DJ Premier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
DJ Premier
|
|
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
DJ Premier in 2019
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christopher Edward Martin |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | March 21, 1966 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres |
|
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels |
|
| Signature | |
 |
|
Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), known as DJ Premier (or Preemo), is a famous American record producer and DJ. He is often called one of the greatest hip hop producers ever. He helped create the hip hop duo Gang Starr with rapper Guru. They released seven albums together. In 2014, he formed another hip hop duo called PRhyme with rapper Royce da 5'9". They have released two albums.
Premier produced all of Gang Starr's music. He also worked with many other famous artists. These include Eminem, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Nas, and the Notorious B.I.G.. Even though he mostly worked in underground hip hop, he produced songs that became very popular. Some of these hits include "Ain't No Other Man" by Christina Aguilera and "Mass Appeal" by Gang Starr.
In 2010, Martin started his own record label, Year Round Records. He signed artists like NYGz, Nick Javas, and Khalil.
Contents
Early Life and Music Start
Christopher Edward Martin was born in Fifth Ward, Houston, Texas, on March 21, 1966. He grew up in Prairie View. Later, he moved to Brooklyn when he was a teenager. He went to Prairie View A&M University. There, he became a skilled DJ for the campus. He also sometimes played with the school's Marching Storm band.
DJ Premier's Music Journey
In the mid-1990s, DJ Premier was a key part of the Gang Starr Foundation. This group included artists like Jeru the Damaja and Group Home. Premier produced Jeru the Damaja's first two albums, The Sun Rises in the East and Wrath of the Math. He also produced Livin' Proof for Group Home. This album became very popular later on.
Premier worked with many other artists connected to the Gang Starr Foundation. These included Afu-Ra, Bahamadia, and Big Shug. He also produced songs for KRS-One's first solo album, Return of the Boom Bap.
Premier has a strong connection with the group M.O.P.. He considers them one of his favorite groups. Their work together began in 1994. Premier produced many songs on M.O.P.'s albums. He also helped mix their projects.
In 2006, the pop singer Christina Aguilera asked Premier to produce her album Back to Basics. Some people were surprised by this collaboration. But Premier showed that his unique style could work with different types of music. He said he wants to be known for music in general, not just hip hop. He enjoys all kinds of music, like country, soul, and jazz.
In 2008, DJ Premier appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. He played himself as a radio host for "The Classics 104.1."
He produced most of Blaq Poet's album Tha Blaqprint in 2009. Premier also contributed a song to Game's 2011 album, The R.E.D. Album. In 2012, Premier was featured in the documentary Re:GENERATION. The film showed him creating a song using a live orchestra.
In 2014, Premier worked with Christina Aguilera again. He also produced "Y'all Ready Know" for the group Slaughterhouse. In the same year, he teamed up with the Korean hip-hop group Dynamic Duo. They released two popular singles, "AEAO" and "Animal."
In 2015, Premier's studio, D&D, moved to a new location in Astoria, New York City. DJ Premier was one of the music curators for the video game NBA 2K16.
In 2019, he released "Headlines" with rappers Conway the Machine, Westside Gunn, and Benny the Butcher. In 2020, he produced "State of the Union (STFU)" for Public Enemy.
DJ Premier hosted a weekly radio show called Live From HeadQCourterz on Sirius Satellite Radio's Shade 45. The show ended in 2022. In August 2023, he released a clothing collection with AMIRI. The collection featured his "PREEMO" nickname.
DJ Premier's Unique Style
.jpg)
DJ Premier's music style is a great example of the "New York sound." He is famous for using samples from jazz, funk, and soul songs. He also sometimes samples an artist's older songs to create new ones for them. For example, on Jay-Z's song "So Ghetto," Premier used parts of Jay-Z's older song "Who You Wit II."
Premier is known for his amazing ability to use short vocal samples. He takes small parts of lyrics from different songs. Then, he scratches them together on his turntables to create new phrases. His beats often combine these vocal samples to make a unique chorus. Premier has also used unusual samples that are not just from soul, jazz, or funk music.
He has said that Marley Marl is his biggest inspiration. Other DJs like Jam Master Jay and Grandmaster Flash also influenced him. Premier learned a lot from watching these artists. He believes his music comes from the "rawest form of blackness" found in the ghetto. He respects this background by making similar music. He is also a major creator of the boom-bap style of hip-hop production.
DJ Premier's Impact
In 2008, The Source magazine named DJ Premier one of the 20 greatest producers in its history. In 2010, Vibe magazine held a contest for the greatest hip hop producer. DJ Premier came in second place, right after Dr. Dre.
Rapper Afu Ra shared how Premier helped him. He said Premier coached him in the recording booth. Premier taught him how to rap for recordings. He helped Afu Ra become a better artist.
Discography
- DJ Premier Presents Get Used To Us (2010)
- Kolexxxion (with Bumpy Knuckles) (2012)
- PRhyme (with Royce da 5'9") (2014)
- PRhyme 2 (with Royce da 5'9") (2018)
- Hip Hop 50: Vol. 1 (2022)
- The Coldest Profession (with Roc Marciano) (2025)
- Untitled album (with Nas) (2025)
See also
In Spanish: DJ Premier para niños
