Large Professor is probably best known to the average rap fan around my age as being one of the few producers on Nas’ Illmatic and the guy rapping at the end of “Keep it Rollin'” on A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders.  But any true east coast hip hop head will quickly agree that he’s a legend in the game well beyond being a part of those two classic early 90’s releases.  In fact, he has a bunch of classics under his belt, both as a solo rapper and a producer, including his debut album with Main Source, Breakin’ Atoms, production work for rap gods like Rakim and Kool G. Rap, and remixes for everyone from Common to Gangstarr, not to mention lots of solo gems and collaborations.

Juan Epstein (Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg of Hot 97) recently did an amazing interview with Large Pro on their weekly podcast.  If you want a real east coast hip hop experience check it out, it’s like a history lesson in Queens rap music (he even tells the story of how he introduced Rakim to Nas).  His stories are great and his straight early 90’s New York accent is even better.  Everything he says starts with “word, word, word” and I especially like when he refers to the drums Q-Tip (above right) put on Nas’ “One Love” as SMACKERS.  Ha!  If anyone out there has ever had a conversation with my dude DJ Destro, well that’s what listening to this interview is kinda like (pardon the inside joke).  Needless to say I loved every minute of it.  Check it out…

Large Professor on Juan Epstein

Large Professor and Nas make an ill team, and have worked together more than a few times over the years, from the Main Source classic “Live at the Barbeque” to Illmatic and Stillmatic (peep “You’re Da Man” and Rewind” both are incredible).  Nas also appears on Large Professor’s first two solo albums, The LP (which actually was never officially released) and 1st Class.  Check out this gem from The LP, one of my favorite songs ever to appear on a DJ Clue mixtape…

Large Professor featuring Nas- One plus One

As you will easily find out in listening to Large Professor’s stories on Juan Epstein, he is the glue between many legendary rappers and producers.  Just check this vintage video of Lord Finesse’s “Actual Facts” featuring Large Pro, Sadat X, and Grand Puba, and try to count the cameos (check out Fat Joe fronting like he’s playing the stand up bass haha)…

Large Professor’s new album is in stores now, appropriately titled Main Source.  Word.

****BONUS*****

IP’S HIGH SCHOOL BEDROOM WALL

I thought I would add on this post properly with some sick hip hop artifacts from the early ’90s.  See, I used to flood my walls with hip hop pictures back when I was in high school (’92-’96).  Here’s a few I saved over the years that were always very special to me…

This used to be right above my bed.  I couldn’t wait for this album to drop because at the time The Low End Theory was my favorite thing on the planet (still is)….

Another classic that followed a classic.  This was above my window that looked out towards Bryant Avenue.

This was posted right next to The Main Ingredient ad.  This album is unbelievable.  Why can’t NY artists make albums like this anymore?  Somebody call Primo ASAP…

My first CD player was the same one Del is holding in this picture.  It was so pimp.  If you do your research on me you’ll discover my Oakland roots and why I loved Del so much.  This album is so dope, and this comic book style ad for it was on the wall right next to my desk.

This was up above my other window that faced out onto Ogden Avenue along with a picture of Redman and Nas.  Another banging album that dropped while I was in high school.  Prodigy is still in my Top 5 favorite rappers.

This is my vote for illest magazine cover ever.  I had it up by my desk, and later went back and copped a fresh copy to keep in the vault.  My magazine collection is crazy, don’t test me.  I got The Source with Gangstarr on the cover when they gave Illmatic 5 mics…

I’ll end my trip down memory lane with this picture from Rolling Stone magazine of Gza and Rza playing chess.  No matter where I lived in high school and college this picture was somewhere on my wall…

….peace out, ip