Gang Starr "Full Clip : A Decade of Gang Starr"

Posted on 07.13.1999

Gang Starr
Album : Full Clip :
A Decade of Gang Starr
Release Date : July 13, 1999
Label : Virgin Records

Review :

A massive double disc packed with 33 tracks—a few new cuts, many old faves, and some rare B-sides—Full Clip presents a decent overview of the group’s impressive 10-year sonic canon. Gang Starr standards spanning the likes of "Manifest" (from their 1989 debut, No More Mr. Nice Guy), to the anti stick-up kid rhetoric of "Just to Get a Rep" (off of 1991’s Step in the Arena), to "Soliloquy of Chaos," their rapturous criticism of violence at rap shows (culled from 1992’s Daily Operation), as well as "Code of the Streets" and "Mass Appeal" (both taken from 1994’s Hard to Earn), are all represented in full. Additionally, there are plenty of tasty B-sides like "Credit Is Due" and "The ? Remains," tucked in alongside soundtrack contributions like the pioneering jazz/hip-hop jammie "Jazz Thing" from Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues. And the new tracks, such as the lumbering, scratch-filled "Full Clip," prove that Gang Starr are still very capable of concocting relevant, head-bangin’ hip-hop madness. If there are any complaints with Full Clip, it’s that the compilation tends to lean more heavily toward the group’s later efforts (only one joint off Mr. Nice Guy is included while there are at least five represented from each of their ’92, ’94, and ’98 efforts). Plus there are a few noticeable omissions, specifically "Love Sick," Guru’s tasty lament from Step in the Arena. But the gist of the Full Clip compendium is to celebrate Gang Starr’s noteworthy career by presenting a broad overview of the duo’s work, and to that end, it delivers in spades.

Track Listings :

Disk 1 :
01. Intro
02. Full Clip
03. Discipline (Featuring Total)
04. Words I Manifest (Remix)
05. Ex Girl To Next Girl
06. I’m The Man (Featuring Jeru The Damaja & Lil Dap)
07. Mass Appeal
08. Jazz Thing (Video Mix)
09. The Militia (Featuring Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx)
10. Tonz ’o’ Gunz
11. Royalty (Featuring K-Ci & JoJo)
12. Who’ Gonna Take The Weight
13. You Know My Steez
14. Above The Clouds (Featuring Inspectah Deck)
15. Just To Get A Rep
16. Dwyck (Featuring Nice & Smooth)

Disk 2
01. All 4 The Cash
02. Step In The Arena
03. Work
04. Soliloquy Of Chaos
05. Take It Personal
06. Speak Ya Clout (Featuring Jeru The Damaja & Lil Dap)
07. Gotta Get Over (Taking Loot)
08. Half & Half (Featuring M.O.P.)
09. The ? Remainz
10. Code Of The Streets
11. So Whassup ?
12. Now You’re Mine
13. Betrayal (Featuring Scarface)
14. B.Y.S.
15. Credit Is Due
16. The Militia (Remix) (Featuring W.C. & Rakim)
17. You Know My Steez (Three Men & A Lady Remix)
(Featuring The Lady Of Rage & Kurupt)