First things first

DJ Premier finally makes the solo trip to Montreal

by SCOTT C

Even without his longtime partner Guru, DJ Premier (aka Chris Martin) is easily one of the most revered, respected and consistent producers that hip hop has ever given birth to. From his Gangstarr beginnings, he has contributed to some of the genre's truly classic LPs, from Nas's Illmatic to Biggie's Ready to Die, Jeru's The Sun Rises in the East to Group Home's Livin Proof. His signature punchy production style has been imitated and duplicated, influencing an entire generation of both professional and bedroom producers. The Mirror spoke to him over the phone from New York.

Mirror: So you've never been up here by yourself, have you? To DJ, I mean.

Premier: Nope. I was up there with Guru for a Gangstarr show, but other than that, I've only ever been to Toronto to play out. What kind of crowd you guys got up there?

M: Man! I know a lot of people who are going to make certain that they drop whatever they're doing and head down to check you out. I know I'm not the only one excited about this. I kind of like the idea that you're a household name, but you don't play out or tour on your own, so when people can check you out, it's a real treat. It'll be live.

P: 'Cause I ain't bringin' no Ja Rule or Ruff Riders shit! (laughs)

M: Many of us may have noticed that you've developed this angry side on the last couple of records, where you basically speak out on an interlude about whatever it is that's bothering you in the industry or the culture.

P: I'm a DJ first, I'm an artist second and I'm a producer last. Real DJs don't let people tell them what to play, or take money to push certain records. That's some bullshit. I like to play records that represent my respect for the culture, and I'm not afraid to say so. There's too much sugary-sweetness being passed off as hip hop out there right now. Even all these mix tapes comin' out now have no scratchin' or cuttin' on them, just cats yelling shout-outs and their name. I'm on a mission right now, a mission.

M: To do what?

P: I'm on a mission to change all that. I started my own label called Year Round, and I got the NYGZ, Black Poet, Teflon and a bunch of cats who could rhyme circles around half the clowns out there right now.

M: Are the artists on your label going to feature production solely by you?

P: NYGZ said that they want a classic album -

M: That means Primo, back to front!

P: (laughs) Yep, pretty much.

M: I'd love to hear you doing more full album projects outside of Gangstarr, man, and some instrumental stuff too.

P: I was supposed to do some instrumental stuff just recently, but the guy didn't come correct with the business, so it didn't happen

M: As far as Gangstarr productions go, how would you rate your latest album, The Ownerz?

P: I would give that record a 9.5 on 10.

M: Really? I found for the first time in a while that even longtime Gangstarr heads had some qualms with that release.

P: I was proud of that album for one reason. We went through a lot of tragedies to make that album. We lost some very important people that were there when that album was being made. I don't make shit for the Grammy awards. I make East Coast hip hop for the streets. That's where I'm from and that's the way I keep my shit. Anyone who took issue with the record in regards to what they were expecting, that's my shit. If there was one criticism that I kept hearing, it was that we had too many guests on there. It don't matter. We could've had guests on every track, but it still would've sounded like a Gangstarr record. I mean, we don't usually do collaborations with people like Snoop and Jadakiss. I'm 36 years old! How many 36 year olds do you know that make beats the way I do, and could make a consistent Gangstarr record?

M: Is it true you have a couple of beats coming on Bless's new album?

P: I told him I would shoot him a joint once we got around to it. Schedulewise, we haven't done anything yet, but I told him I'd shoot him one for sure.

With DJ Toddy Flores at Exit on Friday, Oct. 24, 10pm

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