Battle of the Giants – DJ Premier v. RZA

2020, has been a challenging year.  Kobe Bryant – a global icon – died in a tragic helicopter accident.  Then, just as we were recovering from his untimely death, COVID-19 arrived.  It feels like we are living in a horror movie.  With shelter-in-place orders abound, simple tasks are challenging.  Basic things many of us currently cannot do include: (1) have dinner at a restaurant; (2) go shopping at a mall; (3) have a drink at a  bar; (4) play sports (or watch live sports); or (5) enjoy food at a cookout (yes, it is almost cookout season).  To make matters worse, we have no idea when these restrictions will be lifted.  Many Americans have lost their jobs – whether temporarily (furlough) or permanently.  So many people are literally trying to figure out how they will pay monthly bills, with very little assistance from the federal government.  Accordingly, the unemployment rate has spiked.  How is any of this related to DJ Premier (“Premo”) versus RZA beat battle?  Simple: music is (1) an artistic outlet that unites people, from all walks of life, and (2) allows us to “feel good” and nostalgic, even if temporarily.

 

In March 2020, Swizz Beats and Timbaland sensed the fear, and uncertainty sweeping the country.  They used their collective influence to create an interactive Instagram Live series titled “Verzuz.”  The premise is simple.  One beatmaker plays a song he has produced.  Then, his opponent plays a song he has produced.  The competitors go back and forth in this manner until each competitor has played 20 songs.  A few weeks ago, I watched T. Pain “battle” Lil Jon.  The battle was both entertaining and nostalgic.  That battle took my mind back to my college days in Greensboro, North Carolina.  This was fun, but when I heard about an upcoming battle between RZA and Premo, I was ecstatic (as were most all hip-hop fans). 

Premo is a legendary producer.  He is one half of Gang Starr (RIP Guru).  Many believe he crafted the soundtrack for early 90s gritty, raw New York City hip hop.  Regardless of whether you agree, it is hard to argue with his impact on hip hop culture during the last 30 years.  Premo has produced tracks for the best of the best, including BIG, Nas, and Jay-Z.  If you are unfamiliar with his production style, I would recommend listening to a track by Nas titled NY State of Mind. 

The Abbott, the RZA-rector and Bobby Digital are just a few names RZA goes by.  If you are familiar with Wu-Tang Clan, you know who RZA is.  Most of the songs you have heard from the Wu-tang Clan, especially during the 1990s, are courtesy of RZA.  If you are unfamiliar with RZA’s style, I would recommend listening to Enter the Wu Tang.

Prior to the battle, I envisioned key points to be considered, which I boiled down to three.  First, I wondered whether RZA and Premo would select their personal favorite beats, or would they choose “crowd favorites?”  Second, I thought about the format allowing for each competitor to play only 20 songs.  I thought this format would level the playing field such that the breadth of a person’s catalogue would not be determinative in the battle.  Third, the format allowed each competitor to interact with followers via live stream, which I thought might favor Premo because he is a DJ, while RZA is not.   

The Battle

The battle was everything I thought it would be.  I thought Premo would easily win the battle.  This was no knock on RZA, but, more, a nod to Premo’s greatness and breadth of his musical catalogue.  And this was after personally witnessing Premo destroy Pete Rock, another legendary producer, in Raleigh, North Carolina a few years ago. After watching the battle, I must admit that I underestimated RZA (In Baby’s words: Put some “respek” on my name”).

I have to share a few observations.  RZA began the battle with Liquid Swords, which is a phenomenal beat.  But, when Premo dropped A Million and One Questions, I just knew it was over for RZA.  I felt that Premo set the tone that he was out for blood.  But he definitely did not keep that same energy (although he certainly could have done so). I also noticed the mutual respect between Premo and RZA.  They were both humble, but I felt that Premo was so respectful that he almost forgot he was in a beat battle.  I think he saw it as a win for the culture, so there was no need to “compete.”   From the beginning, I believe RZA approached the battle a little more seriously (but not in an asshole type of way).  Premo has a deeper catalogue, but RZA was more consistent in selecting the best of his catalogue.  Also, I think RZA did an excellent job surprising Premo with songs that he was not expecting.  In a sense, it felt that RZA was in attack mode, while Premo, at least at times, was reacted to RZA’s moves. This factor played into momentum, which RZA seized and never truly relinquished, although Premo started swinging for the fences towards the end of the battle.    

RZA	DJ Premier	Result
1.GZA- Liquid Swords	1.Jay-Z – A Million and One Questions	Premo
2.Method Man – Bring Tha Pain	2.M.O.P. – Breakin the Rules	RZA
3.Wu Tang – Maria	3.Mos Def – Mathematics	Premo
4.Raekwon – Wu Gambinos	4.Big L – the Enemy	Tie
5.Ghostface Killa – Run	5.KRS- MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know	RZA
6.Wu Tang – Shame on a Nigga	6.Das EFX – Real Hip Hop	Premo
7.Wu-Tang – Protect Ya Neck	7.Group Home – Livin Proof	Premo
8.GZA – Cold World	8.D’Angelo – Devil’s Pie	RZA
9.Wu Tang – Method Man	9.Gangstarr – Just to Get a Rep	RZA
10.Ghostface Killa – Motherless Child	10.Jay-Z – D’evils	Premo
11.Raekwon – Verbal Intercourse	11.Nas – Nas is Like	RZA
12.Ghostface – Buck 50	12.Gang Star – Remainz	Tie
13.Raekwon – Ice Cream	13.The Notorious B.I.G. – Unbelievable	RZA
14.Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Brooklyn Zoo	14.Jeru the Damaja – Come Clean	Premo
15.Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Shimmy Shimmy Ya	15.The Notorious B.I.G. – Kick in the Door	Premo
16.Biggie – Long Kiss Goodnight Long Kiss	16.Gangstarr – Above the Clouds Above the Clouds	Tie
17.Ghostface -Assassination Day	17.Nas – N.Y. State of Mind	Premo
18.Raekwon – Criminology	18.Gang Starr - DWYCK	RZA
19.Raekwon – Incarcerated Scarfaces	19.Royce Da 5’9 - Boom	RZA
20.Mary J and Method Man – You’re All I Need	20.Biggie – Ten Crack Commandments	Premo

The Winner

So, who won?  RZA won by the slimmest of margins.  To be clear, I believe the music played by RZA and Premo were pretty close to even.  As noted in my observations, I believe RZA won on what I would call “soft” factors.  He seized the momentum; he embraced the concept of “battle;” and he made Premo change his song selection a number of times.  And, he also gets some props because he was the underdog, but he really came through with heat all night. 

To use a basketball analogy, last night was like Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals (I apologize if you are not an NBA Fan, but just google it).  In this corner: RZA (2001 76ers).  In the opposing corner: Premo (2001 Lakers).  The 76ers were large underdogs, but were led by a motivated Allen Iverson.  The Lakers were dominant, led by Kobe and Shaq and had not lost a game in the 2001 Playoffs until Game 1 against the 76ers.   For this one night, the Iverson-led 76ers beat the Lakers.  At that level of competition, any team has a fighter’s chance to win on any given night.  Last night was RZA’s Game 1 (a phenomenal performance by an underdog).  But, as history showed in the 2001 series, the Lakers won the next four games to close out the series.  If Premo and RZA battled four additional times, considering Premo’s catalogue – I would expect him to win each time. 

Last night’s battle, however, belonged to RZA.  And the big winner was, well of course, “the Culture.” 

Peace