DJ Premier

DJ Premier performs on NPR’s Tiny Desk series. (Photo source: NPR)

After close to 30 years in the game, the legendary DJ Premier is still going strong. This year alone, he started a new record label, dropped his Miguel-assisted single “2 Lovin U,” and completed a 16-city tour.

Despite his many projects, Premo recently took the time to perform on NPR and speak with Genius. Both his set and interview are available to watch below.

On Monday, the Houston-native became the first DJ ever to perform on NPR’s Tiny Desk series. Accompanied by his touring band, The Badder Band, Premo delivered a nine-song medley of some of his classic productions. He and the five-piece ensemble gave the tracks new energy.

Premo also sat down with Genius for their conversation series, Genius Level. The insightful hour-long interview covered most of his illustrious career. The former Gang Starr member reflected on his early days with the group and working with Nas, JAY-Z, and The Notorious B.I.G. He also discussed his new label, TTT (To The Top), as well as his production process.

Watch his Tiny Desk performance:

Tracklist:

KRS-One — KRS-One Attacks
KRS-One – MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know
Das EFX — Real Hip-Hop
Nas — Nas Is Like
Jeru The Damaja — Da Bichez
Gang Starr — Step in the Arena
Gang Starr ft. M.O.P. — 1/2 & 1/2
Royce Da 5’9″ — Boom
Gang Starr — Moment of Truth

Watch his interview with Genius:

Topics covered:

– His favorite beat (1:20)
– Producing Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind” (2:30)
– His beginnings (5:30)
– How he started with Gang Starr (8:50)
– Working with Guru (15:30)
– Rumors of a posthumous Gang Starr album (18:50)
– What it’s like being an in-demand producer (21:00)
– Working with Biggie (22:40)
– Working with JAY-Z (26:45)
– Rumors of working with Kendrick Lamar (29:18)
– Working with D’Angelo (31:30)
– Working with Christina Aguilera (35:00)
– His current production process (37:20)
– His current projects and plans for the future (50:00)

Related: Watch DJ Premier and Miguel’s ‘2 Lovin U’ Video

In April, the legendary Beat Junkies crew launched a DJ school called The Beat Junkie Institute of Sound. Located in Glendale, California, the school offers fundamental and specialized DJ courses, workshops, and private lessons, all taught by members of the crew.

The Beat Junkie Institute of Sound puts on an emphasis on the foundation of DJing. For example, students start by learning with original vinyl and then move to digital. Its state-of-the-art facility features 12 workstations, a merch store, and a “longtagon,” which is a table for group scratch sessions.

Power 106’s DJ E-Man recently took a tour of the institute and spoke with instructors DJ Babu and Mr. Choc. While he was there, he saw a scratch session that included DJ Premier. Afterwards, E-Man spoke with Premo about what it means to be a DJ today.

Watch the video below.

Related: Watch DJ Premier and Miguel’s ‘2 Lovin U’ Video

DJ Premier and Miguel have shared a video for their new “2 Lovin U” collaboration. The visual shows Miguel singing as Premier scratches in the background.

“2 Loving U” is the duo’s original take on “Damned,” a bonus track that appeared on the deluxe version of the singer’s 2015 album, Wildheart.

Watch the video above and download the new single on DJcity.

Related: Watch DJ Premier’s Interview With The Breakfast Club

After years in the making, DJ Premier finally paid a visit to Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club. The legendary DJ and producer covered his entire career, from growing up in Texas and joining Gang Starr to working with The Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, and Nas. The hour-long conversation is a must-watch for fans of classic hip-hop, production, and DJ culture.

Watch it above and grab his new single with Miguel, “2 Lovin U,” on DJcity.

Related: DJ Premier Discusses Scoring VH1’s ‘The Breaks’

 
VH1 recently spoke with DJ Premier, who scored the network’s new original movie, The Breaks. The film, which is set in New York City during the summer of 1990, depicts three friends trying to make it in the hip-hop industry.
 
In the interview, Premier discusses the equipment he used to produce the music and what it was like working on the film. “I’m shaping the music to the actual scenario, and that’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “Scoring has been a dream for me.”
 
The Breaks premiered last Monday on VH1, but you can catch it again Friday, January 15 at 11 p.m. EST and January 22 at 1 a.m. EST.
 
Watch the full interview and trailer below.
 

 

 
Related: Watch DJ Premier Practice with His New Live Band

 
The legendary DJ Premier recently formed a live band, and now fans can get a taste of what to expect with a video teaser.
 
Although the group has already performed three shows in Japan, it doesn’t have a name yet, and Premo is currently taking suggestions on Twitter. Tweet him your ideas @REALDJPREMIER with hashtag #NamePreemosNewBand.
 
The band is composed of DJ Premier on turntables, Brady Watt on bass, Lenny “The Ox” Reece on drums, Takuya Kuroda on horns and keyboards, and Corey King on trombone and keyboards.
 
Premo told XXL Magazine last month: “I put a live band together because I’ve always dreamed of being in one ever since I was a kid … I have a funky group of players assembled to play my classics and perform new things.”
 
Related: DJ Premier on Snoop Dogg’s ‘GGN’ Show

“All music is good music if it touches your soul. If it don’t touch your soul that means it ain’t meant for you to make it.”

 
The one-and-only DJ Premier was featured on Snoop Dogg’s YouTube show “GGN” this week. The two legends chopped it up about all-things music, including their reverence for classic artists such as James Brown, Marley Marl, and KRS-One. Premo also spoke on the current state of hip-hop and discussed his upcoming projects with Miguel, Royce da 5’9″ and Adrian Younge.
 
Related: DJ Premier Tells His Story & Speaks on Today’s Music

 
It’s currently hip-hop month at BBC Radio 1Xtra and what better way to celebrate than with a mix from the legendary DJ Premier? Well, that’s exactly what Diplo & Friends did last weekend in what the Mad Decent head honcho said was “a long time coming.”
 
Despite what many would expect, the majority of the mix features rock songs from classic artists such as The Doors, Steve Miller, and Heart, followed by 90s favorites from the likes of Alice in Chains and Rage Against the Machine. All of the rock tunes have a groove and Premo cuts and juggles throughout.
 
Of course, there couldn’t be a Premo mix without hip-hop and the New York native made sure to include tracks by artists such as Nas, M.O.P., Joell Ortiz, Showbiz, among others.
 
Stream the full 60 minute session below:
 

 
Related: DJ Premier Tells His Story & Speaks on Today’s Music

 
When DJ Premier speaks, people listen. For Serato’s latest Icon Artist video, the legendary producer explains how he got into producing and what it means to be a DJ. Premo also discusses how Gang Starr was formed and speaks on new artists such as Drake, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Disclosure and Ed Sheeran.
 

“I always do it with a DJ mentality, so DJing is always a factor in how I create the track.”

 
Related: DJ Premier Confirms He’ll Produce a Full Nas Album