Peace everybody! It’s time for Part 3 of my list of the Top 50 Non-GangStarr DJ Premier-produced songs of all-time. This time I’ll be covering songs #30-21 as we get closer to the top 10 on the list. Check out my previous posts for songs #50-31 on the list. Let’s go!
30) BUN B-“LET ‘EM KNOW”
Album: Trill OG (2010)
Due to his association with the hardcore East-Coast sound that he has become famous for, many people forget that DJ Premier actually originally hails from Houston, Texas. Perhaps that’s why it was a bit surprising that 2010’s “Let ‘Em Know” from the Trill OG album saw the first incidence of Premier production on a Bun B album. The two also have some more in common, as both Premier’s GangStarr partner Guru and Bun B’s UGK companion Pimp C were both taken from us way too early (RIP to both!!!). Bun B acknowledges this with his “R.I.P. Guru GangStarr for Life!” opening and Primo gives the love back by scratching Pimp C’s voice on the hook. The actual song is a banger as well, with Bun B sounding right at home over Premier’s monster of a beat that features menacing strings and and bouncy bass and drums. Hopefully this track is any indication of their chemistry, Primo and Bun definitely having something going.
29) THE LOX-“RECOGNIZE”
Album: We Are The Streets (2000)
I have to admit that I was very skeptical of The Lox when they first dropped. They seemed like nothing more than typical street rappers to me and although their lyrical talent was evident, I didn’t really care for the majority of their beat selection on most of their early stuff. “Recognize” from 2000’s We Are The Streets album was definitely an exception to that though. Premier blessed The Lox with a ridiculous piano-driven track complete with crispy snares and a wicked bass line and Jadakiss, Sheek & Styles definitely did it justice. Not too much more to say.
28) MOS DEF-“MATHEMATICS”
Album: Black On Both Sides (1999)
Mos Def has built quite a career for himself as both a rapper and an actor (and even a somewhat of a singer) since his 1999 debut album Black On Both Sides was released. Though many still count it as Mos’ best solo album, I would argue that 2009’s The Ecstatic is right up there with it, if not better. That being said, I don’t know that Mos has made a single song as good as “Mathematics” since then. Premier’s chopped-up guitars from Fatback Band’s “Baby I’m A Want You” and signature crisp drums provide the perfect backdrop for Mos’ impressive lyrical stylings about the connection between mathematics and society. The topics that Mos touches on here are still very relevant 12 years later. Also, this song features some of my favorite scratch work on the hook as well.
27) SAUCE MONEY-“AGAINST THE GRAIN”
Album: Soul In The Hole OST (1997)
Sauce Money is perhaps best known for being a former affiliate of Jay-Z’s, having appeared on Jay’s classic debut album Reasonable Doubt. That’s a shame, though, as Sauce has always been an extremely talented rapper but just one of those that could never get his business together or just didn’t have the right backing to get the spotlight that he deserved. Regardless, Premier was hip to his lyrical talents and blessed him with this banger “Against The Grain” which appeared on the star-studded Soul In The Hole soundtrack back in 1997. I was still very new to hip-hop when this album came out and I didn’t know who Sauce Money was or that Premier did this beat but I always liked the song and have come to appreciate it even more since then. The beat on this one is absurd, as Premier layers a chopped-up piano sample along with a vocal sample for the hook and of course his signature drums and bass line. Sauce drops jewels throughout the track as well, with the end result being a reason why more hip-hop fans should know the name Sauce Money.
26) NAS-“MEMORY LANE (SITTIN’ IN DA PARK)”
Album: Illmatic (1994)
Nas’ 1994 debut Illmatic is still considered by many to be among the greatest (if not THE greatest) hip-hop album of all-time. While Nas’ lyrics throughout Illmatic are show-stealing, but the beats are top-notch as well and DJ Premier played a big part in the album, producing three of its ten tracks. The first one to show up on this list is “Memory Lane” a smooth jam that sees Nas reminiscing on growing up in his native Queensbridge. The track is backed by a smooth vocal sample from Reuben Wilson’s “We’re In Love” and Premier’s slamming drums and Nas sounds perfect over the beat, painting a vivid picture of New York street life with the touch of a poet. A hip-hop classic for sure.
25) BIG L FEATURING BIG DADDY KANE-“PLATINUM PLUS”
Album: The Big Picture (2000)
Another rap legend to meet an unfortunate early demise was D.I.T.C. affiliate Big L, who passed unceremoniously in 1999 after putting out just one true album. His second album, The Big Picture was released posthumously in 2000 though most of the recordings were done between 1996 and 1998. The album featured three tracks produced by DJ Premier, my personal favorite being the menacing “Platinum Plus” with Big Daddy Kane. Premier builds this beat around a sick chop from The Stylistics’ “My Funny Valentine” and adds his usual banging bass line and hard drums to complete a dark, hardcore track that provides a stellar background for L and Kane to do their thing. Personally, Big Daddy Kane’s verse on here is my favorite of the two and one of the best he’s spit since he stopped doing solo albums. He sounds very good with Big L and very good over Premier production. Then again, what dope emcee doesn’t?
24) M.O.P.-“FACE OFF 2K1”
Album: Warriorz (2001)
M.O.P. meets DJ Premier again for the fourth time on this list and it’s definitely a doozy. Premier was one of the first (if not THE first) to do songs where the beat would switch completely in the middle of the track separating the verses, doing it on GangStarr’s “I’m The Man” and “Speak Ya Clout” and here he displays that same formula on M.O.P.’s “Face Off 2K1.” The track starts with Billy Danze pouring his heart out over a very slow, emotional Premier beat based around some stunningly sick chop work from Billy Paul’s “I’m Just A Prisoner” and then switches for Fame’s verse to a much more upbeat track that also features a Billy Paul sample, this one from “It’s Too Late.” You really do get the best of both worlds on this one, a beat that is very different for Premier for Danze’s part and a typical piano-driven track for Fame’s. It’s this combination of dopeness, along with the fact that both emcees sound perfect over their beat, that makes this one a classic.
23) JERU THE DAMAJA-“AIN’T THE DEVIL HAPPY”
Album: The Sun Rises In The East (1994)
Also the fourth Jeru/Premier collab to make the list, “Ain’t The Devil Happy” was one of the first Premier-produced tracks that I truly fell in love with. I loved the darkness of it and the truth of it. The beat is harsh, with dark strings and banging drums setting the backdrop for Jeru’s equally harsh tales of life as he sees it and why the devil is so happy. Listening to the track today, it still holds the same weight and has the same effect on me as it did when I was put on to it all those years ago. This track also shows Premier’s genius with regards to scratching in my opinion, as his cuts of RZA’s “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha” from Wu-Tang Clan’s “Tearz” is so spooky it almost sounds as if it’s the devil himself laughing. Ain’t the devil happy, indeed.
22) D’ANGELO-“DEVIL’S PIE”
Album: Voodoo (2000)
As we continue with the devil-sponsored version of the countdown (I kid, of course), we find the only track from Premier’s R&B work to make the list, D’Angelo’s “Devil’s Pie.” This is grown-folks music right here, but I think it’s definitely a song that just about anybody can relate to, as we’ve all been tempted by (and sometimes succumbed) to evil. D’Angelo sounds great singing about the mark of the beast over Premier’s stand-up bass sample from Teddy Pendergrass’ “And If I Had.” Perhaps one of the better things about this one (and about Premier’s other work with R&B artists) is that he doesn’t change his formula at all. You still get all the elements of a classic Premier beat here: crisp drums, scratches, bass line, all of it. And it works oh so well.
21) EDO G-“SAYIN’ SOMETHING”
Album: The Truth Hurts (2000)
Boston veteran Edo G has been on the scene for quite a while but has seemed to continue to hover under the radar for the most part. Real hip-hop heads know the deal though, and Edo continues to put out solid music to this day. One of my personal favorite tracks of his is this one, 2000’s “Sayin’ Something.” I was always partial to the combination of Edo’s dope voice over Primo’s piano samples on this track and not only that, but Edo drops a ton of jewels in his verses as well. The beat has also always been a personal favorite of mine, keeping Premier’s trademark sound intact while still displaying somewhat of a bounce due to the bass line. This track may not be as well-known as some of the other tracks on my list, but it should be.
Well, that's all for now. Be sure to keep a lookout for new posts, as my next two posts will be the last in this series and will reveal the top 20 songs on my list. Until then, peace!
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