1985 was a dope year. The Knicks got Ewing. The Internet’s DNS (Domain Name System) was invented. We  Are The World Dropped. DC Comics’ Crisis on Infinite Earth’s debuted. And a bunch of other stuff important to the foundation of today’s cultural zeitgeist.

J.Cole’s 1985, dropped as part of his latest KOB offering, is a solid track that warns the old guard of Hip-Hop about shitting in the young up and coming rappers in the game before giving them a chance to find their voice. We’ve seen countless crusades against the next wave throughout the history of Hip-Hop as aging members of that last wave fight for relevance. Whether it is Ice-T going after Soulja Boy, Jigga declaring the Death of Autotune or the countless social media bashing of mumble rap by 40 year old Hip-Hoppers who can’t let go of the 90’s, this argument is everlasting.

Cole made a credible argument for the old heads to chill and let the next wave develop while giving the young dudes a heads up in how to leverage their success. save your money. Stay touring. Work hard, etc. Enter Patron Saint of the Boom Bap, DJ Premier, a guy who is responsible for much of the sound that the aforementioned trapped in the 90’s cats cannot let go of. He heard the track and decided to give it some of that o’d fashioned flavor and the results are stunning. In his words:

I bought J. Cole’s ‘KOD’ LP as soon as it dropped with no warning to the fans; which I too am a fan.

“1985” resonated with me immediately so I asked Cole if I could get the Acapella and do an underground DJ version just for fun.

He sent it and I just pieced some stab samples to keep it on some boom bap shit.

Here it is.

Nuff Said. 1985. Enjoy