dead Prez and Mic Geronimo.

Cameo in the film ''Brown Sugar'', which starred Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan.

Himself in the seminal Run DMC film, ''Tougher Than Leather'', performing the song Treat Her Like a Prostitute.

Interviewee in 1995 documentary ''The Show''

Opened Chris Rock's Apollo Theatre comedy Show Bigger & Blacker

Featured in the 2011 film ''Rhyme and Punishment'', which documented his time in prison.

References

External links

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:African American rappers Category:American musicians of English descent Category:American people convicted of assault Category:American people convicted of attempted murder Category:American rappers of Jamaican descent Category:British expatriates in the United States Category:British people convicted of assault Category:Columbia Records artists Category:Def Jam Recordings artists Category:English people of Jamaican descent Category:English rappers Category:People from South Wimbledon Category:People from the Bronx Category:People from Wimbledon, London Category:Rappers from New York City Category:Recipients of American gubernatorial pardons

da:Slick Rick de:Slick Rick es:Slick Rick fr:Slick Rick it:Slick Rick nl:Slick Rick no:Slick Rick pl:Slick Rick pt:Slick Rick sv:Slick Rick

Coordinates	19°42′20″N155°5′9″N
name	Doug E. Fresh
background	solo_singer
birth name	Douglas E. Davis
born	September 17, 1966Christ Church, Barbados
origin	New York
genre	Hip hop
occupation	Beatboxer, rapper, record producer
years active	1983–present
label	Enjoy RecordsDanya/Reality/Fantasy RecordsBust it/Capitol/EMI RecordsGee Street/Island/PolyGram Records
associated acts	Boo-Dah Bliss CrewThe Get Fresh CrewTreacherous ThreeSlick RickE-Z RollersViciousMC HammerFat Boys }}

Douglas E. Davis (born September 17, 1966), better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as "the Human Beat Box". One of the early pioneers of beatboxing, Fresh is able to accurately imitate drum machines and various special effects using only his mouth, throat and a microphone.

Music career

Although he began his recording career as a solo artist as one of the last artists on Enjoy Records and one of the first on Vintertainment Records (the same New York-based label owned by Vincent Davis that would later make a name of Hip-Hop artist Joeski Love and bring R&B; icon Keith Sweat to ultimate fame), it was when he and a new team of DJs known as The Get Fresh Crew (Barry Bee and Chill Will) along with a newcomer named MC Ricky D (who would later achieve fame as Slick Rick) came to fledgling New Jersey-based Hip-Hop label Reality/Danya Records the following year and recorded "The Show" (which borrowed the melody of the ''Inspector Gadget'' theme), and "La Di Da Di", a tune that was completely voiced by MC Ricky D and backed by Doug E's beat box for the entire duration of the song. It was when both of these songs were released on a single (particularly 12" single) that broke him (and Slick Rick) into stardom. Both "The Show" and "La-Di-Da-Di" are considered two of the all-time greatest early hip hop classics, and, as such make up one of the first and only Hip-Hop singles to have two hit songs on the same disc.

"The Show" peaked at #7 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1985.

Unfortunately, Slick Rick would leave the group almost a year after the single was released leaving many wondering what happened to him until 1988 when he became a Def Jam artist and released his debut album ''The Great Adventures of Slick Rick''. Doug E. Fresh and The Get Fresh Crew soldiered on, now officially signed to Reality/Danya and releasing two albums from that period -- ''Oh, My God!'' from 1986 (which includes the hit song "All The Way To Heaven") and ''The World's Greatest Entertainer'' from 1988—both of which are now long out of print and extremely rare. The main single from the album ''The World's Greatest Entertainer'' was "Keep Risin' To The Top" which was named after Keni Burke's then-obscure 1981 hit "Keep Rising To The Top", which, thanks to being sampled in Doug E. Fresh's song, has become Keni's signature tune. Doug E.'s "Keep Risin' To The Top" also samples the main chorus phrase of Heatwave's 1976 classic, "Ain't No Half Steppin", which Big Daddy Kane ''also'' sampled that same year for his song of the same name.

In 1992, after a four-year hiatus, Doug E. Fresh joined with MC Hammer's label, Bust It Records and issued one album, ''Doin' What I Gotta Do'', which (despite some minor acclaim for his single "Bustin' Out (On Funk)" which samples the Rick James 1979 single, "Bustin' Out") was a commercial failure.

In 1993, Doug E. Fresh found a new home at Island Records affiliated label Gee Street under their new division Gee Street Independent. At the time, he managed only to release one single which contained three songs -- "I-ight (Alright)", which was the main song, "Bounce", and "Freaks". Although "I-ight" (which originated the now-famous club chant "Heyyyyyy, YO!... I-iiiiight?") was slated to become the first major hit for Doug in 5 years, it was almost immediately overshadowed by "Freaks", a Dancehall tune beatboxed entirely by Doug E. and vocalized mainly by his protege, a Brooklyn-born Jamaican teenage newcomer named Lil' Vicious. The song received major radio and club play, followed by video play when the video was finally produced a few months into 1994. Lil' Vicious would soon drop the "Lil'" from his name and ink a deal with Sony Music's Epic Records for three years, although he would only sire one album, ''Destination Brooklyn''.

In 1995, Slick Rick and Fresh reunited for a track on an album titled ''Play'', which found Fresh back on his feet. ''Play'' received positive reviews; Bret Love wrote that the record is "a welcome flashback to the days when guns, drugs, sex and violence were not the genre's primary lyrical focus."

On May 23, 2007, Fresh performed variations upon "The Show" with finalist Blake Lewis on the season-six finale of ''American Idol'', the first ever hip-hop performance on the show.

2010 saw Fresh make a small comeback in popular culture as rap group Cali Swag District brought back some of his trademark dance moves with their song "Teach Me How to Dougie." Members of Cali Swag District saw Texas college students doing a local dance created in Dallas called the D-Town Boogie. They recognized it as a modified version of Fresh's dance moves and decided to create a song that would feature the dance, but also give Fresh his due credit.

On June 27, 2010, Fresh came out and performed with Cali Swag District while they were performing their song Teach Me How to Dougie at the BET Awards Pre-show.

On Nov. 8, 2010 Doug E. Fresh appeared at the Soul Train Awards where he taught CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer how to Dougie on stage as part of the show.

On Dec. 10, 2010 Fresh appeared on ESPN First Take to speak about the phenomenon of the Dougie as a sports celebration. As part of the show he, Lomas Brown, and Skip Bayless voted on the best sports related Dougie's. The Dougie performed by Bayless himself on ESPN First Take was voted by Fresh as the best, although he rated Wolf Blitzer's Dougie at the Soul Train Awards the best but it had no sports association.

Personal life

Fresh is a member of the Church of Scientology. He has performed for large audiences of its adherents at the Scientology Celebrity Center's Anniversary Gala in 2004. He also performed two tracks on the Scientology music album ''The Joy of Creating'' (other artists appearing include Isaac Hayes, Chick Corea, Edgar Winter, and Carl Anderson).

Fresh is the spokesperson for the Hip Hop Public Health Education Center at Harlem Hospital Center, in New York City.

Fresh opened a restaurant in New York City called Doug E.'s Chicken and Waffles. He also has stated he has a club called Fresh. Doug E Fresh also performed at The Paradise Theater August 12, 2010. The concert was entitled "The Show" brought to you by David L David (Spinback Entertainment).

Doug, who is the father of five, manages his sons Trips and Slims’ rap group Square Off. Doug E.’s brother-in-law Gleamz is also a member of rap group Square Off.

Discography

Albums

''Oh, My God!'' (1986, Reality/Danya/Fantasy) (with the Get Fresh Crew)

''The World's Greatest Entertainer'' (1988, Reality/Danya/Fantasy) (with the Get Fresh Crew)

''Doin' What I Gotta Do'' (1992, Bust It/Capitol/EMI) (with the New Get Fresh Crew)

''Play'' (1995, Gee Street/Island/PolyGram)

''Alright'' (1996, Gee Street/Island/PolyGram)

Singles

"Just Having Fun (Do the Beatbox)" [1984, Enjoy]

"The Original Human Beatbox" [1984, Vintertainment] (''credited as Dougy Fresh'')

"The Show" (with the Get Fresh Crew & M.C. Ricky D)/"La Di Da Di" (with M.C. Ricky D) [1985, Reality/Danya/Fantasy] - Platinum

"All The Way To Heaven" (with The Get Fresh Crew) [1986, Reality/Danya/Fantasy]

"Lovin' Every Minute Of It (Cyclone Ride)" [1986, Reality/Danya/Fantasy]

"Keep Risin' To The Top"/"Guess Who?" (with The Get Fresh Crew) [1988, Reality/Danya/Fantasy]

"Spirit" (1989, MCA) (with the Get Fresh Crew)

"Summertime" [1989, Reality/Fantasy] (with the Get Fresh Crew)

"Bustin' Out" [1992, Bust It/Capitol/EMI] (with the New Get Fresh Crew)

"I-ight (Alright)" / "Freaks" (featuring Lil' Vicious) (1993, Gee Street Independent/4th & B'way/Island)

"Superstition" [1997, Hollywood] (with the Get Fresh Crew)

"We Not Giving Up" (2005, The Xtatik Experience) (featuring Doug E Fresh and Machel Montano)

"You"ll Never Know (2005, E-Z Rollers) (featuring Doug E. Fresh & Sharon Brown)

"Rhyme & Punishment (2005, E-Z Rollers) (featuring Doug E. Fresh) [Distorted Minds Remix]

"Rhyme & Punishment (2005, E-Z Rollers) (featuring Doug E. Fresh)

"Virgo" (2005) (with Ludacris and Nas)

"Left-Right" (2007, Entertaining Music) (featuring Square Off)

References

External links

Official website

Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:African American rappers Category:American people of Barbadian descent Category:American Scientologists Category:Barbadian Scientologists Category:Barbadian expatriates in the United States Category:Capitol Records artists Category:Fantasy Records artists Category:Gee Street Records artists Category:People from Christ Church, Barbados Category:Rappers from New York Category:American beatboxers

de:Doug E. Fresh es:Doug E. Fresh it:Doug E. Fresh pt:Doug E. Fresh

Coordinates	19°42′20″N155°5′9″N
Name	DJ Premier
Background	non_performing_personnel
Birth name	Christopher Edward Martin
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Born	March 21, 1966Houston, Texas, United States
Instrument	Drum machineKeyboardSamplerTurntable
Genre	Hip hop
Occupation	Record producer, DJ
Years active	1984present
Label	Wild Pitch/EMI (1987–1990)Chrysalis/EMI (1991–1998)Virgin/EMI (1998–2003)Year Round (2003–)
Website	}}

Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966, in Houston, Texas), better known by his stage name DJ Premier (also known as Preem, Premo, or Primo for short), is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with MC Guru. Born in Houston and raised in Grand Prairie, he has lived in Brooklyn, New York, for much of his professional career. ''Rolling Stone'' identified Premier as arguably Hip-Hop's greatest producer of all time.

''The Source'' named DJ Premier one of the five greatest producers in hip-hop history, while the editors of About.com ranked him #1 on their Top 50 Hip-Hop Producers list. He also made the "Elite 8" in the search for The Greatest Hip-Hop Producer of All Time by ''Vibe''.

Productions

Premier is known for producing the majority of Gang Starr's songs as well as many of the Gang Starr Foundation's songs. His work also includes production for heavyweight rappers such as Apathy, Bun B, Canibus, KRS-One, Kanye West, Nas, Jay-Z, Mos Def, 50 Cent, Big L, Lord Finesse, M.O.P., Rakim, The Notorious B.I.G., D.I.T.C., The LOX, Royce Da 5'9", Fat Joe, Snoop Dogg, rock band Limp Bizkit and pop/R&B; singer Christina Aguilera among a plethora of others.

Premier collaborated with MC Jeru the Damaja on the album ''The Sun Rises in the East'', released in 1994, as well as the 1996 follow-up, ''Wrath of the Math''. Also from the Gang Starr Foundation, Premier produced and supervised Group Home's ''Livin' Proof''; although overlooked at the time of its 1995 release, the album has since come to find similar acclaim. Among others in that are closely tied to the Gang Starr Foundation who have worked with DJ Premier include Afu Ra, Krumbsnatcha, Big Shug, Smiley the Ghetto Child, and NYGz. He recently produced the majority of Blaq Poet's ''The Blaqprint'' in 2009 and will produce the entirety of NYG'z debut album.

Style and influences

DJ Premier's style of production epitomizes the New York sound of his earlier peers. He is known for sampling jazz, funk, and soul artists, as well as sampling an artist's past work when creating a new track for that same artist. For example, on Jay-Z's "So Ghetto", from the 1999 album, ''Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter'', Premier samples an older Jay-Z song, 1997's "Who You Wit II". In addition, his encyclopedic memory of hip-hop lyrics allows him to distinctively speak with his hands by scratching in lyrics from several different songs to construct new phrases. Premier's beats are known for his oft-imitated combinations of short vocal samples, often from multiple artists, to create a chorus. Premier has also experimented with atonal samples that are not confined to soul, jazz, and funk. For example, he sampled chopped up seminal electro-acoustic music from the 1960s on the track “Mental Stamina” by Jeru the Damaja.

In an interview with ''XXL Magazine'', DJ Premier was asked how his sound evolved, to which he replied, "Marley Marl is my number one inspiration. Jam Master Jay, Mixmaster Ice and UTFO. Grandmaster D and Whodini. DJ Cheese, Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa. Jazzy Jay, even Cut Creator. Seeing them do what they do. It’s black music, it’s black culture, it comes from the ghetto. How can you not relate to ghetto people when that’s the rawest form of blackness? Even though it’s not a good place in regards to the economy and how bad people have it in the neighborhood, the realism’s there, and that’s what we were born out of. So I very much pay respect by doing the same type of music in return." DJ Premier attended Prairie View A & M University and may have been influenced by the musical atmosphere at the university.

Relationships with artists

The early line-up of the Gang Starr Foundation in the mid-’90s included Jeru The Damaja, Group Home, Big Shug, and Gang Starr. DJ Premier was fully responsible for the production of Jeru the Damaja's first two albums, ''The Sun Rises in the East'' and ''Wrath of the Math''. Jeru released three albums since then, with Premier having nothing to do with any of them.

As far as Group Home was concerned, Premier commented, "They don't respect what fed them," in a 2003 interview, going on to say that the only reason he produced a track on their second album was because Guru said he would rhyme on it.

Besides the Gang Starr Foundation, Premier is closely affiliated with M.O.P., which he names as one of his all-time favorite groups. The relationship started with the remix of “Rugged, Neva Smoove” in 1994, a single from the group's first album, which also included the exclusive B-side “Downtown Swinga.” From then, Premier produced about one-third of the songs on each subsequent album and overseeing and mixing the projects. On M.O.P.'s 2009 ''Foundation'' album, however, DJ Premier provided only one track, which was called "What I Wanna B."

Recent and future projects

DJ Premier has his own record company named Year Round Records. Among its artists are New York group NYGz, New Jersey rapper Nick Javas, and Houston rapper Khaleel. ''Tha Blaqprint'' by Blaq Poet, which has thirteen Premier productions, was released by Year Round Records through Fat Beats Records. On December 7, Premier's label Year Round Records released a digital compilation album titled ''Get Used to Us''. At the moment Year Round plans to release an debut album fully produced by DJ Premier with the NYGz tenatively called ''Hustla's Union: Local NYG'' along with an Nick Javas debut album named ''Destination Unknown''. Khaleel, another label-mate of Year Round Records, is planned to release an debut album titled ''Already!''.

DJ Premier hosts a weekly 2 hour show ''Live From HeadQCourterz'' on SIRIUS Satellite Radio's Hip-Hop Nation on Fridays.

In a recent interview, DJ Premier said that he has the desire to work with Drake and J. Cole. He said that he will produce a beat for Immortal Technique's upcoming album, titled ''The Middle Passage''. He contributed a song on Game's last album (The R.E.D. Album) called "Born in the Trap." and a song on Bushido's last album Jenseits von Gut und Böse.

Discography

References

External links

Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:African hip hop DJs Category:People from Brooklyn Category:Musicians from Texas Category:Musicians from New York Category:Hip hop record producers Category:American record producers Category:American hip hop record producers Category:Southern hip hop musicians Category:African American musicians Category:East Coast hip hop musicians Category:Members of the Nation of Gods and Earths Category:African American record producers

da:DJ Premier de:DJ Premier es:DJ Premier fr:DJ Premier ko:디제이 프리미어 it:DJ Premier he:די ג'יי פרמייר sw:DJ Premier nl:DJ Premier ja:DJプレミア pl:DJ Premier pt:DJ Premier fi:DJ Premier sv:DJ Premier tr:DJ Premier