DJ Premier

DJ Premier
Sven Volkens, sven.volkens@wikipedia.de · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	DJ Premier
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth name	Christopher Edward Martin
Birth date	1966-03-21
Birth place	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Origin	Houston, Texas; Houston, Texas
Genres	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Occupations	Record producer, DJ, songwriter
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Wild Pitch Records, EMI, Geffen Records, Priority Records, SRC Records
Associated acts	Gang Starr, Guru, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z

DJ Premier

DJ Premier (born Christopher Edward Martin) is an American record producer and DJ renowned for shaping East Coast hip hop production through work with Gang Starr, Guru, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., and numerous others. His career spans collaborations with mainstream artists and underground acts across labels like Wild Pitch Records and Geffen Records, influencing generations of producers, DJs, and MCs. Known for sparse sampling, heavy drums, and chopped breaks, he remains a pivotal figure in hip hop culture and DJing communities.

Early life and education

Christopher Edward Martin was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in a milieu connected to New York City hip hop culture and Chicago scenes through family movements. He studied audio and performance informally by frequenting record stores such as Tower Records and venues like The Apollo Theater and learning from local DJs connected to crews associated with Wild Pitch Records and Priority Records. Early influences included exposure to records from producers like George Clinton, James Brown, and bands such as Funkadelic and Parliament, alongside breakbeat collectors tied to scenes around 35th Street and radio stations like WBLS.

Career beginnings and Gang Starr

Premier began performing as a DJ in the mid-1980s, cutting his teeth on scratches and turntablism in clubs that hosted shows featuring artists from Columbia Records rosters and independent labels. He met MCs who later became part of the New York underground and formed a partnership with vocalist Guru to create Gang Starr, releasing seminal albums on labels including Chrysalis Records and EMI. Gang Starr toured with acts such as A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and EPMD, and appeared at festivals alongside Public Enemy, Brand Nubian, and Salt-N-Pepa, helping to establish Premier's reputation as both DJ and producer.

Production style and techniques

Premier's production is characterized by chopped jazz, soul, and funk samples from artists like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bob James, and Cannonball Adderley, combined with layered drum breaks sourced from records such as James Brown's "Funky Drummer". He favored hardware including the Akai MPC, E-mu SP-1200, and turntables like Technics SL-1200, and techniques adopted from turntablists in crews linked to Rocksteady Crew and pioneers associated with DJ Kool Herc. His signature scratches—often vocal cuts and producer tags—became staples on tracks for artists associated with Def Jam Recordings, Bad Boy Records, and Rawkus Records.

Collaborations and notable works

Premier produced iconic tracks for major artists across hip hop and adjacent genres, including songs for Nas ("NY State of Mind" era collaborations), The Notorious B.I.G. (work connected to the Ready to Die era), and Jay-Z (sessions tied to Roc-A-Fella Records). He collaborated with underground luminaries such as KRS-One, M.O.P., Big L, Jeru the Damaja, and PMD, and contributed beats to projects by Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, and Mos Def. Premier's cross-genre remixes and productions involved artists from Rock and R&B spheres including Sting, Lauryn Hill, and Mary J. Blige, while also working with international acts connected to labels like Ninja Tune and producers associated with Fatboy Slim.

Solo projects and DJing career

Beyond production for others, he released solo compilations, instrumental albums, and mixtapes circulated through outlets such as BBC Radio 1, Hot 97, and via independent distributors tied to Rawkus Records and Stones Throw Records. As a live DJ, he has performed at venues including Madison Square Garden, Glastonbury Festival, and club residencies in Tokyo, London, and Los Angeles, often appearing with turntablists from scenes around Scratch DJ Academy and participating in battles alongside members of X-ecutioners and Beat Junkies. Premier also toured with crew members from Gang Starr Foundation and curated sets for events promoted by S.O.S. and festivals featuring headliners like Kendrick Lamar.

Legacy and influence

Premier's influence permeates contemporary production through producers affiliated with Top Dawg Entertainment, TDE, and indie labels that rose from the 1990s era of Rawkus Records and MCA Records. His style informed the sounds of producers who worked with artists on Roc Nation, Aftermath Entertainment, and Shady Records, and inspired turntablists within communities including DMC World DJ Championships participants. Academic and cultural institutions like The Smithsonian Institution and curators at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have referenced the broader movement Premier helped shape, while documentaries and books on hip hop history often cite his work alongside peers such as Pete Rock, Q-Tip, and RZA.

Awards and recognition

Throughout his career, Premier has received nominations and awards from entities including BET Awards, Grammy Awards-adjacent acknowledgments, and honors from institutions linked to VH1 and MTV. Industry publications such as Rolling Stone, The Source, and XXL have listed his productions among essential hip hop recordings, while halls of fame and retrospective exhibits at museums like Museum of the City of New York have showcased artifacts tied to his career. Peer recognition from producers and artists across labels such as Def Jam Recordings and Geffen Records underscores his enduring reputation.

Category:American hip hop record producers Category:American DJs