Before platinum plaques, before Bad Boy dominance, and before Ready to Die, The Notorious B.I.G. was still an unsigned Brooklyn lyricist trying to decide his next move.

According to DJ Premier, that decision came with hesitation.

Speaking on Drink Champs, Premier recalled weeks of Mister Cee urging him to listen to Biggie’s demo. When Premier finally connected with Big in Brooklyn, he recognized the talent immediately — but the conversation quickly shifted to business.

Biggie told him Sean ‘Puff’ Combs was interested in signing him.

Premier’s advice was direct.

“I told him, ‘Go with Puff. Puff not only has money, he got a vision. He going to blow you up.’”

At the time, Biggie reportedly worried about staying authentic to the streets. Premier saw infrastructure. He understood what a focused executive could do for a generational voice.

Biggie took the advice. The Bad Boy era began.

But their story didn’t stop there.

When budget issues stalled production during the Ready to Die sessions, Biggie still wanted a Premier beat. Premier initially resisted — not out of ego, but because he builds tracks from scratch in the room rather than pulling from a catalog.

“I don’t have 20 beats sitting around,” he explained. “You come here, we make it.”

Biggie countered with $5,000 in cash.

Premier agreed — with one condition.

“If you go platinum, I want $35,000 per track.”

There was no formal paperwork. No corporate structure. Just a verbal agreement between artist and producer.

The result was “Unbelievable,” which became the B-side to “Juicy” and one of the defining records of Biggie’s debut.

When the album succeeded, Biggie honored the deal.

“He brought me the check,” Premier said. “He kept his word.”

The story captures a particular era in New York rap — when handshake deals carried weight, producers tailored beats in real time, and reputation functioned as currency.

Before streaming platforms and major-label rollouts, there was instinct. Before corporate oversight, there was eye contact and trust.

Premier’s recollection isn’t just nostalgia. It’s a reminder that some of hip-hop’s most important business decisions were made in small rooms — by people betting on vision.