
Source: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty
On Saturday night (April 13), Hip-Hop production titans DJ Premier and the RZA faced off for an epic “Verzuz” beat battle cooked up by Timbaland and Swizz Beatz. Although there was some technical issues, the showdown was worth the hype, and Twitter is still debating who actually won.
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DJ Premier was on time (9PM) while the RZA eventually hopped on about 10 minutes later. The Abbott had some audio difficulty at the start of the head to head match up but things started sounding crisper as it went on. The mastermind behind the Wu-Tang Clan set things off by playing GZA’s “Liquid Swords” from his album of the same name. Premier responded in kind with Jay-Z’s “A Million and One Questions” and it was on and popping.
Both production legends started off kind of slow, playing more personal favorites (at one point RZA played Wu-Tang Clan’s “Maria” while Premier threw in D’Angelo’s “Devil’s Pie”) than knockout tracks. But the type of content everyone tuned in for went down towards the latter portion of the battle, probably most obvious when RZA served up Raekwon’s “Ice Cream” to only have Preemo retort with the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Unbelievable.” How do you even choose?
The old friends with long memories shared various stories before playing their tracks that also made the moment a history lesson while dropping timeless classics like Wu-Tang Clan’s “Protect Ya Neck” or Gang Starr’s “DWYCK” or Method Man’s “Bring The Pain” or Jeru’s “Come Clean.”
Even with a bonus round (Premier didn’t play Gang Starr’s “Mass Appeal” in his initial 20 songs!) both production virtuosos left some of their greatest beats unplayed.
But as for who won, Twitter continues to debate. Actually, while the back and forth arguing is part of what Hip-Hop is about, what’s even louder is the praise for the incredible moment we were all able to witness. It was close, but this writer gives the edge to RZA. Peep some of the reactions below. Hip-Hop won last night.
DJ Premier Vs. RZA Worth The Hype But Who Won?, Rap Twitter Cherishes The Moment was originally published on hiphopwired.com
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this shit is amazing to be able to witness, man. RZA and DJ Premier helped raise a lot of us, g.
— Rapper Big Pooh (@RapperBigPooh) April 12, 2020
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Premier vs. RZA wasn’t just a “battle,” it was a musical conversation. The love and respect those brothers have for each other is palpable, and each song revealed what they thought the others’ strengths and weaknesses were. A true thing of beauty.
— Phonte (@phontigallo) April 12, 2020
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Preemo: 10 crack commandments
— بلال (@Bilali21) April 12, 2020
Rza: CREAM
Premier: mass appeal
Me: pic.twitter.com/A9ccIg8qmC
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RZA told Premier to play Guru's verse. That's love right there...
— Dart_Adams (@Dart_Adams) April 12, 2020
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RZA having Afro Samurai on while battling DJ Premier...iconic pic.twitter.com/XqsqTcdQ1W
— pancho (@pancizos) April 12, 2020
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That Rza vs DJ Premier last night was everything for a Hip Hop head. I mean.. Wow.
— Joell Ortiz (@JoellOrtiz) April 12, 2020
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this shit is amazing to be able to witness, man. RZA and DJ Premier helped raise a lot of us, g.
— Rapper Big Pooh (@RapperBigPooh) April 12, 2020
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When you just found out that RZA produced Long Kiss Goodnight pic.twitter.com/7EdFC62hBE
— Steven James (@TheLaunchMag) April 12, 2020
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RZA got Assassination Day trending. maga people freaking out. Haaaa Bong Bong !
— Ev-Ah-Din-Sss (@Evidence) April 12, 2020
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Anyone else ACTUALLY forget for 2 hours tonight that we were in a pandemic? Hip hop for the win again. & again... @REALDJPREMIER @RZA are rap gods.
— Statik Selektah (@StatikSelekt) April 12, 2020
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Coolest thing about that RZA-Premo battle is how every story that RZA told centered around how badly he wanted to impress Premo in the 90s. And every Premo story that Premo told was about how much RZA impressed him in the 90s. Legends appreciating legends.
— America is musty 2021 (@DragonflyJonez) April 12, 2020
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rza won bc lowkey we all thought he was gonna bring up 5g and he didnt
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) April 12, 2020
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Rza won. Good night.
— Queen of the LEDs (@therealrahdigga) April 12, 2020
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this battle has been amazing.
— MASKMOSPHERE (@atmosphere) April 12, 2020
fuck it they both win.
but we must not overlook that rza showed up in a sleeveless, and that my son, is how you come to rumble
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You can say Preem won and be right. You can say RZA won and be right. But all the RZA slander and sleep all week? YOUR APOLOGY NEEDS TO BE AS LOUD AS YOUR DISRESPECT WAS!!!
— J-LIVE (@realjlive) April 12, 2020
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RZA is such a legend his living room has reverb.
— Rory (@thisisrory) April 12, 2020