DJ Premier has reportedly revealed his five favorite beats.

The beats for the following tracks appear on DJ Premier’s list: Eric B. and Rakim’s “Eric B. Is President,” Biz Markie’s “Biz Is Goin’ Off,” EPMD’s “So What Cha Sayin’,” Nas’ “The World Is Yours” and MC Shan’s “The Bridge.” 

When discussing “Eric B. Is President,” a cut produced by Eric B., Premier says he enjoys it because of his appreciation for James Brown. 

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“Just because I’m a real big James Brown fan,” DJ Premier says in an interview with XXL. “No one had taken the drum roll and the hit off of ‘Funky President’ and make it play the ‘Over Like A Fat Rat’ melody from Fonda Ray [starts beat boxing] and make it go [continues beat boxing] and back into the drum beat, and then bring the music back in. The way it just came around, I just never heard an arrangement that funky, but simple. And with Marley Marl’s handles on it. It just made it official.”

In the piece, Premier also discusses Nas’ “The World Is Yours,” a selection produced by Pete Rock.

“That was a bonafide Pete Rock and Nas collabo,” he says of the Illmatic track. 

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