Hip Hop Awards 2022: Get to Know Hip Hop Legend DJ Premier
DJ Premiere has been producing since the 1980s and still creates music. You can not list some of hip hop’s most significant producers without mentioning the veteran musician. He is best known for producing all of Gang Starr’s music comprised of himself and the late Keith Edward Elam, better known as Guru, but has worked with everyone in the business from Rakim to Janet Jackson.
Premo earned a nomination for “Producer of the Year” along with several other equally talented acts, including D-Nice, DJ Cassidy, DJ Drama, DJ Kay Slay, Kaytranada, Mustard, Myla Symone, and L.A.Leakers: DJ sourMILK & Justin Credible.The show is expected to be an explosive night filled with fiery performances, big wins, and special surprises you won’t want to miss. It’s all set to be hosted by legendary rapper Fat Joe.
He’s actually from Texas
Although many people associate DJ Premier with New York, thanks to his work with Gangstarr, Premier was born in the Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas, and raised in Prairie View, TX. The DJ moved to New York when he was a teenager. He attended Prairie View A&M University, sharpening his skill as the campus’s official DJ, occasionally performing with the Marching Storm band.
Outside of hip hop, Premo loves heavy metal
Hip Hop isn’t the only genre that holds a place in Premo’s heart. The producer also has an affinity for heavy metal and acid rock. During an interview with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he talked about some of the musical projects he wanted to do that are outside of what fans have grown to love him for, for over a decade.
In 2006, he decided to work with pop and R&B singer Christina Aguilera on her fifth studio album, Back to Basic, despite fan judgment. The project earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 49th annual event and won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for its lead single, “Ain't No Other Man.”
He owns his own label imprint
In the early 2010s, Premo launched his record company, Year Round Records. The artist roster includes New York group NYGz, New Jersey emcee Nick Javas, and Houston rapper Khaleel.
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He’s worked in the gaming world
When he’s not producing music for some of the industry’s most prominent artists, Premo contributes to video games, including NBA2K16, where he served as one of the three curators for the soundtrack to the video game along with DJ Khaled.
His top 5 producers are…
According to an article from Illmuzik Premos top five favorite producers are: “D. Dre, James Brown, Rick Rubin, Mantronix, and Marley Marl.” It’s best to note that this list is in no particular order.
He’s highly influenced by the latter, whom he describes as “the James Brown of Rap music. ”
Watch the Hip Hop Awards on Tuesday, October 4, at 9 PM ET/PT on BET
