DJ Premier

Born: March 21, 1966, Houston, Texas

[A=DJ Premier], best known for being one half of the rap duo [A=Gang Starr], is also a DJ and record producer. [A=DJ Premier] has produced almost all of [A=Gang Starr]'s tracks as well as tracks for many other groups and solo artists since the 1990s. He has produced tracks for such artists as [A=Jay-Z], [A=Big L], [A=Notorious B.I.G.], [A=Nas], [A=M.O.P.], [A=Jeru The Damaja], [A=KRS-One] and [A=Mos Def]. [A=DJ Premier]'s style of production is considered "underground" Hip-Hop or "alternative" Hip-Hop. He is known for sampling Jazz artists, as well as sampling an artist's past work, when he is creating a new track for that same artist. Further he is known for combining small vocal portions from multiple artists to make one hook on a track he is producing. This creative technique has made him one of the most sought after producers in Hip-Hop. [A=DJ Premier]'s name refers to his claim to be the first and the best in his style. His original stage name was Wax-Master C, the "C" coming from his real name.

Premier also founded his own Year Round Incorporated label.