DJ Premier & Roc Marciano
The Coldest Profession
TTT
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Throughout hip-hop history which has spanned more than half of a century, there are few artists comparable to Rahkeim “Roc Marciano” Meyer and Christopher “DJ Premier” Martin in their respective fields of expertise.
Roc Marciano has been building has legend as an emcee over the past quarter-century. His career really took off with his first solo album, Marcberg (2010), and during the last 15 years he has put together one of the best discographies ever. He is rightfully regarded as one of the most skilled rappers of the 21st century. Meanwhile, DJ Premier is widely considered one of, if not the, best producer of all-time. Though he built his legend on his production work during the 1990s and early 2000s, those who know acknowledge that he has created a whole lot of great material during the 2010s and 2020s.
The Coldest Profession is built around the idea that this collaboration made too much sense not to happen. As both Roc Marci and DJ Premier tell it, this project was first inspired by a chance encounter over 20 years ago, when they ran into each other in the Armani section of a Macy’s in a Manhattan Mall. The fact that Preemo was on his way to the Phat Farm section of the store indicates this meeting predates not only Marci’s Marcberg-led renaissance, but also likely his days as a member of the group The U.N., which recorded the cult classic UN Or U Out (2004). The two talked about the need to work together, then went about their business. For the next two decades.
Nearly a lifetime later, in early 2023, the pair reconnected and decided the time was right to make a collaborative project happen. According to an interview with Billboard, they recorded The Coldest Profession over roughly a two-year period, interrupted by each one’s busy recording and touring schedule. Though they originally envisioned a three to four song endeavor, they settled on a seven-song EP; eight songs if you count the thirty-second intro. Though they recorded some of the project through remote means, they were able to put together some joint studio sessions as well.
The result establishes what was never in doubt: Roc Marci and Premier possess incredible chemistry together. They bring out the best in each other, each delivering the trademark brand of hip-hop that they have spent years perfecting during their respective careers. As Marci raps, they give fans “designer hip-hop; you can't get this feeling from any narcotic inside a Ziploc.”
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On the mic, Roc Marci sounds as confident as ever, delivering wild tales of street living, combining with off-the-wall metaphors and imagery. Preemo does an impressive job on production. Much like Pete Rock’s contributions to The Auditorium Vol. 1 (2024), Preemo provides tracks that sound like they’re “current,” rather than beats that have been sitting in his vault for the last 25 years. However, they’re all unmistakable DJ Premier productions.
The pair collaborate to deliver some traditional Preemo-styled bangers. Along with the project’s single, “Armani Section,” the too-brief “RocMarkable” has all the hallmarks of a classic Preemo track. Marci kicks his fly shit to thumping drums, a chopped melodic sample, and the scratch collage hook, promising “I'm just trying to inspire y'all, you witnessing this firsthand / It gotta feel like you a fly on the wall.” On “Prayer Hands,” he weaves tales of opulence with frequent basketball references, all while sounding like the coolest MF on the planet.
Preemo does throw a few curveballs from behind the boards, lacing Roc Marci with some non-traditional tracks. With its piano sample and eerie string, “Good to Go” indeed sounds like “theme music in a haunted crackhouse,” as Marci delivers an awesome set of opening lines: “Peace beloved / It's too many freaks in this club for us to be mean-mugging.” “Glory Hole” plays like the pair’s version of Eazy-E’s “2 Hard Muthas,” as Roc Marci uses a laid-back flow to deliver a single verse over a propulsive drum track, a few bass notes, and sparse scratches.
With the EP’s last two tracks, Premier does an excellent job channeling Roc Marci’s Marcberg-era production stylings. He puts together layers of synths on “Travel Fox” and hooks up a sick guitar and string sample for “Execution Style.” The latter song features Marci’s strongest lyrical performance on the project, delivering three different complex verses. “Get your main thing stole,” he raps, “been had the game in a stranglehold / Shave the blow, gave it to Razor Ramon.”
My only complaint with The Coldest Profession is that I do wish it was a little longer. I’m happy that they delivered seven full-length songs instead of three or four, but I was really hoping for the 2025 version of a full-length album. Which is to say that I wish it was a project comprised of ten full songs.
That said, I’m extremely satisfied with what the pair did decide to give to us, and hope more is in store. In the Billboard interview, they briefly touched on the idea of eventually doing a follow-up, but didn’t comment on a timeline. Until time opens up in each of their schedules (and that could take a while), The Coldest Profession provides continued evidence that some dream combinations really do come through and deliver on what you hope for.
Notable Tracks: “Executioner Style” | “Good To Go” | “Prayer Hands” | “RocMarkable”
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