Top 20 Most Recent DJ Premier Beats

I wrote this up almost a year ago but never posted it.  Since I'm probably going to resurrect this blog I figured I'd at least publish it now so that people can see what the list.

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I was recently asked for a list of DJ Premier's more recent hot beats. He's done a lot of classic old school tracks, but even his newer stuff is great. Here's the list.

21. (BONUS) Fat Joe - I'm Gone - This song from last year's slept on Darkside Vol. 1 was just a raw Premo track reminiscent of his earlier sound

20. Craig David - 7 Days (DJ Premier Remix) - Hot remix of that Craig David song with Mos Def and Nate Dogg basically emulating their parts from the track "Oh No"

19. Royce Da 5'9" - Second Place - Damn this is a hot beat from Royce's upcoming album. The only reason it didn't place higher is because it's too new and hasn't passed the test of time

18. Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics Intro - Premo laced Christina with some banging beats on her last joint. Here is probably the best one

17. Royce Da 5'9" - My Friend - Quirky song from one of the best duos in the game

16. Christina Aguilera - Back in the Day - Another banger given to Aguilera

15. Snoop Dogg - The One and Only - This and "Batman and Robin" are from the "Paid the Cost 2 Be the Bo$$" album which was pretty forgettable except for the two Premo cuts

14. Xzibit - What a Mess - This is an interesting mix of a slower beat mixed with Xzibit who is known for his high energy delivery. The result works really well

13. Snoop Dogg - Batman and Robin - Premo flips samples from the 1950's Adam West Batman TV show. Props for creativity.

12. Jay-Z - Hand it Down (Intro) - This was from 1998 when Memphis Bleek was still a decent rapper, but still this track pretty much shows that Premo can make anyone sound good

11. Notorious BIG - Rap Phenomenon - Hot beat and verses from Red, Meth, and Big. Only reason it isn't higher is because it was posthumously made and probably didn't realize the potential of another full on Biggie/Premo track

10. CNN - Invincible - Just a hot beat. Again, Premo can even make Noreaga sound good. Not that dude isn't a lyrical genius with lines like: "What what, what what what!"

9. Jay-Z - So Ghetto - The last track Jay and Premo ever did and it was back in 1999. Classic beat and classic rhymes from Jay. 'Nuff said

8. Nas - Ur Da Man - Part of Nas' return to glory on Stillmatic, this is real gem

7. Gangstarr - Rite Where U Stand - Classic beat and verse from Jada. Thank god this didn't get wasted on some whack rapper

6. Ludacris - MVP - From here on is where it gets REALLY close. These last 8 were really hard to pick. On this track from Luda's 2008 album, Luda takes it back to "where the damn thing was born" on a really incredible Premo beat

5. Fat Joe - That White - Man, talk about wasting beats on whack rappers. Joey Crack does his best to flow over this Premo joint, but you can't but imagine what Nas, Jay, Common, or someone else might have done to this cut

4. Royce Da 5'9" - Hip-Hop - Royce and Premo go together like "D and D". It's a real testament to their chemistry that this awesome track isn't even the best they've done together

3. Limp Bizkit - N 2 Ghether Now - Godamn, talk about timeless. I could put this on back in high school and feel it, put it on again today and feel it, and probably put it on again in 10 years and still love it. Classic beat. You ain't feelin' it? "Shut the fuck up!"

2. Royce Da 5'9" - Boom - In my opinion, the pinnacle of all the Royce/Premo tracks and the song that kept Royce relevant when nobody wanted to listen

1. Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One, and Rakim - Classic (Better than I Ever Been) (DJ Premier Remix) - This one is recent, having come out in 2007, but I love this one so much that it gets the number one spot. Apart from the classic (get it?) old school sounding beat, the perfect mix of chops, and verses from 3 hip-hop LEGENDS, this is like catching lightning in a bottle. All the elements were there to make this classic (going for two) track.