[Review] PRHYME TOO

Although NPR had the exclusive rights to preview DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9"'s new album in its entirety a week early its actual release date is today (2018-03-16) and can now be bought on both 2xLP or CD. Preemo and Royce Da 5'9" is somehwat of a match made in heaven and has constantly killed shit since back in 2001 when the team let loose of the underground classic "Boom" and the not so intriguing album cut "My Friend" (where Royce mistreated a slamming Preem beat by talking about his Johnson for four minutes). Since then Premier has appeared on the majority of Royce projects, often being behind the LP:s best tracks. It wasn't until the excellent Freestyle tape "The Bar Exam Vol. 1" and later "Street Hop" that you truly saw the immense potential a full collaboration between the two promised. "Street Hop" was marketed as a modern East Coast classic featuring 6 Preemo productions out of the 18 tracks featured on the  LP. For some reason when we finally got our hands on it, there were only 3 Preemo cuts left. And although they all were solidified it came off as a dissapointment. The reason we ended up with that trio is that one couldn't get past sample clearances and the other two had been lincensed to and issued on the Game Recordings label. The double-A side single featured the Preem/Royce bangers "Ding!" and "Hit' Em Up" which really would've worked wonders in making "Street Hop" (which was not a bad album at all anyway) even more street.

So in 2014 finally these two legends got together to release a full-length album under the group name of "PRhyme". With only 9 songs it was a front-to-back LP that both rhymewise and with itsproduction took it straight back to the essence and was undoubtedly one of the best albums of the year. The idea was not to release any standard rap record but in challenging themeselves the entire project was created using samples from the extensive catalouge of Adrian Younge, kind of how Danger Mouse did it with The Beatles for "The White Album" - but with permission of course. Not to mention that they released a deluxe edition adding 4 additional songs once again killing Adrian Younge samples while inviting legends like Black Thought and Phonté. It certainly helped bring that East Coast boom bap back and was true to form one of the best New York albums of the year.

The question is if the duo can do it again - we know of course that when Premier and Royce get together they can make excellent Hip Hop music. But part of PRhyme is that it's a challenge; all beats and samples has to be chopped from a current artist. And since Arian Younge isn't super prolific compare to many of his peers, this time they have gone with Philly based Antman Wonder who shuns samples in his beat making process. What's cool about Antman Wonder is that he doesn't fuck with no fisherman price Casio type of beats but actually stay true to dusty boom bap type beats but completely without samples. Matter of fact, he even made an ode to "Reasonable Doubt" with Skyzooo that way a few years ago.

So just like for the first PRhyme, it's all about live instrumentation from the original sampled artist with Premier chopping it, adding his turntable work, his unmistakable drums and giving it that classic Gang Starr vibe, Still, Antman and Younge are two very different artists so the projects are really quite different and might be a question of taste. Personally I like both a lot but I'm a sucker for Younge's lush soulful soundscapes that volume 1 had to offer. But I was also much more familiar with the original samples there so it could very well be that I need some time to adjust. Save for Rapsody, Roc Marciano (and occassionally) Cee-Lo Green) the guests aren't really my cup of tea. Fucking Yelawolf? 2Chainz? Big K.R.I.T. (i know a lot of people dig him, but I just can't get into him).

Still, it's almost a 60 minutes project and Royce is killing it, Preemo is mostly killing it and I applaud the brothers for trying something different. I have a feeling this will stay in rotation a while and will mostly gets better on each spin so I'm positive on this release. While its no "Daily Operation", "Livin' Proof", "The Sun Rises in the East" or even "Tha Blaqprint" it's a must hear for any serious Hip Hop head so my rating is a somewhat weak 4/5. Don't sleep!

P.S. - A fun tidbit is that this is not the first time DJ Premier and Antman Wonder have worked together, back in 2013 when Skyzoo and Torae dropped their "Barrell Brothers" project, the best song ont the album ("The Aura") was actually produced by DJ Premier and Antman Wonder and it sounded marvellous.

You can pick up the album @ UGHH, HHV, iTunes or Amazon.com.

PRHYME - "Rock It´´

Now this is what I'm talking about. DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9" has always been an incredible combo and their Prhyme album with Adrian Younge was super fresh. After releasing a deluxe version of the original 9 track album an dropping a looise with Logic on the "Southpaw" soundtrack it was quite clear that Preemo and Royce was back in the studio cooking up some marvellous shit to get your mouth watering. The album "Prhyme 2" drops on March 16 and will feature 17 tracks - listening to the two singles that has dropped so far I'm not too sure that Adrian Younge is actually involved at all this time, but oh well... The new single that just dropped, "Rock It" is that good ol' Boom Bap shit we love from these gentlemen while the lead single featuring Dave East was so-so if you ask me. Check out both tracks right here and head over to iTunes to pre-order.

PRHYME - "Mode" [Beast Version]

The non-album track "Mode" originaly appeared on the soundtrack to "Southpaw" earlier this year, and while it was a dope cut it couldn't fully prepare us for the blazing 7 minutes long Beast Version which is now being unleashed on us. This version is the one that will be featured on the official deluxe version release of DJ Premier's and Royce Da 5'9"'s excellent "PRhyme" album which should be out soon enough (no date has been set yet as far as I can see). Adding on to the original LP:s nine tracks the deluxe set will include new joints that sees the legendary duo touching bases with MF DOOM, Black Thought, Joey Bada$$ and Phonte.. Now how sick is that? Stay tuned for more info on this project and if you want a copy of the original release, it is still available on LP and CD from UGHH.

PRHYME - "Courtesy" [Marco Polo Remix]

PRhyme (DJ Premier x Royce Da 5'9") made one of the strongest albums of last year if you ask me with their self-titled debut. Word is that we are going to be treated to a Deluxe Edition on a limited 45 box set that will include exclusive bonus tracks including collabos with MF DOOM and many more. Here one of the heir to Preemo's boom bap throne, Marco Polo, gives the excellent first single "Courtesy" a facelift and it's as slamming as expected. Marco, Preemo, Royce and Adrian Younge.... God damn, you know you want to TURN IT UP!!

PRHYME - "Courtesy" [Marco Polo Remix]

DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9''s collaborative 2014 album "PRhyme" was by far one of the best albums of last year if you ask me, and I just love how Premier challenged himself and his signature sound by only including samples from the catalouge of another one of my recent favorite producers - Adrian Younge. Here Marco Polo takes on the single "Courtesy", bringing that vintage boom bap sound with a modern twist that is his trademark sound. Not sure where this will end up, but if I recall correctly a deluxe edition of "PRhyme" is on the way including some new remixes and a few new cuts so this seem like a likely inclusion. Dope jam either way!

[Video] PRHYME Ft. DWELE - "You Should Know"

One of my favorite joints from DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9''s long awaited "PRhyme" album is the smooth Dwelé assisted "You Should Know". The entire album is made up of samples from the catalouge of Adrian Younge I must say that Preemo did a wonderful job cutting up one of my favorites from The Delphonics album Younge and Hart did together (which comes highly recommended). 

"PRhyme" is also just having been released in instrumental format which you at the moment can grab @ iTunes. Physical copies will also be available as well as the LP set drops on May 12 (pre-order @ UGHH).

PRHYME - "PRhyme Time"

FILA, DJ Premier, Royce Da 5'9... Dat sound GOOD right there! "PRhyme" is out now on wax, CD and digital so go cop that.

[Album] PRhyme - "PRhyme"

With nothing but bangers under their collaborative belt, DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9" made a wise choice in forming PRhyme. Now we are able to hear the fruits of their labor as NPR has made the nine song album available for free preview streaming. All songs are composed around samples from Adrian Younge's catalouge and the result does not dissapoint as Premier hooks up some of his freshest beats in some time while Royce brings the verbal slaughter. CD and vinyl drops December 5, pre-order @ UGHH.

01. "PRhyme"
02. "Dat Sound Good" (Ft. AB Soul & Mac Miller)
03. "U Looz"
04. "You Should Know" (Ft. Dwele)
05. "Courtesy"
06. "Wishin'" (Ft. Common)
07. "To Me, To You" (Ft. Jay Electronica)
08. "Underground Kings" (Ft. Schoolboy Q & Killer Mike)
09. "Microphone Preem" (Ft. Slaughterhouse)

PRHYME - "PRHYME" @ NPR.ORG

[Documentary] PHRYME - "Raiders Of The Lost Artk Pts. 1 & 2"

There's so much dope music coming out these last days of 2014. To be honest, I haven't really had to much money to buy records lately, but I am deifnitely going to buy Wu-Tang Clan's "A Better Tomorrow", Ghost's "36 Seasons", Royce Da 5'9" and DJ Premier's "PHryme" and MF Grimm/Drasar's "Good Morning Vietnam Pt. 2". Preem and Royce has always sounded like hip-hop gods together (just check my recent compilation if you missed out on it, that's been really going warm in my iPod since I made it). The album is coming closer every day, with the official release date being December 9, and a couple to three singles have been unleashed on the world so far and all of them have litreally blown my mind. Released on their own PRHYME label, the album is something between an extended play and an LP, as it's made up of nine tracks but as long as they are as incredible as the stuff we've heard so far this should undoubtedly be one of the year's best. 

We¨ve heard and seen the videos for the title song, "U Looz" and "Courtessy" so thats a third of the album there alreaddy, but to me stuff like that has never mattered. If it's a timeless classic which I hope it will it would¨t matter to include a two year old (case in point, 1992:s "Halftime" appeariong on "Illmatic" in the summer of '92). Interestingly enough, its also a sort-of-collaboration with Adrian Younge as all the samples used on the record comes from his catalouge. Complex.com has premiered a two-part documentary on the album (clocking it at around a total 20 minutes) documenting the process of the album with interview clips incorporated. Check 'em out above, and cick on the links in the second paragrapph to watch the music videos if you missed 'em before. Thanks to Complex for this great evening.

PRHYME - "Courtesy" / "Intro"

Not too long ago hip-hop fans all over the world were treated to an amazing little promo spot for an upcoming project featuring DJ Premier, Royce Da 5'9" and in some capacity Adrian Younge, that literally popped out of nowhere. While many announced proejcts from Preemo's camp never materializes, some do rather quickly ("Tha Blaqprint", "Welcome 2 G-Dom", the YRR comp, and "Kolexxxion" comes to mind) and there's now no doubt that the duo known as PRHYME's collaboration album is definitely happening. The self-titled album features 9 songs, will be released independently, are entirely performed by Rocye Da 5'9" (with guests like Common, Jay Electronica, Killer Mike, Schoolboy Q, Slaughterhouse, and more) and produced by DJ Premier using nothing but samples from Adrian Younge's small but powerful catalouge - making it a concept album of sort. The tracklist, artwork and the first official single "Cortessy" plus the "PRhyme" intro which is provided through radio rips from the Sway in the Morning Show yesterday via the always excellent DJPremierBlog. The album is set to be released on December 9, the only downside being that as for now it seems to be a digital only release. Oh well, can't win them all because this will no doubt be SERIOUS! Pre-order @ iTunes now!

01. "PRhyme"

02. "Dat Sounds Good" (Ft. AB-Soul & Mac Miller)

03. "U Looz"

04. "You Should Know" (Ft. Dwele)

05. "Courtesy"

06. "Wishin'" (Ft. Common)

07. "To Me, To You" (Ft. Jay Electronica)

08. "Underground Kings" (Ft. Killer Mike & Schoolboy Q)

09. "Microphone Preem"

DJ PREMIER & ROYCE DA 5'9" are PRhyme

This really came out of nowhere but it seems that Royce Da 5'9" and DJ Premier has been working on the low on a full-length project to be unleashed on the real hip-hop heads this year. Everybody who has followed the career of Royce knows that pretty much creates a classic every time he got Premier on the boards ("Boom", "Hip Hop", "Something 2 Ride 2", etc.). Check out a small snippet of the new shit above and follow the duo at http://instagram.com/PRhyme_Official and https://twitter.com/PRhyme_Official.