Gang Starr
Formed: 1986
Location: DJ Premier (Houston, Texas), Guru (Boston, Massachusetts)
Genre: Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Jazz Rap
Years Active: 1986 - 2003
Meaning of the Name: Play on the word gangster, but it's a gang full of stars.
AKA: Guru (MC Keithy E, Bald Head Slick), DJ Premier (Preemo, Waxmaster C)
Core Members: Guru (Keith Elam), DJ Premier (Christopher Martin)
Way of Working: DJ & MC
Associated: Afu-Ra, Jeru the Damaja, Freddie the Foxx, Group Home
Essential Releases
Step in the
Arena (1991)
Boom bap classic with innovative production and rhymes.
Daily Operation (1992)
Foundational jazz rap album.
Hard to Earn (1994)
An evolution of the Gang Starr sound into the hardcore of the mid-'90s.
Moment of
Truth (1998)
Critically-acclaimed and commercially successful. In my opinion, this record is their peak.
The beach on a summer's day, an elegant black dress, and a slice of delicious chocolate cake are all timeless classics that have outlasted fashionable trends to establish themselves as unshakeable touchstones of modern culture. In the often-fleeting world of hip hop, Gang Starr stands as an equivalent classic, their sound a rare blend of street wisdom and pounding boom bap.
Having released highly respected albums over three decades, starting in the 80s, Guru and Premier's chameleon-like versatility distinguished them as major players in both jazz rap and hardcore hip hop.
As University graduates, their music included "street" themes, but from an alternative perspective. The son of a judge, before his rap career Guru worked counselling juvenile delinquents at a maximum security detention facility. Of the experience he said, "I had to learn to relate to them not like a preacher, but more like a big brother or a cool uncle."
The Five Percent Nation also influenced him. They're an organisation of black Muslims who believe 10% of people use their power and understanding of social systems to control 85% of people. The remaining 5%, the Nation, have a spiritual obligation to lead the majority against oppression.
The impact was so foundational Guru took his name from a popular Nation phrase: 'God Universal Ruler Universal.' Adapting it for hip hop, it stands for 'Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal.'
Considering these influences, it's evident Guru positions himself as an educator. On 'Word I Manifest', he says: "Knowledge, wisdom, understanding, truth's the proof. So won't you throw a hand in the air, put up a peace sign and be fine." This lyric highlights the importance of peace in a form of music too often known for violence.
Combined with Guru's "cool uncle" lyrical approach is the technical wizardry of, perhaps, hip hop's greatest-ever producer: DJ Premier. Resulting from his plethora of iconic beats for the likes of Jay-Z (D'evils), Biggie Smalls (Ten Crack Commandments), and Nas (New York State of Mind), Preemo's sound became ubiquitous with '90s East Coast Hip Hop to such an extent that an audience listening today might consider it 'standard.'
Many don't realize Premier set that standard, tirelessly producing classics that would snap the necks of anyone lucky enough to nod along.
Yet, despite their significant contributions to traditional hip hop, perhaps Guru and Premier's most resounding work lies in their pioneering jazz rap. Jazz was initially regarded as low culture and became relegated to dens of iniquity. In the 1920s, the form's reputation for vice and sin was so potent many believed listening to it would make women promiscuous. Decades later, jazz plays in respectable concert halls and is studied by academics.
Hip hop producers capitalised on the cultural reappraisal by replacing soul, funk, and disco samples with jazz in an attempt to not only reinvigorate their sound, but also position hip hop as a misunderstood genre that would undergo a similar rethink in future decades. Daily Operation emphatically blended jazz stems with hard drums and street knowledge to become a centrepiece of the emerging subgenre.
When I think of Gang Starr, their enduring quality comes to mind, and is characterised by two things: versatility and longevity. Or to put it another way, Guru and Premier. They assured their storied contribution to hip hop long ago, and any self-respecting fan of the genre knows their work inside out.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
45
Mental Impact
70
Originality
90
Artistry
55
Authenticity
70
Live
90
Production
100
Musicianship
85
Rapping
85
Songwriting
85
Danceability
70
Fun
60
Consistency
90
Range
85
Cool
65
Charisma
70
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards
Certifications >>>
- Full Clip: Greatest Hits - Gold in USA, Canada; Silver in UK
- Moment of Truth - Gold in USA, Canada; Silver in UK
Charts >>>
- Moment of Truth - #6 in USA
Critics >>>
- About.com: Hard to Earn - Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time: #39
- Complex: Daily Operation - Best Rap Albums of the '90s: #41
- The Source: Step in the Arena - Best 100 Hip Hop Albums (1998): Unordered List
CRITICISM
- Gang Starr split in 2003 and Guru started working with the beatmaker Solar. After Guru died from cancer in 2010, Solar produced a dubious letter supposedly granting him rights to Guru's estate and legacy in perpetuity. DJ Premier and Guru's family vehemently denied the letter's authenticity and a judge ruled in their favour in 2014.
