No. 7 DJ Premier
No producer epitomizes the sound of hardcore 90s East Coast hip-hop like Primo. With his distinctive scratched hooks, off-kilter jazz and obscure funk samples, Premier provided a blueprint that countless producers — from RZA to Havoc to Pete Rock — would borrow extensively from throughout the decade. Of course, he’s best known as the beatmaker in Gang Starr, but Premier’s distinctive sound has backed mainstream stars like Nas and the Notorious B.I.G., as well as underground legends like Jeru the Damaja.
