While fans await a new date for the Teddy Riley versus Kenneth “Babyface’ Edmonds battle, Swizz Beatz has announced a new matchup that’s just as epic — RZA versus DJ Premier.
“The paperwork is in,” Swizz wrote on Instagram.
It’s a matchup that many have debated for decades. With deep catalogs that position both producers within the Top 5 of all time in the genre, fans can expect a dose of Golden Era nostalgia and (if the past battles were any indication) some interesting trivia and insightful banter.
Credited with masterminding Wu-Tang Clan, crafting their distinct sound and handling the bulk of the group’s releases, RZA was behind the boards of some of the most revered albums in Hip Hop history, most notably Raekwon’s groundbreaking debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.
Outside of the Wu bubble, RZA’s expensive catalog includes solo works, projects with his group Gravediggaz and film scores/soundtracks. His credits are a who’s who in Hip Hop history as well as crossover collaborators such as Travis Barker and Miley Cyrus. From music to film to books, his direct influence on the culture cannot be overstated enough.
DJ Premier — half of Gang Starr alongside legendary Guru — is one of the most celebrated and simultaneously imitated producers in Hip Hop. His ear for loops and unmistakable scratch choruses have made him a hot commodity, even in today’s landscape.
Instagram Hip Hop Battles Are Just The Beginning ... If Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Have Their Way
Preemo’s legacy is etched in stone, having worked with Christina Aguilera, Common, D’Angelo, Dilated Peoples, Janet Jackson, JAY-Z, Kanye West and more recently. Griselda (to name a select few). Though he’s eclectic, he remains a pillar of what some would consider to be the essence of authentic underground Hip Hop. He continues to be a vital gatekeeper who’s forever championing next up rhymers and producers.
It all goes down Saturday (April 11) via DJ Premier’s Instagram.
Can’t wait!
It’s a catalog battle if you go to an actual beat battle people don’t bring their old beats that’s lame
RZA ain’t got much to battle with. Yes he has large catalog but let’s face it his beats been wack for like the last 25 years.
He only needs 36 Chambers, Uncontrolled Substance, OB4CL, Supreme Clientele, and Wu Forever to completely body bag premier
Liquid Swords
25 years damn near goes back to the beginning. Get your timelines straight. RZA shit didn’t really start falling off until after The Man With The Iron Fists soundtrack.
Yes!!! This is going to be big!!! Premo is the GOAT in my opinion but RZA is a legend too ????
This is going to be some shit! They need Pete Rock vs. Madlib as well. Real talk. Neptune’s Vs. timberland would also be dope.
Neptunes vs Timbaland would have good if hadn’t battled already. I’ll take Neptunes vs Kanye.
If it were 90s Rza, then I’ll be excited. Both in top 20 producers tho
Yes!
Stop doing all these old ass niggas that nobody cares about anymore. Get some newer, fresher producers battling, like Boi-1da vs Metro Boomin or London on da Track vs Pierre Bourne. Nobody wants to hear old dusty NY boom bap beats anymore.
just wait until 20 years and someone says the same thing about these producers you like…let’s see how u feel then…if u say u won’t care then you’re lying
There are no legends of the current era YET, because you have to become a part of history to earn that title. Why can’t we just enjoy these two legends while they’re still around to be celebrated
Are you serious! It’s dummies like you that direspect the game. You have no idea of what hip hop is! Watch this battle and you might learn something
If the currently hot producers want to battle on IG, They’d do it. No one is preventing them from doing it. The TWO LEGENDARY producers battling should be interesting. You don’t like it…don’t watch. Stop complaining. Respect Rap O.Gs.
Soon as the make some good music we will……
Get your Catalog up before you Disrespect Anybody Bum Ass Youngin.
Sit down young man… AND LEARN!!!
Listen youngin the problem with you lil dummies is you have no respect for the cats that paved the way for you. Your era has got to be the stupidest ever you lil dudes sale your work online a post your gunz. Need i say more
should be interesting.
RZA will SMOKE Preemo, dude is the most overrated producer in Hip Hop next to Dr Dre.
GTFOH preemo is by far best producer in the game. Rza hasn’t made a decent beat in years
36 Chambers, OB4CL, Supreme Clientele, Iron Man, Uncontrolled Substance, Liquid Swords, plus work on Blackout, Wu Massacre, 4:21, Ghost Dog, the list is endless for RZA and Premo hasn’t done shit since Guru dumped his ass.
Prhyme
And Rza hasn’t done shit since Wu Tang forever
Imo there will b Plenty ppl hav forgot or never knew eg. Preemo 7 days remix ft NaS.. I’m sure Rza has many too.. we will c on da nite :0) !!
Speaking of smoke, you must of been smoking crack before you posted this pendejo
Ive been pushing for Dugeon Family vs Bomb Squad
Let me get on that battle…shit, I’ll battle anyone! I’m a Super Producer!
If we’re purely talking 90’s RZA destroys Premier and any other producer in that era. I know many people are fanboying Premier and I was too when I was heavy into boom bap as a kid, but truth is RZA was just on another level, both technical skill wise and artistically. Dude created whole new universe with his sound, that nobody could even copy and produced dope album after album. Most of that music aged really well too, what can’t be said about lots of other 90’s stuff . But I would admit that Premier probably had more nice beats in early to mid 00’s.
I’m excited to hear battle Cuz all I know of rza is Wu. For Me,, Wu is too Chill not AG enuff. But just my personal preference. Plus with Wu the songs so long n sameloop ova n ova n ova n not much intricacy..but this merely my memories of listening to Wu albums. I don’t actually kno much atall bout Wu or rza music so will b interestin
RZA was on pace to be the goat hip hop producer. Instead, DJ Premier became the true sound of hip hop, while RZA opted for more melodic, less aggressive production. I got DJ Premier winning this one.
This should be really dope both of these cats have at least 30 bangers. For me both cats have tried to be more mainstream in the 2000’s and most of their beats aren’t up to their standards. Rza can pick 5 banger off ea Wu member. Premo has his crew plus all the independent singles he’s done. What makes this dope is both cats have their own sound.
Premo has NaS too
Christina Aguilera, Common, D’Angelo, Dilated Peoples, Janet Jackson, JAY-Z, Kanye West and more recently. Griselda
How are you not gonna fucking say Guru you disrespectful fucks, not even Royce gets an mention but Christina does
Organized noize vs sosodef
Nope. Jermaine will get smoked by the Noize…so much more depth to their music
BLACK MILK!!!!
vs 9th or Nottz could be nice
Premier has some heat but RZA’s best work from 93 to 2000 no one could touch him. It’s gonna be a good battle but I got RZA. Those beats on 36 chambers alone is killing 90 percent of today’s production.
Yeah but those beat were just for the Wu. Preem brought and continues to bring heat with an assorted collection of artists. Preem is still in the grind?.
Havoc vs Daz anyone?
Preme has some dope shit but I feel like he’s more suited to go toe to toe with Pete Rock. RZA vs Just Blaze would be dope to see.
Personally I wud find Pete rock music too boring to listen to in a battle? BUT this just my personal taste.
No other producer has as many classic albums as RZA. I love Premo, but RZA on in a league of his own.
What’s tragic, when you think about it, is that Rza lost a gang of beats when his basement flooded. Essentially, everyone’s solo albums were done. I remember reading something like 300 were lost. Of course he remade some of them, but for Rza to go back and recreate those albums and for them to still come out like they did says a lot about the man.
Iooovvve RZA one of the dopest of all time! But no hop hop Producer ,none, have the catalog that Preemo has. HE HAS WORKED WITH EVERYONE SNOOP TO JANET FROM JAYZ/NAS TO CHRISTINA. WU TANG IS FOREVER. BUT PREMIER IS A GOD
Love RZA he a God in his own right, but Preemo is going to wash him as he would just about every other hip hop producer. Almost not fair for him to go against anyone tbh
Enter The 36 Chambers & The Dirty Version, Tical, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Liquid Swords, Ironman, Forever, Bobby Digital In Stereo, Ghostdog, The W… RZA got this in the bag!!!