There's an old saying: Rap is something you do; hip-hop is something you live. No truer words have been used to describe this music and culture. And no individual more truly embodies the second part of this maxim than DJ Premier-turntable technician, producer, and now, record label founder. Borne out of his daily operation to restore skills, soul and integrity to hip hop (ingredients that have been sorely neglected in recent times), Year Round Incorporated, DJ Premier's very own independent record label, is finally now a reality.

"I've always felt that it's important to have a name-whether it's my publishing, production company or email address-that has some real meaning to it," says Premier of how he christened his imprint. "'Year Round' describes me fully because I'm always working."

Though Premier is renown as both a member of one of hip hop's most respected groups, Gang Starr, and one of modern music's top aural architects, there's an equally valuable if less celebrated aspect to his tireless work: championing new and unheralded talent. Preem has been a crucial figure in the early development of some of rap music's modern legends specifically, the Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and Nas when all were still relatively unknown, emerging artists, and went on to collaborate on classic records with each. He's brought light to such other well-respected acts as Freddie Foxxx, Heather B, G-Dep, and M.O.P. well before other producers and DJs were willing to take chances on them. And he continues to seek out new underground records with an honest enthusiasm and passion that few of his peers possess. It's in this spirit of breaking rap music's significant voices of tomorrow that Year Round Incorporated carries its mission.

Explains Preem: "Nobody cares about developing the artists when they come up anymore. It's not healthy for the game of rap. But instead of crying about it, we're doing something about it by going in the studio and banging out some joints that nobody can front on. Lately, I've been doing tracks for a lot of cats that normally couldn't really afford me, but have enough potential to deserve a track from me. With Year Round [Records], I'm focusing on these kinds of artists-the ones who are really gonna be a force to be reckoned with; all these little shiny cats out now are not gonna be able to hold a stick to them."

SOURCE: http://www.myspace.com/djpremier

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