After DJ Premier revealed that he’ll be working with GZA on the upcoming DJ Premier vs. Pete Rock album, it got me thinking, who hasn’t Premo worked with that I’d love to hear? The legendary producer has been around the block a few times, and has most of the major artists covered. But there are some big holes, and certainly some opportunities missed with the passing of 2Pac and Big Pun.
Since none of the following will appear on December 7th’s DJ Premier Presents…Year Round Record: Get Used To Us, here are 10 artists or groups I want Premier to get in the lab with. I’m not talking a remix to a song they’ve already appeared on, or some DJ blend, but the real deal.
Wu-Tang Clan
Other than Inspectah Deck’s appearance on Gang Starr’s “Above The Clouds,” Method Man’s appearances on Biggie’s posthumous “Rap Phenomenon,” and Limp Bizkit’s “N 2 Gether Now,” and Ol’ Dirty Bastards’s “Pop Shots,” there isn’t much in the way of Wu-Tang/DJ Premier collaborations. Which is shocking considering their long career overlap and their similar fan-bases. I want the whole Clan over Premier’s vintage boom bap 
.
Chino XL
Much like his occasional partner-in-rhyme Ras Kass, Chino’s career has been held back by production that doesn’t match up to his elite lyrics. While Rassy has been blessed by Prem, the man with the poison pen has not.
Killer Mike
Few emcees today or from any era rap with the ferocity of Killer Mike. Through his work with M.O.P., Bumpy Knuckles and Screwball, Premier knows a thing or two about how to lace emcees who strangle the mic like it stole something.
Redman
Like Method Man, Red rocked a Prem beat on Big’s Born Again, but that doesn’t cut for these two legends. Like the Wu, it’s crazy that this collaboration still hasn’t happened in all this time. Redman is one of the few all-time greats on the east coast that Premier hasn’t laced. That needs to change.
Eminem
In the spring of 2008 Premier confirmed that he produced a song for Eminem’s next album. That album ended up being Relapse the following year with no signs of Mr. Martin, and nothing has surfaced since. Prem is known for bringing some crazy drum patterns , and who better to ride one than the man with a million flows?
Ghostface Killah & Raekwon
Only Built For Cuban Linx II had New York staples past and present in Marley Marl and Alchemist , but no Premier. Rae and Ghost unite over Prem’s drums? What could go wrong?
Ice Cube
Speaking of all-time greats, here is another that I’d love to hear. I would have preferred this in the 90’s, but I would’ve said the same about Bun and Prem and look how that turned out. The young, angry Cube used to go apeshit over The Bomb Squad’s backdrops, Cube needs to revisit the east.
Brother Ali
Much like Killer Mike, Brother Ali can be an animal on the mic, and since Premo specializes in those types of emcees, it’s an easy fit. But Ali can go the other way too, he’s as soulful as they come. He would kill “The Militia” or “JFK To LAX”
Clipse
The Thornton brothers have been tearing apart gritty Neptunes offerings for the last decade or so, and only recently did they spread their wings and begin working with other producers. Maybe if they tapped Premier for their latest album it would have had a little more grit.
Phonte
He patterned his career being the little brother to the likes of Gangstarr, Tribe and Pete & CL, so working with the legendary DJ/producer would be a natural fit. Tigallo may be largely singing these days, but I’m sure that ol’ boom bap would have him spitting those bars.
Bonus Cuts:
Kool Keith*
A Tribe Called Quest
Scarface*
De La Soul
Crooked I
*ego trip‘s “Book of Rap Lists” credited DJ Premier with Ultramagnetic MC’s “Bait” and the Geto Boys’ “Be Down” as uncredited DJ Premier productions. Aside from Scarface not appearing on “Be Down” anyway, if these were Premo ghost productions they don’t count. Premo wasn’t really Premo yet in ‘87 and ‘88.
Blu, Jay Electronica, Sean Price, Tech N9ne or Slaughterhouse on a Primo beat would be interesting as well.
Sean Price makes the most sense. Definitely worthy of an initial mention. J-23???
this website probably doesn’t even know who blu or jay electronica are. definitely agreed though @Charles.
Are you fucking kidding? DX helped break Blu you asshole. They picked him as the best new artist in their year end awards years back. Get your research if you’re going to talk shit
Chill out AJ. Control your emotions. Cussing absolutely kills discussion. You’re right man. I just feel like this site is going south. I still visit on the regular, so I shouldn’t hate but the some of the reviews are ridiculous too. I apologize if I offended you and my wording was probably out of line. It’s hate. We’re both real hip-hop fans if we’re jammin’ Blu + Jay Elec. We should be ridin’ together.
Peace + Love bro,
Blair
Just for the record, Phonte was featured on the Royce track “Something 2 Ride 2” which was produced by Preem, and featured on Nickle Nine’s latest album Street Hop.
Good call, that one completely slipped my mind
Yeah, but he didn’t spit on that track, he sang the hook. So that doesn’t really count.
If it’s original Premo production, it counts, whether he spit or sang over it. To be on original Premo production’s a crowning achievement in hip-hop.
here you have a full extended clear list of all the Premo productions he’s ever done and more information about it:
http://trackology.djpremierblog.com/
MASTA ACE and PRIMO would be fucking classic
this
immortal technique
50 cent
dmx
50 cent has done a track. It is called Shut Your blood Clot Mouth.
vinnie paz and premo
Anybody from the Wu would be nice. Sean Price, Busta, and some left over 2Pac vocals would be ill.
BIG PUN and Premo worked together with the DITC album on the song Where Ya At.
Get Ya facts right.
Premier remixed that song after the fact, not a real collaboration. Save your shit talk for when you’re right
That’s actually a remix
Jada and preemo is a perfect combo, the streets need much more of this. He was on one of the lastest gangstarr album’s, one of premier’s most stand-out classic joints this millenium, so why not bring more of this heat to the fore front!!
Fashawn
Blu
Phonte & Pooh
Slum Village
Celph Titled
Bonus Cuts:
Scarface*
Scarface was on Betrayal from Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth
crooked i killed the mass appeal beat, i think the game and premo collabs gunna be dope too…em needs to release the track he did with premier probably on some crazy shit
beastie boys
Chino XL was on the Premier (re)produced “Enough Beef” off Sway & Tech´s “Back to basics” album/compilation with Common and Royce- beautiful track, even though it´s the same beat Gangstarr used for “What i´m here 4” back in ´98 – go check it out!
But fuck it, Chino & Premo, hell yeah i wanna here more!
Just like Preem and Apathy would be a great cocktail to, Shabazz The Disciple and Premier (an please so more Sticky).
Lookin´ forward to hearing´ Saigon over a Premier beat.
Premier
Skyzoo
Torae
Instant Classic!!!
classic
Like someone mentioned Chino XL did rhyme over a Primo beat on Enough Beef and ripped it..
DMX
Lil Wayne
Lloyd Banks
Kanye West
Talib Kweli
Black Thought
C.L. Smooth
Pharoah Monch
Have ANY of them done a Primo Beat
Supposedly I read that premo helped with Monster and on Graduation he did scratches on Everything I am. I don’t know if you count those as true Premo beats because he did not handle full production of those tracks. As far as the other ones I have not heard a them on a Premo beat but I definitely want to hear a Talib+Premo track as well as one with Monch and Black Thought.
Check better than ive ever been,its a premo beat song includes kanye,nas,krs and rakim
Anonymous:
DMX
Lil Wayne
Lloyd Banks
Kanye West
Talib Kweli
Black Thought
C.L. Smooth
Pharoah Monch
Have ANY of them done a Primo Beat
>>>Kanye West did appear on an original Premo track alongside Rakim, KRS, and Nas for “Better Than I Ever Been”.
Jadakiss needs to do a whole preemo album agreed!!
i just wish that damn Nas and Preemo album had come out
My man.
P.
Im not a Lil Wayne fan, but I think that will be something to look 4ward to
Nah, that would be an insult to hip hop…I doubt (and hope!) Preemo wouldn’t connect with the same dude that said “I don’t O U like two vowels/But I would like for u to pay me by the hour/And I’d rather be pushin flowers/Then to be in the pen sharin showers/Tony told us this world was ours/And the bible told us every girl was sour…..”
W A C K !!!
Someone told me it happened already…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7n6P2ge6kw
IDK tho…
lolol or “I still beat your ass like a fucking drumstick,
Weezy fucking baby baby make the ladies come quick,
The money can’t fit in my pockets but I bet that gun fit,
And I’m so unfit cause all I eat is rappers,
And these rappers ain’t shit I like my fast food faster”
he better than ross, jeezy, souljaboy, waka though…even though that’s not very hard to do…
Phonte did a track with Royce called Something to Ride to. Or does features not count?
Errr I just saw somebody mention that, sorry about the repeat.
still waiting on that Fred da godson mixtape, supposedly laced with pure preemo joints
Eminem is one thats got to be getting done. Gza was another of my faves to get primo. i cant beieve primo aint done a wu tang song y didi thikn he had. brotehr ali wasa good shout that would be cool featuring BLACK THOUGHT who should be on this list in fact he should be all 10 names. LLCOOLJ i wouldnt mind seeing them hook up fora good one. chuck d would be nice the beasties for some old skool as well. TALIB KWELI and PHAROAHE MONCH nice. SEAN PRICE PERCEE P and i think he already has but SAIGON and jsut for me it would be perfect i refer you to dead bent, would be MF DOOM
the Em track was prob bad,it was recorded during relapse’s recording so it either has an accent or that voice he does in careful what you wish for(bonus itunes track off relapse) or pistol poppin(track cashis put out on his mixtape)
Em collabo would be dope id also like to see Premier work with Outkast, Andre in particular
that’d be very intriguing to hear.
what about j cole?
who the hell is j.cole??
Didnt agree with much on this list…
Heres my dream collabos with preem.
1. Nas
2. Bumpy Knuckles
3. Immortal Technique
4. GZA (lucky me)
5. M.O.P
6. Royce da 5´9
7. Cormega
8. Ill Bill
9. Saigon
10. Scarface
PZ.
nas done mad premo beats
Bumpy Knuckles IDK who that nigga is
MOP Royce ill bill and scarface have all done premo beats
and saigon on the new album
Im talking about full albums…
Note to the Editor: Chino XL has already done a Primo track. It’s on a Sway and Tech album alongside Common & Royce Da 5’9″ called “Enough Beef”
Chino’s doesn’t count since that instrumental was from a Gangstarr track on their “Moment Of Truth” album. What the editor didn’t mention was GZA did appear on Afu Ra’s “Bigacts, Littleacts” piece that was produced by Premo back in 2000-2001 I believe. I think what the editor’s talking about is original Premo production. A track that’s personally theirs.
Ice Cube over some Premo production would be beautiful as would Redman (in his case, an actual solo joint, not a guest appearance). The Deep South already had Luda, Bun-B, and ‘Face spittin over vintage Premo production, so now they need Electronica to get some heat from him.
Red said it, “it…ain’t about money anymore”. Can’t this all-talk STOP and niggas get in the booth with Premo and individually come up with some beautiful shit that I can grab from the local record store and all the way to my sound system gripping with some sizzling hot shit…Damn! Premo u’s a beast dawg, One Love!