Dj Premier To Premier On New Album

MC Eiht will record with longtime friend DJ Premier of Gang Starr to release MC Eiht’s new album “Which Way Is West” . The duo has worked together on several remixes, not to mention the notable”Aiight, Chill” interlude dating back more or less 20 years. The album will be released on Premier’s Year Round Record label, Eiht was asked whether recording his start up album in over three years. “I’ve been going back and forth,” the Comptons Most Wanted front-man told HipHopDX. “I’m a true Hip Hop nigga. I might be from Compton, west coast, but I’m a true Hip Hop head. I’ve always been a few of New Yorkers: EPMD, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Kool Moe Dee/Treacherous Three, Afrika Bambaataa – I know what the foundation is. So when it comes to shit like that, I’ll go wherethe flow is. Working with DJ Premier, I’ve been dealing with Premier for about the last 20 years, so I wanted to record in HeadQcourterz Studios.” Thus, the 24-year veteran worked out of the same studio where artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Nas and Jay-Z laid down street classics.

It’s has been roughly 15 years since the west/east coast beef, Eiht is one of the few MC’s   who always appeared embraced by east coast titans like Premier, Pete Rock and Wu-Tang Clan’s U-God. With this collaborative album, the O.G. wanted that side to come across in the music. “I wanted to capture some of that flavourtoo. Everybody knows I’m west coast to the fullest, but I get love on the east too,” said Eiht. “Anytime I go to New York, I walk around, ‘What’s up, Eiht?’ Niggas recognize me, no problems. I just like to show that respect too. DJ Premier is founded in New York, that’s his foundation, that’s where his base is, and it’s not like I’m unfamiliar with the place. It doesn’t bother me with the transition, as long as the music is heated. I’m where I’m at, everywhere’s home to me.”

With this album being Eiht’s 11th solo album and 19th album within his catalog, the veteran was asked where it will stand within his already legendary legacy. “I think Which Way Is West is going to be well-accepted, and it’s going to go down as one of my best records,” began the 42 year-old emcee formerly signed to deals with both Mack 10 and Snoop Dogg. “I’ve really been puttin’ my heart and soul, as far as trying to represent the west and real music is concerned. Everything from the vocals to the lyrics has been amazing, explains MC Eiht.Everybody always said I had nice punchlines and lyrics, or I was always a good storyteller, I just tried to raise that to the next level. So it won’t just be one of those albumswhere people go, ‘Oh yeah, another Eiht record, it’s a gonna be a couple of dope-sales, a couple of shoot-outs…’ Which Way Is West is really focusing on some real west coast feel-good music and some real to-the-point music.” “With what is going on in Hip Hop right now, I think fans and criticswill perceive this record as one of Eiht’s best.” Like Freeway and Jake One’s The Stimulus Packageor Young Jeezy’s The Recession, this is album that contains commentary on today’s tough economic times. “If you feel like you’re stuck in the struggle and you’re sick of rappers rapping about ‘everybody’s fine, we all got billions of dollars,’ then come on, pick up this record.”