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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

DJ Premier’s D&D Studios (HeadQCourterz) Closes


Illmatic. Reasonable Doubt. Ready To Die. Almost every Gang Starr and every Premo track since '92 was recorded here. But yesterday, Dj Premier announced that D&D Studios  (also known as HeadQCourterz Studios) will close its doors forever. The famous recording home will be eventually converted to one of many luxury apartments, as Premo stated in one of his recent Instagram post: #RichClownsRuinManhattan. But this won't stop the legendary producer from making timeless hits, as he plans to record at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens NY. I am sure the HeadQCourterz name will move with him. Check out his IG photos below of Premier and his final moments at D&D studios.

- GangStarr Forever!!! 

Friday, May 16, 2014

Dj Premier sits with Life and Times and talks Nas and Illmatic

Dj Premier sits with Life and Times and talks Nas and Illmatic

L+T: I’m sure you’re getting sick of the Illmatic questions, but mine is different! From the three tracks you produced on the album, I definitely feel the connection between the instrumentation along with the lyrics – they go hand-in-hand. When you worked with Nas on those three records, how were you able to decide what sounds would actually work with the lyrics? It’s such a real story, the lyrics are poignant.

DJ Premier: Well, with “Memory Lane,” Nas was laughing at the album cover. It was a Reuben Wilson sample – which I can say because it was cleared – I don’t mind people know that. When we were looking at the cover, Nas was like, “Look at this dude, look at his afro!” He was laughing. When he heard that sample (hums the vocals) in the beginning of the song, that’s all we had looped. Well, I looped it. He was like, “Yo, that’s what I want.” I’m like, ‘Yeah, but it ain’t really hardcore beats.’ We had already done N.Y. State of Mind. I was like, ‘I want to do another one on that level.’ He was like, “Nah, because I already have a lot of hardcore stuff already. I need to get something like that to take it to a different type of sonic sound.” I didn’t really like it. So he was like, “Yo, just hook it up and if it doesn’t work as I lay the vocals, we’ll scrap it.” (raps the intro) I was like, ‘Okay’ and it made me like it. He rapped over it and I was like, ‘Alright, we’ll keep it.’
Dj Premier sits with Life and Times and talks Nas and Illmatic

L+T: Everyone has their own perspective of Illmatic. For you, what is it about Illmaticthat makes it – as many critics and some musicians express – one of the greatest hip hop albums in history?

DJ Premier
: Mainly because of the fact that at that time Nas was this new sound in music, his attitude, his cockiness – like, “Yo, y’all can’t fuck with me” – and just the rawness and the bluntness of the things he was saying from “[Live at the] Barbecue” to “Halftime” – just all of that stuff made it like...


Read the rest of this interview on NasDotCom.com

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

NAS LIVE AT 12PM TODAY ON HUFFINGTON POST, ASK HIM QUESTIONS LIVE!

NAS-ILLMATICXX SHIRT

Monday, April 14, 2014

GANGSTARR WEEK : NAS'S ILLMATIC COINCIDES WITH THE DEATH ANNVERSARY OF KEITH ELAM AKA GURU OF GANGSTARR


GANGSTARR WEEK : NAS'S ILLMATIC COINCIDES WITH THE DEATH ANNVERSARY OF KEITH ELAM AKA GURU OF GANGSTARR



I know people are talking about the upcoming Nas Documentary "Time Is Illmatic" and the upcoming anniversary of Guru's passing, but I just realized that both of these events share the same April 19th date. Both of these artists have made a monumental mark in Hip Hop culture and also share common links. Dj Premier, who is one half of GangStarr, worked with Nas in creating timeless masterpieces, including NY State of Mind, Memory Lane, Nas Is Like, and many more. Illmatic is one of the best if the best Hip Hop album released, EVER.

GANGSTARR WEEK : NAS'S ILLMATIC COINCIDES WITH THE DEATH ANNVERSARY OF KEITH ELAM AKA GURU OF GANGSTARR


And Gangstarr's albums, Daily Operation, Step in the Arena, Hard To Earn, and Moment of Truth can be rightfully argued as being in that top album list. These are the artists that molded me coming up because they truly represent what real New York Hip Hop Culture is supposed to represent. They entertain while also dropping knowledge, and with Dj Premier behind the boards, you have a winning formula. This Friday I will be dedicating a special mix at 10pm est dedicated to Gangstarr and Keith Elam aka Guru on my station, FULLBLAST RADIO that you can listen to by clicking the link and the station will also be embedded here on Offthecorner.net.   

NAS PERFORMS AT COACHELLA 2014 (FULL SET FEAT JAYZ)

 
NAS PERFORMS AT COACHELLA 2014
 
 


NAS TAKES A TRIP TO MEMORY LANE AND REMEMBERS ILLMATIC MOMENTS WITH FAITH NEWMAN

 

NAS TAKES A TRIP TO MEMORY LANE AND REMEMBERS ILLMATIC MOMENTS WITH FAITH NEWMAN

Monday, March 10, 2014

Nas Drops Pre-Illmatic Freestyle From Stretch & Bobbito’s WCKR Radio Show, 1993

 
Grand Wizard, Ill Will & Nas
 
Nas drops a rare freestyle–originally delivered on Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito‘s WCKR radio show from1993, which will be included on Disc 2 of Illmatic XX–the deluxe reissue marking the 20th Anniversary of the his sterling debut as he rhymes along with his Queensbridge homie Grand Wizard.
 
 


Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Dj Premier will Produce Nas's Post Def Jam Album



Source - HipHopdx.com

DJ Premier says that he and Nas will do an album together once Nas' contract with Def Jam runs out.
DJ Premier says that he and Nas will be working on a long-discussed album together soon.
“It’s coming,” DJ Premier says during an interview posted by Phenom Blak. “I just saw him last week. It's coming. He has another project to drop on Def Jam, then he's a free agent. Let him get that out. It'll give me time to get my artists ripped and ready. Then we can all tour together or something."
DJ Premier and Nas have worked together throughout Nas’ career, including the rapper’s acclaimed debut album, 1994’s Illmatic. DJ Premier produced three of the collections 10 songs, “N.Y. State Of Mind, “ “Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park)” and “Represent.”
The only guest rapper on Illmatic was AZ, who appeared on “Life’s A Bitch.” DJ Premier said that he didn’t know whether or not AZ would appear on his forthcoming album with Nas.
"Nas is in charge,” says DJ Premier, who has been discussing doing an album with Nas since at least 2006. “I'm just the producer."
In addition to his work as one-half of Gang Starr, DJ Premier has also produced for a number of other artists, including Nas, Jay Z and The Notorious B.I.G.. DJ Premier says that he tries to tailor his production to the artist with whom he is collaborating, especially if he’s worked with them before.
“When I go in,” he says. "I’m totally thinking of that artist in every way in order for it to sound like I’m making the right thing for what will bring them out better than the last record we did."
DJ Premier uses samples as the foundation of his music, but he says that he’s evolved from his days of relying heavily on the material of James Brown and funk artists as source material. Now, DJ Premier says he gets samples from a variety of sources.

“It could be a dog that just got ran over by a car and the way he squealed, I was like, ‘Yo. I’m making a beat out of that,’” he says. “But shit’s gonna be funky.”

Monday, September 16, 2013

NAS TURNS 40 - "ONE OF THE BEST FEELINGS I'VE EVER HAD"



SOURCE : HIPHOPDX.COM

Nas’ widely lauded classic debut, Illmatic, is now an achievement a half a lifetime in the rear view as the Queensbridge rapper turns 40 years old today (September 14). Illmatic, which quickly characterized the best aspects of New York City Hip Hop for many fans and critics alike, was released in April of 1994 when Nas was only 20 years old. Nearly two decades later, the rapper, who first made his recording debut on Main Source’s “Live At The Barbeque” in 1991, took some time to reflect on his career and growth at a Hennessy-sponsored birthday party.
Nas both shrugged off and praised the milestone. “I just take it all in stride,” he said. "It really feels like—man, I always grew up around older people. I always talked to older people. So, some of my friends turned 40 a couple of years ago, so they mess with me like I don’t know what it’s like. Now, it’s one of the best feelings I ever had. I’m just blessed. It’s a miracle. I’m so blessed.”

Friday, September 13, 2013

NAZ - The Nas / AZ Project, Coming soon exclusively on OffTheCorner.net

Another Offthecorner exclusive featuring Nas and AZ, coming soon, keep checking back for details and the special countdown timer!!

Az also spoke with SOHH.com earlier this year on possibly collaborating with Nas on an official album : 
"As far as Nas, I know he was working on his album and he was moving around so much and I was moving around so much [last summer], I still tour and all that, it was more or less I had to wait for the right time to put something out. So in the meantime, between time, I just decided to put something out and get it out there.
Hopefully that collaboration between me and Nas will pop off but my album is halfway done and I'm going to continue to hopefully put out music every month".
AZ first became known by appearing on Nas' landmark 1994 album Illmatic on the song "Life's a Bitch", as well as featuring vocals on the opening track The Genesis. He was the only guest feature to appear on that album. AZ signed with EMI, and soon released his debut album Doe Or Die in 1995 to critical acclaim, but meager commercial success. After a slew of solo efforts, AZ is currently putting together his long-awaited Doe Or Die II LP.

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