DJ Premier confirmed to HipHopDX that the long awaited, almost mythical PRhyme 2 was done last November. Now, it looks like the Royce Da 5’9 and Preemo collab has a release date. As listed on the Fat Beats website, the album is expected to arrive on March 16 and pre-orders are available now.
The tracklist, cover art and featured artists will be revealed the first week February as stated on the website.
Preemo and Nickel Nine dropped the original PRhyme in 2014 to critical acclaim. In fact, DX dubbed it Album the Year in 2014.
DX reached out to Premier who was not immediately available for comment.
(The original version this article was published on November 2, 2017 and can be found below.)
DJ Premierhas justannounced a partnership with the iconic Payday Records imprint, which helped launch the careers Hip Hop greats like Showbiz & A.G., JAY-Z,and WC and the Maad Circle.
Helmed by Patrick Moxey, Gang Starr’s former manager, the label’s first track is a collaborative single between Preemo and A$AP Ferg, something the legendary turntablist mentioned on social media Wednesday (November 1).
But as Preemo was discussing the Payday Records endeavor with DX, he also casually mentioned PRhyme 2 with Royce Da 5’9 was, in fact, completed. The highly anticipated album serves as the sequel to the duo’s 2014 debut, PRhyme.
“I’m just helping him Moxey] get it launched by doing a grip singles and then he’ll take it from there since he managed me through our entire Gang Starr career,” Preemotold HipHopDX.“We had a great journey together, so I’m happy to rock with him. I’m still doing my Year Round and TTT To The Top] labels. NYGz is next on Year Round. Well, PRhyme 2 is actually next, but me and Royce Da 5’9] share PRhyme Records.”
He added, “We just finished it this morning.”
Although there’s no specific release date as yet, Preemo hopes it will be released at the top 2018.
Preemo also discussedthe new MC Eiht video for “Got That,” which comes from their collaborative album,Which Way Iz West.With Preemo in the role executive producer and Eiht in charge enlisting a killer roster to assist on vocals, the 15-track album plays like a ’90s gangsta rap masterpiece.
Following“Heart Cold”featuring Lady Rage, thelatest visualtook some clever planning to execute.
“Eiht was in New York to do the Rock Steady Anniversary, so when I saw the rough cut ‘Heart Cold’ with Lady Of Rage, I found a freezer in the same building where my new studio is located,” Premier tells HipHopDX. “My friend DJ Poe had only a couple hours to bring his camera to shoot it because director] Jae Synth lives in Sacramento. They let us use the freezer to shoot my parts and Eiht brought the same jacket so that it would match the Los Angeles footage.
“After we were done, Poe had less than an hour to go to work,” he continues. “So, he asked if there’s anything else to shoot before he leaves, so I threw on ‘Got That’since we could capture me rapping the hook. He gave me what footage he had and I gave it to Jae for editing. The rest is history.”
Eiht adds, “Being able to combine that street element with working with Preemo in an actual studio was the idea. We wanted to show we have the ability to remain raw with the streets and realness Hip Hop.”
Check out the video above as we awaitPRhyme 2.
