Gang Starr

Posted on 01.2.2005

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Gang Starr
Guru (Keith Elam -1968 - Boston)
Dj Premier (Chris Martin - 1969 - Brooklyn NY)

Gang Starr Biography :

Around for a decade so far, Gang Starr are one of hip hop’s longest surviving groups. Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal), the MC of the two man group, met original group member Mike Dee in Boston and they formed Gang Starr. The two signed a record deal with a minor label, but creative differences led to the splitting of the two. Guru, now relocated to Brooklyn, met DJ Premier in 1988 and the two ended up becoming the Gang Starr you know and love. They signed to Wild Pitch and released their debut LP, ’No More Mr Nice Guy’ in 1989. This record immediantly established DJ Premier as one of hip hop’s best producers, despite the fact that it only sold around 100,000 copies (initially at least).

By 1990, Gang Starr had ditched Wild Pitch and were recording for Chrysalis, who released ’Step In The Arena’ in 1991. This album is considered by many to be Gang Starr’s finest hour, considering how much Guru’s raps had come along and Primo had developed his production style. The combination of the monotone voice of Guru and the distinctive beats of Premier kept fans happy, but Chrysalis were puzzled that they hadn’t come close to the 500,000 copies needed for a Gold record.
Seing how this wasn’t selling, Chrysalis thought that a better technique would be to give Gang Starr a harder, more street-friendly sound. Tracks such as ’DWYCK’ with Nice & Smooth and ’Take It Personal’. This tactic still didn’t work well with buyers, and a gold plaque eluded the 1992 ’Daily Operation’ album. However, a group of core fans were buying anything Gang Starr put out, and records made by other artists were benefiting from Primo’s beats both sales wise and in terms of quality.

The duo also expanded, forming the Gang Starr foundation with Group Home and Jeru Da Damaja. Payday signed both acts, but much like Gang Starr album sales were lower than hoped. Seeing the poor album sales, Chrysalis soon changed tactics and focused on releaseing as many Gang Starr 12"s as thy could instead of making full LPs. ’Mass Appeal’ spearheaded four singles released in quick succession, but the underproduction of these led to DJs snapping them up and the records becoming mostly collector’s editions.

’Hard To Earn’ was released soon after as a reply to rumors of the two being upset over poor response to ’Daily Operation’ and talk of Guru being weak as an MC. While not selling as well as hoped, the core Gang Starr fans were not disappointed and received an LP with some of the duo’s best work for a long while. ’Mass Appeal’, ’Code of The Streets’ and ’Suckas Need Bodyguards’ pleased the fans, while ’Speak Ya Clout’ introduced to more of the Gang Starr foundation. While they hadn’t broke up, Guru and DJ Premier took a break from Gang Starr for a while after that LP, with Primo taking his beats to Foundation members and other hip hoppers while Guru was working on his groundbreaking Jazzmatazz productions. Trouble seemed to be on Gang Starr’s way when Chrysalis folded in 1997, but the two of them signed with Noo Tribe records and dropped the dope 12" ’You Know My Steez’. In 1998 Gang Starr released their fifth LP, ’Moment of Truth’, which was a triumphant return and stood out as one of the year’s best albums.

1999 brought forward more rumours of a greatest hits LP and a breakup of the duo. This was partly true, as ’Full Clip’, a greatest hits compilation was released with two new cuts on it. However Gang Starr are far from finished, and the compilation was called by them "a little something to hit you off before the next album drops." However, it’s clear that with Guru’s consistent rapping and Primo’s always well-recieved beats that Gang Starr will be here to stay for a long time.

Gang Starr Discography

Gang Starr Albums

No More Mr. Nice Guy
Released : 1989

Step in the Arena
Released : January 15, 1991

Daily Operation
Released : May 5, 1992

Hard to Earn
Released : March 8, 1994

Moment of Truth
Released : March 31, 1998

Full Clip : A Decade of Gang Starr
Released : July 13, 1999

The Ownerz
Released : June 24, 2003

Mass Appeal : Best of Gang Starr
Released : December 26, 2006

Gang Starr Singles

No More Mr. Nice Guy
Singles :
"Words I Manifest"/"DJ Premier In Deep Concentration"/"Here’s The Proof"
"Positivity"/"No More Mr. Nice Guy (Remix)"

Step in the Arena
Singles :
"Just To Get A Rep"/"Who’s Gonna Take The Weight ?"
"Love Sick"/"What You Want This Time ?"/"Credit Is Due"
"Step In The Arena"/"Check The Technique (Remix)"/"Credit Is Due"

Daily Operation
Singles :
"2 Deep"/"Take It Personal"/"Now You’re Mine"
"Take It Personal"/"DWYCK"
"Ex Girl to Next Girl"/"B.Y.S."/"Soliloquy of Chaos"

Hard to Earn
Singles :
"Code of the Streets"/"Speak Ya Clout"
"Dwyck", "Mass Appeal"
"Suckas Need Bodyguards"/"The ? Remainz"

Moment of Truth
Singles :
"Royalty"
"You Know My Steez"/"So Wassup ?"
"The Militia"/"You Know My Steez (Three Men And A Lady Remix)"

Full Clip : A Decade of Gang Starr
Singles :
"1/2 & 1/2"/"Gangsta Bounce"
"Full Clip"/"Dwyck"
"All 4 Tha Ca$h"/"The ? Remainz"
"Discipline"/"Just To Get A Rep"

The Ownerz
Singles :
"Skills"/"Natural"
"Nice Girl, Wrong Place"/"Rite Where U Stand"
"The Ownerz"/"Same Team, No Games"