DJ Premier Says He Originally Didn't Want To Do The Battle Unless It Was With Dr. Dre

Photo by Burak Cingi/Redferns

Premier went up against RZA on Saturday, April 11.

DJ Premier recently participated in a beat battle with RZA, with the pair dropping some of the most popular and recognizable beats they've made throughout their career. However, Premier almost didn't participate in the beat battle, instead wanting to battle with someone else before RZA's name was suggested to him by Swizz Beatz.

READ: 10 RZA & DJ Premier Remixes to Hear Before They Battle

While speaking with Sway, Premier revealed that he didn't want to do a battle unless it was with Dr. Dre.

"I really didn't even wanna do the battle. I told them I'll do it if Dre does it," the producer said. "If Dre does it with me I'll do it. Otherwise, I'm not doing it."

From there, Swizz suggested Pete Rock, which Premier turned down because the pair always engages in beat battles whenever they tour together. After suggesting Rock, that's when Swizz name-dropped RZA.

"I'll go with him because I think he'll have a strong 20 that I know will go back-to-back and put him under pressure to come for me," Premier said.

Premier and RZA spun 20 hand-picked selections a piece in the latest installment of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland's ongoing beat battle series. For nearly three hours, the legendary hip-hop producers played cuts produced for Wu-Tang Clan, Gang Starr, M.O.P., Mos Def, Notorious B.I.G., Nas, and so many more. The set list for the battle can be viewed here.