Best DJ Premier Songs: A Comprehensive List of the Legendary Producer’s Greatest Hits
DJ Premier is one of the most influential producers in hip-hop history. His distinctive beats and signature scratching have graced countless classic albums, and his collaborations with artists like Nas, Jay-Z, and Biggie Smalls have helped to define the sound of East Coast rap. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into DJ Premier’s discography and highlight some of his best songs.
Introduction
DJ Premier, born Christopher Edward Martin, got his start in the late 1980s as one half of the group Gang Starr. Alongside rapper Guru, Premier helped to pioneer a new sound in hip-hop that emphasized jazz samples and hard-hitting drums. Since then, he’s gone on to produce for a wide range of artists, from underground MCs to mainstream superstars.
The List
- “NY State of Mind” – Nas
- “Mass Appeal” – Gang Starr
- “Unbelievable” – The Notorious B.I.G.
- “Boom” – Royce da 5’9″
- “Ten Crack Commandments” – The Notorious B.I.G.
- “Come Clean” – Jeru the Damaja
- “The Militia” – Gang Starr
- “Kick in the Door” – The Notorious B.I.G.
- “Full Clip” – Gang Starr
- “Above the Clouds” – Gang Starr feat. Inspectah Deck
- “One Love” – Nas
- “Ex to the Next Girl” – Gang Starr
- “Code of the Streets” – Gang Starr
- “N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II” – Nas
- “Moment of Truth” – Gang Starr
“NY State of Mind” – Nas
This track is widely considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time, and it’s not hard to see why. Premier’s haunting piano loop provides the perfect backdrop for Nas’s vivid depiction of life in the New York City projects. The song’s opening lines – “I don’t know how to start this / I’m the illest rapper to hold a cordless” – have become iconic in their own right.
“Mass Appeal” – Gang Starr
“Mass Appeal” is perhaps Gang Starr’s most recognizable song, thanks in no small part to Premier’s catchy horn sample and Guru’s smooth flow. The song’s chorus – “Gang Starr has got to be the sure shot” – has become a mantra for hip-hop fans around the world.
“Unbelievable” – The Notorious B.I.G.
Premier produced several tracks on The Notorious B.I.G.’s classic album “Ready to Die,” but “Unbelievable” stands out as one of the best. The song’s choppy guitar sample and hard-hitting drums perfectly complement Biggie’s larger-than-life persona.
“Boom” – Royce da 5’9″
“Boom” is a prime example of Premier’s ability to craft a beat that’s both hard-hitting and soulful. The track’s driving bassline and catchy vocal sample make it a standout on Royce da 5’9″‘s debut album.
“Ten Crack Commandments” – The Notorious B.I.G.
“Ten Crack Commandments” is a masterclass in storytelling, with Biggie breaking down the rules of the drug game over a hypnotic Premier beat. The song’s opening lines – “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine / It’s the ten crack commandments, what?” – are instantly recognizable.
“Come Clean” – Jeru the Damaja
“Come Clean” is a classic example of Premier’s minimalist approach to production. The song’s sparse beat, featuring little more than a hard-hitting drum loop and a haunting vocal sample, allows Jeru’s hard-hitting lyrics to take center stage.
“The Militia” – Gang Starr
“The Militia” features some of Premier’s most intricate production work, with layers of horns and strings weaving in and out of a driving drumbeat. The song’s guest verses from Freddie Foxxx and Big Shug add to the sense of intensity and urgency.
“Kick in the Door” – The Notorious B.I.G.
“Kick in the Door” is one of Biggie’s most aggressive tracks, and Premier’s production matches his intensity every step of the way. The song’s ominous piano loop and hard-hitting drums set the stage for some of Biggie’s most memorable lines, including “Your reign on the top was short like leprechauns.”
“Full Clip” – Gang Starr
“Full Clip” is the lead single from Gang Starr’s final album, “Moment of Truth.” Premier’s hard-hitting drums and catchy vocal sample make it an instant classic, and Guru’s verses showcase his lyrical dexterity.
“Above the Clouds” – Gang Starr feat. Inspectah Deck
Premier’s collaboration with Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck is a standout track from Gang Starr’s “Moment of Truth” album. The song’s atmospheric production, featuring haunting strings and a soulful vocal sample, perfectly complements Deck’s introspective lyrics.
“One Love” – Nas
Premier’s production on “One Love” perfectly captures the melancholy mood of Nas’s lyrics. The song’s somber piano loop and hard-hitting drums provide a fitting backdrop for Nas’s vivid description of life in the Queensbridge projects.
“Ex to the Next Girl” – Gang Starr
“Ex to the Next Girl” is one of Gang Starr’s most accessible tracks, thanks in no small part to Premier’s catchy guitar riff and Guru’s smooth flow. The song’s chorus, featuring a sample of a young girl singing “Ex-girl to the next girl,” is sure to get stuck in your head.
“Code of the Streets” – Gang Starr
“Code of the Streets” is a standout track from Gang Starr’s classic album “Hard to Earn.” Premier’s production on this track is masterful, with a driving bassline and a haunting vocal sample creating a sense of tension and urgency.
“N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II” – Nas
The sequel to Nas’s classic “NY State of Mind” is just as powerful as the original, with Premier’s production once again providing the perfect backdrop for Nas’s vivid lyrics. The song’s eerie piano loop and hard-hitting drums help to create a sense of unease and tension.
“Moment of Truth” – Gang Starr
We can’t talk about DJ Premier’s best songs without mentioning the title track from Gang Starr’s final album. “Moment of Truth” features some of Premier’s most intricate production work, with layers of horns, strings, and vocal samples creating a rich, textured sound. Guru’s lyrics, reflecting on his own mortality and legacy, make for a fitting swan song for one of hip-hop’s greatest groups.
Conclusion
DJ Premier’s influence on hip-hop cannot be overstated. His innovative production style, combining jazz samples and hard-hitting drums, helped to define the sound of East Coast rap in the 1990s and beyond. While this list is by no means comprehensive, it should give you a sense of the depth and breadth of Premier’s discography.