DJ Premier

Active since 1987, the year he debuted behind Guru as one-half of Gang Starr, DJ Premier is one of the most crucial figures in hip-hop. No more than three producers (Dr. Dre, RZA, and Prince Paul) can test Premier's status as the most important trackmaster of the '90s, and no style is more distinctive. Aggressive and raw, a Premier track is an instantly recognizable soundclash of battling loops and heavy scratching -- all of them perfectly timed -- that evokes the sound of Brooklyn better than anyone. Besides helming albums for Gang Starr, Premier's productions appear on many of the East Coast's most important records of the '90s, including Nas' Illmatic, the Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die, Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt, Jeru the Damaja's The Sun Rises in the East, and Mos Def's Black on Both Sides. In the following decades, Premier attained his highest level of pop success while continuing to power the nationwide rap underground.

Born Chris Martin, DJ Premier spent time in Brooklyn and Houston while growing up, and studied computer science at Prairie View A&M outside Houston. Known as Waxmaster C, he'd already learned to play a variety of instruments and also managed a record store. After moving back to Brooklyn, around 1987-1988 he came into contact with Guru, a Boston native. Guru had already formed a group named Gang Starr two years earlier (and recorded with the 45 King), but his former partner, Mike Dee, had returned to Boston. DJ Premier and Guru signed to Wild Pitch and released a debut single ("Manifest") and album (No More Mr. Nice Guy). Gang Starr's interest in melding hip-hop with jazz informed the record, and they were invited to add to the soundtrack for Spike Lee's 1990 film Mo' Better Blues. Their subsequent work was much more mature and unified, with a pair of instant East Coast classics (1991's Step in the Arena and 1992's Daily Operation) arriving in short order.

DJ Premier had been working with other vocalists for years, and his productions for the 1990 landmark Funky Technician by Lord Finesse and DJ Mike Smooth cemented his status as one of the best producers around. He soon began recording exclusively at D&D Studios, a spot soon to become a shrine for hip-hop fans (thanks in large part to his own work). The year 1994 was a huge one for Premier, probably the best year for any rap producer ever; in addition to dropping another Gang Starr classic, Hard to Earn, his productions appeared on five-star, all-time classics by Nas (Illmatic), the Notorious B.I.G. (Ready to Die), and Jeru the Damaja (The Sun Rises in the East), as well as Big Daddy Kane and Branford Marsalis' Buckshot LeFonque project. Though his workload dropped off considerably during the late '90s, he still managed to place tracks on three of the first four Jay-Z albums.

Premier returned in force with the new millennium, including shots with Common, D.I.T.C., D'Angelo, Jadakiss, and Snoop Dogg. Gang Starr went out in top form with The Ownerz, their sixth and last album, in 2003, after which Premier remained consistently active. Each year into the late 2010s, he was involved with anywhere between several and over a dozen projects. His greatest commercial success was achieved with several co-productions on Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics, including the Top Ten pop hit "Ain't No Other Man." Apart from the occasional mainstream gig, such as remixing Maroon 5 and scratching on a Chris Brown track, the producer worked primarily in the underground and issued the occasional solo project, such as multiple volumes of Beats That Collected Dust. He collaborated extensively with Bumpy Knuckles (Kolexxxion, 2012) and Royce da 5'9" (PRhyme, 2015), and added to his West Coast contacts by clocking studio time with Dr. Dre ("Animals," 2015), Miguel ("2 Lovin U," 2017), and MC Eiht (Which Way Iz West, 2017). He was among the executive producers of VH1's The Breaks, for which he also provided music. ~ John Bush & Andy Kellman, Rovi

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J Rocc

One of the original turntablists, J-Rocc founded the Beat Junkies in 1992 with Melo-D and Rhettmatic, but has done just as much on his own as in a group setting. Born Jason Jackson, he began DJing in the mid-'80s with a California group named PSK. Soon after forming, the Beat Junkies became a seminal force in the rise of instrumental hip-hop, including core member Babu plus future stars Shortkut and D-Styles. The group won federation championships in 1997 and 1998, after which they collectively retired from competition. Beat Junkies mixes and studio material continued to pour out. J-Rocc's first widely issued mix album, Walkman Rotation, appeared in 1998 on Conception, and he also worked with Babu on the turntablist compilation Soundbombing, Vol. 2, plus as the Bumrush Brothers. After touring as the DJ for Madlib's live shows, J-Rocc released his first album of productions, Some Cold Rock Stuf, in 2011 on the Stones Throw label. ~ John Bush, Rovi

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This September 14th-21st, 1xRUN’s Murals In The Market returns for the 5th consecutive year, bringing more than 25 local and international artists to Detroit’s Historic Eastern Market. A massive family friendly block party Family Reunion, along with the annual free arts and culture events including a tribute by Tiff Massey to legendary Detroit artist David Philpot, and Dennis McNett’s larger than life art parade, will all add to Detroit’s rich history public art for the city’s only international mural festival. 1xRUN is proud to welcome back our partners at the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation and Eastern Market Partnership to help bring this world renowned public arts festival to Detroit’s oldest farmers market.

2019 Murals In The Market Artists Include:
- Ashley Mcfadden - Bakpak Durden - Ben Hall - Bre’Ann WHLGN - Brian Nickson - Dennis McNett - Diviniti (Little Bit Project) - Ed Irmen - Efe Bes - Ijania Cortez - Ivan Montoya - Jake Dwyer - Javier Gonzalez - Joe Geis - Joey Salamon - Kevin Ledo - Kevin Lyons - Lindy Shewbridge - Maser - Michael Polakowski - Mikey Francis - Nick Pizana - Olayami Dabls -Osunlade - Remi Rough - Ron English - Tiff Massey + MORE Muralists, Sculptors + Public Art Installations.

After being named one of the Smithsonian's Top 5 Mural Festivals In The World, Murals In The Market continues to elevate Detroit’s Eastern Market to the forefront of the international art stage for the fifth consecutive year. This year the festival expands its programming with a massive roller door campaign focusing on bringing local businesses into the fold and highlight often overlooked areas in the city pairing each with a local artist. Unique installations throughout the market will complement over 150 murals throughout the Market’s footprint.

Joining forces with Detroit’s electronic music tastemakers Paxahau, The Crofoot & the Detroit Hustles Harder crew this year’s festival returns with the 2nd Annual Murals In The Market Family Reunion, a massive all ages block party kicking things off on September 14th.

Building upon the tremendous public support of the festival’s last four years, Murals In The Market continues to expand Eastern Market’s walkable footprint. With more than 200 works of public art including sculptures and installations strategically placed throughout the Market District, the festival encourages exploration of every corner of the market, giving visitors locally and internationally a look into businesses and areas often unseen and underutilized. Once again Murals In The Market will continue to enhance Detroit’s signature market experience that makes Eastern Market a world class, must-see destination for art, as well as fresh food.

In addition to creating new murals, the festival will also host a series of events including discussion panels, a cultural tour, art exhibitions as well as nighttime activities coinciding with Detroit Design Festival’s Annual Eastern Market After Dark on September 21st.

This year, Murals In The Market has partnered with Jason Hall’s, RiDetroit to offer walking and cycling tours year round as well as a series of curated tours during the festival.

For more information about Murals in the Market please visit https://www.muralsinthemarket.com/