Gang Starr

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Gang Starr
DJ Premier (left) and Guru
Background information
Origin	Brooklyn, New York
Genre(s)	Hip Hop
Years active	1987 – ?
Label(s)	Wild Pitch Records (1987 – 1990) Chrysalis Records (1991 – 1994) Noo Trybe Records (1997 – 1999) Virgin Records (1999 – 2004)
Associated acts	Gang Starr Foundation
Members
Guru DJ Premier

Gang Starr is an influential American hip hop duo composed of MC Guru and DJ Premier based in Brooklyn, New York.

Contents 1 Background 2 Gang Starr Foundation 3 Current status 4 Discography 5 Trivia 6 External links

[edit] Background

The group was founded in 1987 by Guru (then known as Keithy E. The Guru), DJ 1,2 B Down, Mike Dee and various producers, such as Donald D, J.V. Johnson or DJ Mark the 45 King helping out. In 1987 and 1988, Gang Starr released three 12" vinyl singles on the legendary Wild Pitch label.

In 1989, the group split and the only member willing to continue under the name Gang Starr was Guru. He soon got in touch with DJ Premier (then known as Waxmaster C) who sent him a beat tape which Guru apparently liked. He invited DJ Premier to join the new founded group and in the same year they released their first single "Words I Manifest". With that line up, Gang Starr went on working together for six albums (the first one on Wild Pitch, the rest on Virgin), a 2CD "greatest hits" compilation and numerous singles and soundtrack contributions. Another compilation was released after the group's departure from Virgin.

During their career Gang Starr helped pioneer the New York City hip hop sound. The entirety of Gang Starr's catalog, especially Step in the Arena (1991), Daily Operation (1992) and Moment of Truth (1998) are well-respected among critics and hip hop heads alike. Their track "Jazz Thing", featured on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's film Mo' Better Blues, helped establish the sound of jazz rap, although they themselves consider their sound solely straight hardcore hip hop.

[edit] Gang Starr Foundation

Both members of Gang Starr have deep roots in the New York hip hop scene, despite hailing from Boston, Massachusetts (Guru) and Houston, Texas (DJ Premier), and have each worked with countless artists.

The Gang Starr Foundation was a loose collective comprised of various members that have worked closely with the group, through either Guru's now defunct Ill Kid label, DJ Premier's production work or the management company that Gang Starr was represented by, Empire Management.

[edit] Current status

The group's current status is unknown. It is unconfirmed whether it still exists or if it has broken up. Instead of issuing a proper press release, both members have made often contrary statements on their own in various print, radio, TV and online magazine interviews.

On September 1, 2005, Guru has revealed in an interview [1] with the hip hop online magazine sohh.com that the group doesn't exist anymore, but that it has ended instead of breaking up. This has finally cleared up the rumors that came up first on the European Gang Starr tour in 2003/2004 when DJ Premier suddenly went back to the US and Guru continued touring under the group's name with another DJ. However, in an December 21, 2005 interview [2] with the online magazine allhiphop.com, DJ Premier has denied that Gang Starr is history; he said it's rather a long break than a real break up. In a more recent interview [3] from April 20, 2006, with the online magazine hoodstars.net, Guru has stated he would not work with his previous partners anymore. In a newer interview [4] he stated that Gang Starr has reached the peak and that he is out of the project. To add even more to the confusion, DJ Premier said in a November 21st, 2006 interview [5] with the XXL Online Magazine "If I confirm it, then it’s official. If I don’t confirm it, then we still together." which is a very odd statement to make, considering Gang Starr was originally not his, but Guru's group.

[edit] Discography

For a full Gang Starr discography, see external links.

Album cover	Album information
	No More Mr. Nice Guy Released: 1989 Billboard 200 chart position: - R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #83 Singles: "Words I Manifest"/"DJ Premier In Deep Concentration"/"Here's The Proof", "Positivity"/"No More Mr. Nice Guy (Remix)"
	Step in the Arena Released: January 15, 1991 Billboard 200 chart position: #121 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #19 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 Released: May 5, 1992 Billboard 200 chart position: #65 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #14 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 Released: March 8, 1994 Billboard 200 chart position: #25 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #2 Singles: "Code of the Streets"/"Speak Ya Clout", "Dwyck", "Mass Appeal", "Suckas Need Bodyguards"/"The ? Remainz"
	Moment of Truth Released: March 31, 1998 Certification: Gold Billboard 200 chart position: #6 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #1 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 Released: July 13, 1999 Certification: Gold Billboard 200 chart position: #33 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #11 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 Released: June 24, 2003 Billboard 200 chart position: #18 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #5 UK chart position: #74 Singles: "Skills"/"Natural", "Nice Girl, Wrong Place"/"Rite Where U Stand", "The Ownerz"/"Same Team, No Games"
	Mass Appeal: Best of Gang Starr Released: December 26, 2006 Billboard 200 chart position: R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: Singles:

[edit] Trivia

• In 2001, "Moment of Truth" appeared in the video game Dave Mirra 2.
• In 2002, "Mass Appeal" appeared in the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.
• In 2004, "B.Y.S." appeared in the popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on Classic hip hop radio station Playback FM.
• In 2006, "Code of the Streets" appeared in the video game 25 to Life.
• In 2007, "Code of the Streets" appeared in the movie Freedom Writers.
• "Work" appeared twice in episode "The Review" in the TV Show Entourage.

[edit] External links

• gurugangstarr.com Guru's official site
• Year Round Records DJ Premier's label site
• Gang Starr Trackology fan site, extensive discography
• Guru - Who he's worked with + discography
• DJ Premier - Who he's worked with + discography

v • d • e Gang Starr
Members: Guru | DJ Premier
Albums: No More Mr. Nice Guy | Step in the Arena | Daily Operation | Hard to Earn | Moment of Truth | The Ownerz
Compilations: Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr | Mass Appeal: Best of Gang Starr
Singles: "Believe Dat!" | "The Lesson" | "Movin' On" | "Positivity" | "Words I Manifest (Remix)" | "Jazz Thing" | "Just to Get a Rep" | "Lovesick" | "Step in the Arena" | "Take It Personal" | "Ex Girl to Next Girl" | "Gonna Get Over (Taking Loot)" | "Code of the Streets" | "Dwyck" | "Mass Appeal" | "Suckas Need Bodyguards" | "You Know My Steez" | "The Militia" | "1/2 & 1/2" | "Full Clip" | "All 4 Tha Ca$h" | "Discipline" | "Skills" | "Nice Girl Wrong Place" | "The Ownerz"
See also: Gang Starr Foundation