SHOOTOUT 7: DJ Premier

Episode 7 of the Hip Hop World Cup podcast, hosted by Danny Phillips, titled "SHOOTOUT 7: DJ Premier" was published on February 24, 2026 and runs 87 minutes.

February 24, 2026 ·87m · Hip Hop World Cup

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

It’s the big one! In this SOLO SHOOTOUT, we’re shining the spotlight on arguably hip-hop’s greatest-ever producer as ten DJ Premier tracks fight for sonic supremacy.From his early days with Gang Starr to era-defining work with Nas, Jeru, Biggie and a roll call of elite MCs, DJ Premier has stood at the forefront of hip-hop for more than three decades with his unmistakable boom-bap sound, becoming one of the most trusted producers of the 1990s golden era. His ear for sampling helped define the sound of New York rap at its grittiest and most refined. Built on chopped samples, hard-hitting drums and razor-sharp scratch hooks, his sound is both stripped-back and cinematic – minimal in palette yet immense in impact.In this episode, Danny, James and Steve choose ten of Preemo’s best bangers, draw them against each other and decide who wins each tie. At the end we tot up the TruSkore totals of the five winners and crown our overall Shootout champion. Simples!Along the way we serve up the usual smorgasbord of shite, including an over-elaborate quiz, ruminations on sample snitching, which ‘Crooklyn’ track is better and Group Home’s compellingly poor rap skills. Oh and Larry brings us news of an ‘unbelievable’ new sponsorship deal that will shake British podcasting to its very foundations.TRACKSCrooklyn Dodgers ’95 – Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers KRS-One – Rappaz R. N. Dainja Jeru The Damaja – Invasion Jeru The Damaja – Mental Stamina PRhyme – PRhyme A$AP Ferg – Our Streets The Notorious B.I.G. – Unbelievable Nas – N.Y. State Of Mind Group Home – Livin’ Proof OC – My WorldSHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (DJ Premier): ⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2iMolaUDOwOSPUYDB6wT34?si=ug4AExY-QO2sOQkq708MGAJOIN OUR PATREON!Become a member on Patreon and access exclusive bonus content:⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCup⁠⁠ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠⁠ Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. SOCIAL MEDIAFollow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

Episode Description

It’s the big one! In this SOLO SHOOTOUT, we’re shining the spotlight on arguably hip-hop’s greatest-ever producer as ten DJ Premier tracks fight for sonic supremacy.

From his early days with Gang Starr to era-defining work with Nas, Jeru, Biggie and a roll call of elite MCs, DJ Premier has stood at the forefront of hip-hop for more than three decades with his unmistakable boom-bap sound, becoming one of the most trusted producers of the 1990s golden era.

His ear for sampling helped define the sound of New York rap at its grittiest and most refined. Built on chopped samples, hard-hitting drums and razor-sharp scratch hooks, his sound is both stripped-back and cinematic – minimal in palette yet immense in impact.

In this episode, Danny, James and Steve choose ten of Preemo’s best bangers, draw them against each other and decide who wins each tie. At the end we tot up the TruSkore totals of the five winners and crown our overall Shootout champion. Simples!

Along the way we serve up the usual smorgasbord of shite, including an over-elaborate quiz, ruminations on sample snitching, which ‘Crooklyn’ track is better and Group Home’s compellingly poor rap skills. Oh and Larry brings us news of an ‘unbelievable’ new sponsorship deal that will shake British podcasting to its very foundations.

TRACKS

Crooklyn Dodgers ’95 – Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers
KRS-One – Rappaz R. N. Dainja
Jeru The Damaja – Invasion
Jeru The Damaja – Mental Stamina
PRhyme – PRhyme
A$AP Ferg – Our Streets
The Notorious B.I.G. – Unbelievable
Nas – N.Y. State Of Mind
Group Home – Livin’ Proof
OC – My World

SHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (DJ Premier): ⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2iMolaUDOwOSPUYDB6wT34?si=ug4AExY-QO2sOQkq708MGA

JOIN OUR PATREON!

Become a member on Patreon and access exclusive bonus content:

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCup⁠⁠

ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:

Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠⁠

Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:

Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup

Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978