The INSANE Musical Math of DJ Premier and Mos Def

Get 15 tracks to sample on Tracklib for free: www.tracklib.co...
Song Sampled: www.tracklib.c...
Diving into Mos Def's song "Mathematics" and seeing how DJ Premier perfectly balanced this song by making the music match the lyrics.
Check out Tracklib's sample breakdown of "Mathematics": • Sample Breakdown: Mos ...
Donald in Mathmagic Land: • Donald Duck - Mathmagi...
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SOURCES
www.complex.co...
www.soundonsou...
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TOPICS COVERED
Mos Def
Yasiin Bey
Black on Both Sides
Mathematics
DJ Premier
Music Math
Equation
Production
hip hop
music history
Donald Duck
Donald in mathmagic land
Harmonic series
music
#mosdef #djpremier #hiphop

[@SyedAli-xm1yq]

Mos Def /Yasin Bey is not 5 percenter he is a Muslim

[@diggingthegreats]

Pinning this for the record - I got this wrong. Mos/Yasiin is using five percenter language, but is himself a Muslim

[@ragethevictorious3060]

The language is one in the same, a lot of it so not wrong

[@burrybondz225]

@@ragethevictorious3060 what language? A couple of phrases here and there? Are the halander family christian just because they share some phrases?

[@burrybondz225]

@@ragethevictorious3060 The language yasiin bey specifically uses is five percenter but that doesn't mean the supreme mathematics and other phrases are islamic.

[@burrybondz225]

@@ragethevictorious3060 if we are talking about beliefs than they are diametrically apart.

[@ri067953]

How Mos doesn't come up in the "greatest" conversation I'll never know. His first album is an unmatched classic

[@ninjasrose1653]

He's probably responsible for 4 of the top 10 verses of all time. Got 3 classics, major features. When he's on top form, there's not many Emcee's I have heard actually rap better!

[@ri067953]

@@ninjasrose1653 what's your favorite verse? My stand out is his verse from Theives in the Night.

[@ninjasrose1653]

@@ri067953 Ah... jesus!!!! I mean there's that one, Mathmatics, Redefinition, Oh no! Auditorium, Speed Law, off the top. Just an absolute behemoth!!!

[@Elden555]

It was his comment about an Israelis that blcklisted him

[@lanceliverpool1574]

Lack of output

[@MarkTBeats]

I love how you can recognize a PREEMO beat within 2 seconds, that's how unique his style is.

[@element64]

I disagree. Hip hop has evolved through so many rhythmical changes.However Dj Premier is a lazy producer. Who gets a pass for creating the same repetitive rhythms & patterns since illmatic. . Content creators and videos like these are not objective & scared to address whats obvious.

[@MarkTBeats]

@@element64 You can disagree. Let's say your comment is true. 1. His style would be unique because of what you said... 2. I never heard a bad Preemo beat in my life. 3. Almost any preemo beat will make most peoples head nod. I could name a lot of legendary beats made from preemo. Lazy or not, repetitive or not, he produced a lot of the timeless classics! 4. Do not dissrespect the GOAT!

[@element64]

@@MarkTBeats ​ You produce so you already know that a producer is expected to challenge yourself, the Artist.and your audience.Premier has worked with Jazz , Rock and Rnb acts but refuses to evolve. So Checkmate. . He's just a producer acts go to for a street recording..He's not an innovator who can craft a sound or take you on a journey.Or create a concept album. . His workflow consists of a two bar beat with a kick drum , snare & hi-hat & that's it.The majority of his patterns are so repetitive that you can line up the parts and they will match.There's no quality control or self reflection, no acknowledgment of muscle memory when he creates his drum patterns. . Now here's the disrespect. A producer is supposed to serve & aid the Artists vision. . The audience has no idea if the recording was recently created or unused material from decades ago. How can a producer sample & crate dig but ignore rhythm timbre or other types of percussion. His most challenging recording was Christina Aguilera - Ain't No Other Man because he used a boogaloo loop and added some shakers.

[@MarkTBeats]

@@element64 watch ''so wassup'' by him

[@jamesknox9924]

@@element64 I agree I also think he's an artist who's work is expected to be a certain thing so he can't really evolve. He also may be one of those old dudes who gets by with what he knows and struggles to learn new things or upskill. If he tried to utilise the tools modern producers have at their disposal he'd probably bomb Playing it safe would be better for his legacy instead of having his own Rza's guitar centre promo

[@stansteez]

Premier created that beat in this way (and with the breakdown it has in the middle 8 section), becasue in '99 everybody and they moma bit his style trying to emulate him. So he wanted to use this track to showcase that nobody can flip and breakdown samples like he does. He basically dropped "mathematics" on the production tip. Mathematics is also slang term for dropping knowledge which your analysis doesn't really take into "equation". It was his way of saying: "Noboday can **** with me".

[@tobindaily9961]

We don't talk about Black on Both Sides nor Mathematics enough!! Production perfection on this track...and lyrically it's my most favorite track of all-time. Absolute. Genius.

[@bruceleeds7988]

@William Perri Slowed down? The era of DMX? The return of Onyx? The Return Of EPMD? Big Pun? the year Canibus dominated the posse cuts? The Soundbombing mixtapes? Simon Says? Quiet Storm? Reservoir Dogs? 60 minutes of Funk vol 3? where were you depressed, Alaska?

[@mmmyeah7]

Hip hop is my fav track on that album but it's full of amazing ones.

[@JeffryGonzalezHt]

binging these videos and can't stop. So much fun - and great info and presentation. Thanks man!

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you so much for the support! 🙏

[@ryannbakerbeats]

bro as a sample based producer myself I can't tell you how much I appreciate your content and knowledge, you keep the depth and intelligence of this music at the foreground of your explanations. thanks for creating!

[@JoshuaDb_The_Witness]

Hey man - fellow bassist and producer in Richmond Va. Im an old school head (Ill be 52 in Feb) - really REALLY digging your videos. And Mathmatics - has been one of my all time favs since it dropped. This is one of those tracks that reminds ones why we love hip hop - its up there with The Message, The Breaks, Scenario, Drop, The World Is Yours, and Elevators. Nicely done friend.

[@prodjoon-rf2mb]

BRO NO WAY 😱 I literally just looked up your channel to see if there’s anything new and i was greeted to an upload 1 min ago🔥🔥🔥

[@diggingthegreats]

Perfect timing! Hahaha

[@qbizm]

@@diggingthegreats you mean like… Mathematics?

[@deuceb1069]

Easily one of the coolest channels on KZbin. I feel like I’m sitting in some hip hop appreciation class I over payed for in college but I’m watching it under my blankets in bed for free

[@dmug]

Man, that Mos Def album was so pivotal for me as I was drifting away from pop rap and gangster stuff and then then a friend had this album. On an album that’s fantastic, it’s always amazing how Premo bring out the best out of the best.

[@BigFootG]

you've gotta dig boy! true gems are dug up and found not fallen into your lap!

[@dmug]

@@BigFootGLMAO, I swear people forget or are too young to know how different music buying was back the 90s… and expensive.

[@BigFootG]

@@dmug word. I mean even diving down the KZbin rabbit hole and just paying attention. Listening as opposed to hearing sound. It's nice to let the music wash over you first and then go back over to really catch those tricky bars

[@Kevinschart]

I just played it the other day. Beautiful album. I have a theory that links the current state of commercial rap with Mos's failure to deliver a follow up album. There are a few rappers that have the unique ability to make popular and edgy music, while still providing an actual message, and Mos was one of them. Rappers like Tupac, Q-Tip, and Kendrick fall into that category. Hip Hop really needed Mos and he just wasn't able to give us any more music.

[@dmug]

@@Kevinschart Agreed, Mos Def is one of the most frustrating artists to me as he basically shunned his audience after dropping a classic. His sins were trying to sing (he really can't even if Umi Says is accidentally good), making rock music that was.... not good, and extremely lofi in-not-a-good-way music. At least with say, Andre 3000 we got enough out of him to be satisfied, or like in the case of Blu, who also rebuked his station, came back around for a nice reunion with Exile.

[@ndujamz]

This is why I consider Yasiin Bey as the most clever and witty eMcee ever, personally I feel that he's betta than Big. The stuff he talks about here and able to predict the future, was mind-boggling to me. Fun fact: This beat was made for Scarface. Yasiin came to work with Premo, Scarface was also in the studio. While Preem was working on this beat, Yasiin wrote to it immediately. They recorded it, and Premier end up giving it to Yasiin.

[@diggingthegreats]

Yeah, in the article linked in the description (complex) Premier says Scarface wanted it, after he showed it to him, but in another interview Premier says he knew he had to make a bugged out beat because Mos was a bugged out dude, so it sounds like he was already planning it for Mos, and knowing how Premier works with matching the music and lyrics, the end result is amazing

[@vicdmise]

He's a brilliant lyricist, backwards and forwards.

[@jjbing3]

It sounds like it.

[@byanymeansnecessary9329]

Yasiin word choice and rhyme patterns are very much inspired by the Quran.

[@py_a_thon]

"Six million ways to die from the seven deadly thrills. 8 year olds being found with 9 mils." (paraphrased, Mos Def: ' Mathematics') That bar alone solidifies this song as one of the best hiphop tracks of all time imo. The honesty and brutality and seriousness of the words is...I have no words. The song says everything necessary and is tragic while beautiful.

[@maryamtchoke682]

I’m so happy you made this. Mos def is truly a musical genius he was way ahead of his time and is still valid to this day

[@AidanTemplin]

Absolutely stellar job decoding this and breaking it down into a digestible form of content. Not only did Mos and Preemo do an unbelievable job on the track, you did an equally as incredible job explaining everything bro! Your efforts don’t go unnoticed, and I’m positive I can speak for everyone here and say we’re all soked for more content soon!! One love 🤍🤍

[@st.keise_official]

Word! Respect from Germany ☮️

[@hhhsp951]

1 for the money, 2 for the better green, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine _-MF DOOM_

[@tracklib]

You went crazy with this one! Big up!

[@FedeVicente88]

How I love your channel, man. Not only do I learn like I was in school (and much better), but also I expand my musical ear, and it makes me want to dive in and get lost among all the samples you list.

[@MakeSomething]

My head is spinning from all of that. High level indeed. WELL DONE!!

[@futureghost77]

Blackstar is what really got me into hip hop, then Black on Both Sides was released the next year. Mos Def has always been my favorite emcee because his lyrics were on another level and his voice and delivery is so cool.

[@johncollins9438]

search Medina green

[@willray0415]

The videos are way more significant when you're familiar with the songs involved. I love it, this channel is necessary for true, pure music lovers

[@JayBone-b6d]

Bro ...... a classic and a favourite song of mine. love the breakdown man !! was an interesting video to watch, thanks !

[@tonylancer7367]

Absolute killer episode. What would take this to the next level would be DJ Premier watching this and then doing a breakdown of the beat on "So Wassup?", life would be complete!

[@TanakaTsikira]

It gives me great joy to find more people that love this song as much as I do. Much love to you all from Zimbabwe........ P.S: verse 2 > verse 1.

[@CarbonComs]

"I think Preem's insane, best producer alive. " - Reks on Say Goodnight. Premier is in rare air as a producer, and hearing him talk about the the beat and lyrics have to be a marriage like hands clasped together was perfect. I've loved his work and Mathematics is probably my favorite Mos Def song so this episode was amazing, gave me an even greater appreciation for an all time great hip hop song. Keep the good stuff coming!

[@taylorwhite5149]

Yessss that song changed me, along with second place by Royce and Premier (pre-Prhyme) which both I discovered in the same week. I didn't listen to anything else that week. Seriously.

[@smokeedinero]

Boy you bringing up the reference of the 5% Nation in On&On 🔥 you know yo shit bru I love when you upload 💯

[@edbaprod]

Man this breakdown is amazing. Preemo is a genius with his samples and chops! I always go back to that Big L "The enemy" track, that beat is just on another level for me. He took just a first 2 seconds of sample and made a banger. His simplicity always amazes me. And yeah your channel is dope I will go now and dig other videos. Not sure how i didnt find it earlier

[@jackbonney3267]

this song is what first got me into Mos Def and combined with a friend showing me Voodoo by D'Angelo got me WAY into the Soulquarians! i knew i loved this song and studied the samples but had no idea about all the intricacies and connections, fantastic video Brandon! keep up the great work 😎

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you! 🙏 I had so much fun with this incredible song

[@laurisaarinen1126]

I got into him when i heard B-Boy Document 99 (what a banger!) from Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2, then this was the next song i heard.

[@landrym6489]

Your video felt like going back to school and being in a music class, history class, math class, english class all at once with the best teacher everyone loves! You're great at what you do keep going!

[@JavierPartyOfFive]

Your videos always feel like a very well constructed, solidly based, but entertaining essay. Love how your conclusions wrap everything up so concisely and convincingly.

[@strifelord5239]

Mos Def is not a 5 Percenter but the song gives a nod to them because they and their parlance highly influenced Hip Hop, including the word Mathematics.

[@gorditosanchez3059]

1 - 2 - 3

[@DavidAndTheDummies]

This album.. hands down.. is one of my all-time favorites, genres aside. It's so intentional, it's so pro-black, it's so infectious. From someone who is not racially black yet raised in a black family, this album always filled me both with a sense of pride of my upbringing and people but also a feeling of awareness that change comes from within to make things better. This album is so visual on so many spectrums. It's so tragic and unfortunate the history that inspired the content, but it was always THE MUSIC (recorded or not) defining our pain, breakthroughs, and triumphs that guide our vibrations. This album continues to do that for me, and it's never the same everytime I listen to it through the years. Don't ever let this album get lost to time, I definitely won't.

[@Kevinschart]

Well he touches on all the genres within the album. He raps he sings. Gives you hiphop, jazz, soul, and even a little punk rock. "UMI Says" is just a masterpiece. He's speaking about family, community, culture, resources, education, love and he has the unique ability to do it in a way that's fun to listen to. For me it hit especially hard when I moved to Flatbush Brooklyn over a decade ago. Seeing all the locations he mentions in "Brooklyn" explained so much about his since of pride in family and community. I just wish that he gave us more music.

[@ugocdf7706]

This will take me some months to understand,but I can appreciate it from this sec!

[@timmusumba5846]

Who is not racially black yet?!

[@MyDadDotCom]

Thanks!

[@MyDadDotCom]

I just discovered your channel last week and damn, I cannot say how incredible your breakdowns are. I've learned more in a week than I have in years. You have an incredible gift and I cannot wait for every new upload you give us. Thank you so much.

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you so much for the support 🙏

[@darrylwoodbury]

I still play this song and the entire "Black on Both Sides" album like it just came out. It's a classic.

[@Moodz616]

This breakdown is just beyond incredible....Salute brotha, great job!

[@qabanisolupafya3681]

Absolutely dig your on point breakdown on the beats & rhymes. Probably the illest breakdown of my beloved Hip Hop. Just stumbled on to your video…what a great find!!! Keep up the amazing on point vantage!!!!!

[@alexmart3931]

Not only do you make listening to music a new experience, you're exposing me to some music that's gone under my radar.

[@castlewild]

An 18 minute Greats video? What have we done to deserve this! Another awesome video!

[@diggis]

Yooo, you sir, you are a real LEGEND!!! Thank you for all the education, insights, humour, everything!! I thoroughly enjoy your breakdowns and vids 🙌🙌🙌 Huge props and respect! THANK YOU!!

[@vishnudh1216]

Wow this channel has grown so much! Always used to wonder there were not enough subscribers and glad that finally all the hardwork paid off (:

[@jesseshort8]

Let's go! Been waiting for a new episode and Premier is hard to beat.

[@GreatistheWorld]

That’s beautiful. Thank you

[@Thatdude877]

Idk how I haven't found this channel before now....Such a dope breakdown my man!

[@djbis]

The complexity in this video had me all perplexed as the presenter flexed the mathematical possibilities and artistic options developed by these amazing musicians. Great work all around!

[@ComicPower]

I am glad to have found this channel that cares about all these hip hop production geeky stuff that i no one in my circle understands. Great job. Hip hop ya don't stop.

[@samuelsmall8449]

WoW dude!!! Did you just deliver the ish!! I’m all in! You delivered the perfectly balanced review.

[@erreip_]

Chef's kiss, once again. Love these vids man

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

I remember an old article in Complex several years ago. DJ Premier said Scarface of all people wanted that "Mathematics" track for his album "The Last Of A Dying Breed".

[@diggingthegreats]

Yes! Sort of a deleted scene - In the complex article linked in the description Premier tells that story. The beat was already made at that point and it sounds like he didn't seriously entertain the idea of giving it away. Good thing too cuz Mathematics is 🔥

[@Dillygotitbumpin]

Holy shit bro, you are so good at making videos

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏

[@VarianNash]

Man, your breakdowns make me love and appreciate more what I've already loved for so long.

[@jeffstewart2083]

Premo's KZbin channel is excellent with him breaking down his own tracks! You already hit 2 of my favorite producers with Premo and Dilla, can't wait to see what's next from you. Pete Rock, MF DOOM, Rza, anything by OutKast, something newer like JPEGmafia, maybe Alchemist or El-p?

[@Bramv]

This is gonna be a great video I already know

[@thedirectors2377]

This vid convinced me to turn on notifications for this man. Keep going bro

[@zachrichardson5581]

That production is fucking ridiculous mam. I already loved this song and the beat but wow I had no idea it was that deep and connected.

[@Slizew]

You are truly genius I couldn’t even begin to start how to replay the “Mathematics” sample how Preemo did…. I love how you recreate so many dope records of my teens to twenties years

[@bossnian5615]

You’re one of the few KZbinrs I hit like before watching the video coz I know it’s going to be good

[@rossfindlay24]

9 planets faithfully keeping orbit with the probable 10 , choooon !👌

[@zacksmith2227]

This review gave me the reminiscing goosebumps. Thanks keep up the good work.

[@MattBraun]

WOW...listened to this song and played in my sets hundreds of times but never picked up on the deepness of it. Amazing analytical breakdown!

[@sanvegapoet]

Tell me you can over think without telling me you can overthink. LOVE THIS CHANNEL

[@blvkbeatstv5894]

This is my favorite channel. Thank you for covering some of my favorite music

[@PedroPetipa]

Essa música é simplesmente genial. Yasiin deveria ter MUITO mais reconhecimento

[@kinglouie02]

Black on both sides is a hip hop classic. Very underrated album.

[@generalimac]

Excellent job sir.

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you 🙏 this song is so good!

[@moneymikz]

I just did a search for best of DJ Premier, the playlist is 321 songs long

[@ijoseph7343]

Your knowledge as well as how you speak is incredible! Love this channel

[@shaftpunk84]

One small correction, Charlie Hustle was a nickname of baseball player Pete Rose and the more likely reference for both 40 and Mos.

[@djCatScanRL]

(imo) ‘Charlie Hustle’ referred to Pete Rose ⚾️, who’s “#1” in a “number” of Baseball statistical categories. Also got into some hot water for Gambling, which, too, involves complex Mathematics 🤯

[@StLaRok]

I was looking specifically for this comment. I figured the reference had nothing to do with E40 😂 Respect to 40, but yeah..

[@mrkwrbl]

@@StLaRok nah he is talking about Jimmy from Better Call Saul, who is called Charlie Hustle few times in the show. Mos is so genius he can predict future tv shows (future shock)

[@dattran6372]

I love watching when people misunderstand lyrics LoL. Thanks for pointing it out for everyone. I can't understand why he would think Mos was referring to E40 haha

[@yazeedyairbey]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@jordanmiles9298]

I finally listened to BoBS in full yesterday after putting it off for like 15 years, and it was a as great as I suspected (and subconsciously, maybe even feared) it’d be. This song is a clear standout ever since I’d seen the tracklib video breaking it down, so it’s serendipitous that this video comes out the same day I listen to the album. Love when cosmic shit lines up like that.

[@metaphorafrica4175]

Love your channel love the way you break things down. Basically I'm falling love with these tunes all over again. Cant thank you enough man👍🏿

[@MatthewsLife]

Your Videos Are Insane. I am loving learning about Icon songs I grew up with from You. I grew up in a musical family and my mom has a masters as a Music Teacher on the Organ and I played Clarinet in the school band. Thank you for teaching us about music and iconic songs and the history behind them.

[@MannyFacesOfficial]

Very cool breakdown.

[@huadataotie5619]

This and "The 6th sense" by Common and Preemo are two of my most beloved songs (of any genre) ever recorded. Pure genius production and mceeing-wise. True masterpieces. (a lesser known Preemo produced track, that I also hold in high regard is "You" by Evidence).

[@TeKDeLorean]

Great taste. I had sixth sense on repeat almost every day for the year it came out.

[@solidsadd]

Shout out to Like Water For Chocolate tbh

[@THC573]

Might be the two best non-Gangstarr preemo beats

[@solobeats1]

I beg to differ, those were lazy produced, commercial appeal type songs, Preem got heat scattered all through Hip Hop, even his Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera joints are hard Preem.

[@alxd5068]

18:07 “both sides are saying the same thing” … it’s Black on Both Sides

[@djphinesse]

This is a dope breakdown of the song.

[@bsharpmusic]

Hey, u just got another subscriber off this video. Like how thorough ur research is and UR point of view.

[@Optimistichumanist]

Amazing breakdown. Love mos and premier! So many great elements working together in harmony here!

[@SixTenVisuals]

Def uniquely Preem, but I remember feeling like his style was overexposed at that time and that the Millenium was going to be not so busy for him, but his production on Like Water For Chocolate was stellar. At that time in '99 I was looking for Hi-Tek and Dilla tracks more often than anybody.

[@yetispaghetti5754]

Often times I hear the phrase “it aint that deep”, most of the time it isnt but sometimes it is and this is one of those exceptions. Also that beat you made for the sponsor is amazing

[@doctorigormixtapes]

Amazing Content

[@sheamills2526]

Nice work !!!

[@gregkelland]

I think Preemo was just looking for some dope lyrical samples that talk about math and numbers.

[@andynonymous2164]

Thanks for this man. SOOOOOOOO GOOD!

[@fitforfreelance]

Love these kinds of analyses! This is amazing!

[@allynfornow]

Love this dude!

[@DialogDontArgue]

This was amazing, thank you.

[@ByDobson]

incredible video once again, classic track

[@flowoflifeholistic]

The first time I heard that first verse my brain melted, became the first hip-hop song I learnt off by heart. Great video to learn some more about where the samples come from and it makes more sense why it's so sweet to listen to over and over again. timeless lyrics and beats

[@gregorio98000]

Your channel ROCKS thank you for the content

[@FabricioRodriguezM]

I love this. You are fantastic.

[@locomotive4686]

I got so hyped watching you re create the beat, man that was dope! All I could hear was Mos killin it!

[@zGabaz]

You are the GOAT, man. Fantastic job as always! Thank you so much!

[@Skiridr22]

Hearing this track for the first time on release date leaving the best buy parking lot hit the highway and yes I almost ran off the road, I pulled over and listened to it several times before proceeding I still kept it in my classical section since day one. It still gives me goosebumps 😊

[@lesmokealotesquair8288]

Keep doing ones like this homie

[@TheCratesMotel]

You satisfy my total nerd-dom. Thank you sir.

[@luccameier1647]

Great as always man! It is such a gem, your channel. You should do one about Guru at some point. Hugely influential. And my top notch fav of him "Medicine (Mental Relaxation) - Guru feat. Ini Kamoze". Keep up the good work!!!

[@_coachcraig_]

My favorite hip hop song of all time. The balance of all factors in this song is and always will be undefeated.

[@adamalexander5634]

Another awesome breakdown. These are 2 of my favourite artists and are undeniable GOATS, but this track never quite hit the spot for me, it’s like the lyrics and production are competing. I prefer the Mos Dub remix version “In My Math” by Max Tannone.

[@trentonhightower2986]

Great job bro . Ur my favorite channel by far

[@LyonKnight24KX]

Amazing video man!

[@locknessyamakasa7119]

I just wanna say : thanks you man for this brilliant work you do 💯💯👊🏾👊🏾