Gang Starr
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
Premier and Guru began humbly enough, releasing No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989), an ambitious debut album that sought to incorporate a jazz aesthetic into hip-hop. As ambitious as its aim may have been, the formative album didnt impress too many (though there were promising moments like Manifest and DJ Premier in Deep Concentration), and Gang Starr took two years to reconsider their approach. The duo then returned with a new record label and a fresh approach. It worked marvelously as Step in the Arena (1991) set new standards with not only its beats but also its lyrics. Premier had blossomed into one of New Yorks most savvy producer/DJs, capable of using samples in ways never before imagined. He garnered acclaim for his subtle use of jazz. Similarly, Gurus literate, thoughtful, and, most of all, earnest lyrics stood out among the brash materialism increasingly plaguing the genre. A year later came Daily Operation (1992). If Step in the Arena had been and remains a masterpiece, this album is nothing short of that mark; in fact, its generally viewed as Gang Starrs crowning achievement.
While both Step in the Arena and Daily Operation astounded critics and street-level listeners, the albums never inspired any big breakthrough hits, and Gang Starr remained somewhat of a cult favorite. Songs like Just to Get a Rep, Step in the Arena, Take It Personal, and Soliloquy of Chaos became underground classics but never crossed over to the mainstream. Despite Premiers reputation as a hitmaker, Gang Starr openly spurned mass appeal and refused to adjust their style to any sort of trend. Hard to Earn (1994) strongly confirmed this anti-commercial stance, especially the Mass Appeal single, and the duo didnt return until four years later with Moment of Truth (1998) and then Full Clip (1999). The former album and its big single, You Know My Steez, proved that despite Gang Starrs long absence, Premier and Guru could still make excellent hip-hop -- an entire album of it, in fact. The latter album, a double-disc retrospective commemorating Gang Starrs ten-year anniversary, showcased some of the duos best moments and added some bonuses for long-time fans.
Following the best-of collection, Premier and Guru quietly rested the Gang Starr moniker. Even so, they remained active over the years: Guru continued releasing star-studded solo albums, and Premier continued producing countless tracks for New Yorks finest. While its somewhat ironic that Premier produced so many across-the-board hits for others but not himself, Gang Starr never attained Nas- or Jay-Z-level stardom partly because of their uncompromising, somewhat highbrow style, something which the two refused to dilute with mass appeal, precisely the reason why their influence has proven so timeless.
