Anyone really disappointed must've not heard DJ Premier's work for like the last 10 years lol. The days of Paula Perry - Extra Extra and REKS - 25th Hour are long past. This is who he is now. Still GOAT in small doses but over a whole album the quality drops and he's giving you these beats that are TOO simple, like to the point where they sound unfinished. Minimalism is cool but Preemo be puttin out unseasoned chicken beats that push that aesthetic to the limit.
He needs a co-producer BAD but OG got too much pride. Even Prhyme was as good as it was because Adrian Younge gave him a bunch of amazing tracks to flip for free.......Adrian Younge was basically an uncredited co-producer.
I actually dig the sound design on My Life Is Real but its a textbook example of what I mean about unfinished beats. Somebody like Alchemist would have added a breakdown and a whole bunch of sound effects and little snippets of people talking in the background to add variation and tie it all together.
Calling that song NY State of Mind Pt. 3 is damn near unforgivable. Like first of all.......there was already a part 3 with Alicia Keys and Rakim. It was much better than this. Second of all....we really chipmunk sampling the Billy Joel song like Dipset didnt do that already? Unoriginal shit lol.
And was it really worth cutting a check to Steve Miller for those simple-ass chops?
That said,
I like this album wayyyyyyy more than I thought I would. This is much better production than what I heard on the Ransom and Marci albums.
Those dirty lofi breaks on GiT Ready and Pause Tapes are dope as fuck. Bouquet with those strings is utterly gorgeous. Madman, Writers, Nasty Esco Nasir sound like vintage Preemo to me. I love the smooth vibes on Sons - unPreemo-like in a good way. My Story Your Story is a
talker type beat for Nas and AZ to reunite on.
And worst of the Legends series? Stop. Nigga I am still furious that Tony had the nerve to name that mids album SUPREME CLIENTELE 2. Greatest rap album of all time imho and you gonna make any sequel to it let alone some 7/10 shit.......i was offended. I didnt listen to any song from Rae album more than twice except the Ghostface & Nas duets. Big L album ruined the 7 Minute Freestyle by layering the shittiest drums I've ever heard on top of it; I'll stick with my old bootleg mp3 thank you. They really put a recording of Joe Budden talking about Big L on the album instead of any Children of the Corn. Okay. And we were all being polite about the Slick Rick album out of respect.
Havoc and De La Soul were the only ones who REALLY delivered but I'm willing to put this 3rd
Should’ve did an album with Pete Rock instead?
That 2019 album with Skyzoo is one of the best produced hip-hop albums I've ever heard and the last album with Common wasn't too far behind. So......... yeah. DJ Premier vs Pete Rock right now is like Aaron Rodgers in his 40s vs BRADY in his 40s lmao
