DJ Premier & The Badder Band: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Aug 21, 2017 | Abby O'Neill | Three-time Grammy winner DJ Premier, one of the definitive architects of New York hip-hop, brought a new type of life to NPR's Tiny Desk: our first concert helmed by a DJ.

A packed house of head-nodding journalists grooved through their lunch hour to a nine-song medley of iconic Premier productions while decompressing from the unrelenting grind of the news cycle. The set list rested on the undeniable footprint of Preemo's classics, but this was more than just another DJ mix. His touring outfit, The Badder Band, overlaid Premier's blends with an undulating electric bass courtesy of Brady Watt, a steady accent on the one from drummer Lenny "The Ox" Reece and boisterous horns from Mark Williams and Jonathan Powell.

But it was Premier who remained front-and-center, commanding the crowd like a true party rocker. With throwbacks ranging from Gangstarr's "Step into the Arena" to an amped rendition of Jeru The Damaja's "Da Bitches," embellished by The Badder's jazzy horns, Preemo concluded the set with a "Moment of Truth," featuring the exalted rhymes of his posthumous Gangstarr partner, Guru.

Tiny Desk concerts are short by design, so naturally the format could barely scratch the surface of Premier's vault of street anthems, done for the likes of the Notorious B.I.G., JAY-Z, Nas, Kanye West, Big L, M.O.P., Mos Def, Group Home, Jeru the Damaja, AZ, Snoop Dogg, and many more. Even after a career spanning almost three decades, the man born Christopher Martin has managed to stay authentic to his analog grit and sample-chopping integrity, as if he were still an underdog.

SET LIST

"Premier Production Medley"

- KRS-One - "KRS-One Attacks"
- KRS-One - "MC's Act Like They Don't Know"
- Das Efx - "Real Hip-Hop"
- Nas - "Nas Is Like"
- Jeru The Damaja - "Da Bichez"
- Gang Starr - "Step In The Arena"
- Gang Starr feat. M.O.P. - "1/2 & 1/2"
- Royce Da 5'9 - "Boom"
- Gang Starr - "Moment Of Truth"

Musicians
DJ Premier (producer); Brady Watt (bass); Mark Williams (trombone); Lenny "The Ox" Reece (drums); Jonathan Powell (trumpet).

Credits
Producers: Abby O'Neill, Bob Boilen, Niki Walker, Morgan Noelle Smith; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Kara Frame, Colin Marshall; Photo: Liam James Doyle/NPR.

[NaijaBoiTellEm]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call here a REAL DJ.

[fx]

Seems like if you follow hip-hop down a rabbit hole of previous influences, DJ Premier is always there. Legend.

[andymunoz]

I got chills when Moment of Truth came up - RIP GURU. Gone but never forgotten.

[YensForgotten]

The bass player seems to be a fan of DJ Premier, he can hardly hide his excitement.

[BeesKneezs]

I love how he puts out the same energy for this tiny room of people as he would for a full sold out show, that right there is loving what you do.

[lawrenceworrell]

Tiny Desk is one of the best things to come out of this century

[Utopia_gMw]

If you love both jazz and dj premier you feel like in heaven

[aaaw]

0:00 - Intro
0:48 - Classic (DJ Premier)
0:55 - Attacks (KRS-One)
2:10 - MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know (KRS-One)
4:03 - Real Hip-Hop (Das EFX)
4:45 - Skillz (Gang Starr) (Bassline)
5:30 - Clockwork (Dilated Peoples) (Bassline)
5:55 - N.Y. State of Mind (Nas) (Bassline)
6:40 - Devil’s Pie (D’Angelo) (Bassline)
6:45 - Nas Is Like (Nas)
7:43 - Da Bitchez (Jeru The Damaja)
10:32 - Step In The Arena (Gang Starr)
12:00 - Gymnast’s Ballet (Jimmy Webb)
12:32 - 1/2 & 1/2 feat. M.O.P. (Gang Starr)
14:57 - Forever Is A Long, Long Time (Marc Hannibal)
15:40 - Boom (Royce Da 5’9)
19:05 - Let’s Fall In Love All Over Again (Billy Paul)
20:29 - Moment of Truth (Gang Starr)

[jenniferstsume]

This is legitimately one of the coolest musical acts I have ever seen.

[tsadare]

If only guru was still alive. Rip true hip hop mc

[massid]

Seeing the bass guy having the time of his life when "Nas is like" drops at 6:45 makes your day

[sallysson]

I have seen a many many Tiny Desk concerts and performances. This has to qualify as a Tiny Desk musical experience.
For the younger generations, this is the literal definition of a DJ being on the ones and twos.

[malijevkanal]

Premier : " Put your hands up! "
Me: * home alone * hands up like on a concert

[mikeg]

I swear Tiny Desk has the best sound engineers. Sounds LEGIT as always.

[vernondyke]

This is the next sound, live band with a DJ playing the turntables like an instrument. This has to take off. This has to be the future of hip hop.

[Pontiki]

When i was a teen Premier rocked my nights. Today i am 46 years old and i feel like a 70 year old. And Preemo is still rocking and with the same amounts of energy. Just look at this man enjoying doing his thing..Love you Preemo.

[christophdunkel]

Every time Moment of truth comes up, I get something my eyes, can´t help it. When Preemo plays the beat in live on his drum computer, there is so much dedication in it...

RIP Gang Starr, you passed away far too soon.

[dziedzicart]

This is the first youtube video I ever clapped to at the end. Sober.

[findmragments]

This could've easily been a Premier discography set, I really wouldn't have minded. Felt like 5 minutes. Amazing. R.I.P Guru.

[CIB]

DJ Premier is hip hop in it's purest form. He acknowledges that hip hop borrows a lot from jazz and funk and blends it all together. Great job by the rest of the band as well.