DJ Premier Shares Untold Backstories on Gang Starr and His Career in New Interview

DJ Premier was profiled today on Rock The Bells – the global lifestyle brand and multi-platform destination dedicated to classic Hip-Hop created by LL COOL J – as part of RTB’s ongoing spotlight series which focuses on the stories behind the biggest pioneers of Hip-Hop culture.

Images for the feature were shot by iconic Hip-Hop photographer Jonathan Mannion.

DJ Premier (photo credit: Jonathan Mannion/Rock The Bells)
DJ Premier (photo credit: Jonathan Mannion/Rock The Bells)
DJ Premier (photo credit: Jonathan Mannion/Rock The Bells)
DJ Premier (photo credit: Jonathan Mannion/Rock The Bells)

The Move To Brooklyn – Everyone knows Gang Starr as Guru and DJ Premier. However, the group didn’t always consist of the Boston MC and the Houston DJ/producer. There were two iterations of the group before the iconic duo. This is a deep dive into their origin story and DJ Premier unlocks a never before heard tidbit: Gang Starr wouldn’t exist as we know it without the US Navy.
Now You’re Mine – The unknown backstory of Gang Starr’s hit “Now You’re Mine”. DJ Premier and Guru had their fair share of fights when recording their iconic material. On the eve of heading into the studio to record a song for the White Men Can’t Jump soundtrack, they had what Premier described as, “the worst fight ever.” There was blood everywhere. But they still had work to do the next day. On “Now You’re Mine,” DJ Premier reveals Guru was actually talking about him.
The Magic of D&D Studios – While a handful of Hip-Hop artists were already recording at D&D Studios, DJ Premier shares his experience inside David Lotwin and Doug Grama’s place and how it would completely shift the trajectory of not only Gang Starr’s music but also of Hip-Hop as a whole.
The Sample That Got Away – Premier has the uncanny knack of taking a sample, chopping it, and flipping it so that it seems both familiar and original. But, of course, with more and more recognition, he’s been forced to reconcile that clearing a sample isn’t always so easy. Here he tells the story of the sample that got away and how it still resonates with him today.

READ THE FULL FEATURE STORY HERE ON ROCKTHEBELLS.COM

Content courtesy of Rock The Bells

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.