In episode 11 of DJ Premier’s Youtube series “So Wassup?” the legendary producer gives the backstory to Gang Starr’s 1992 single “Take it Personal.”  

In 1992, Gang Starr dropped their third studio album, Daily Operation. Preemo considers the project more like their sophomore album after finally finding his sound as a producer with their 1991 album, Step in the Arena. 

This track marks the last time Premier would use the SP1200 sampler before moving to the iconic MPC60. “Once he showed me how [the MPC60] worked, I was so fascinated by the different ways it can really enhance my production style that I moved on to that,” Preemo explains. “I said, ‘the last song we are gonna do on the album, I’m gonna use the SP1200 one more time.” 

The track’s drum sample is taken from Skull Snap’s “It’s a New Day,” with scratching samples from Brand Nubian’s 1990 track Step to the Rear.” The track was recorded in DJ Premier’s notorious B Room at D & D Studios. 

Check out the full video here and stay tuned for more “So Wassup?” news.