“For a 22-year-old man, he brought lyricism back. When [Gang Starr’s] Step In The Arena came out, I was 22-years-old. And I just thought about it, I was like, Damn, I was a youngster. I wasn’t 30, 31. I was 22 and coming with heat. And that’s why I like that he’s bringing stuff back. J. Cole, I like that he’s bringing lyrics back.” – DJ Premier
Interesting. As much as people herald Premier as hip-hop and the greatest producer and whatever other accolade you crown him with, that statement right there had people ripping him apart. Amazing. I would think a guy that worked with Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie, a member of Gang Starr, Royce Da 5’9″, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One…(you get the point) would know a little bit about lyricism. Yet every ounce of his 23 years of experience in this industry goes for naught on a statement like that. Come on people. Quit hating. It never seems to amaze me the amount of hate people for anyone successful. In any event, DJ Premier sits with AllHipHop.com to back up his statement about Drake bringing lyricism back to rap.