Albums Gang Starr - One of the Best Yet (Discussion Thread)

[TheDarceKnight]

So this song really, really makes me miss Guru. No one ever rhymed quote like him. There are better emcees that Premier worked with and has good chemistry with, like Nas, Royce, Jay, etc, but I've always found it fascinating that no one has been able to link with Premier and reproduce the magic that was Gang Starr.

I'd obviously love a Nas/Preem album before I leave this earth, but honestly I don't think there's anyone I'd rather hear Preem with than Guru. I used to not think that, but as the years have gone on there's just something so special about the way they complimented each other. And funny enough Guru was never an emcee I enjoyed listening to if it wasn't over Preem's production. But together? Gang Starr all day.

This is a perfect example of why I like Guru so much. Cole can technically out-rap just about anyone on earth, but straight up I prefer the version of this song without him on it. Guru stands out and is way more interesting on Premier's beats than Cole is. No hate. Cole is dope. And Cole is dope on this. And Cole would've rapped circles around Guru in a battle. And yet I still find Guru's verse and hooks to be far and away the best vocal aspects of this song.

RIP Guru

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Randomly spun The Ownerz the other day and enjoyed it more than I remembered

It definitely aged well. I think it had 3 things going against it. Maybe 4.

1. It had been half a decade since Moment of Truth and people had high expectations
2. It wasn't as dope as Moment of Truth which let people down
3. There was a slight change in Preem's sound
4. Certain songs seemed like watered down versions of previous songs that were on Moment of Truth (Capture, Who Got Guns, and Eulogy).

#3 is interesting because it wasn't a drastic change in sound, and maybe some of it was the mix, but I just remember the album sounding a little bit less warm, and not as filled out and thick as Moment of Truth. Preem also used some more beats on there with more totally open spaces in them. I think all of this came together at the same time, and people just felt a little bit let down by it.

But I think the years have been kind to this album, and listening to it now with the expectations stripped away, and not caring if Capture wasn't as dope as Militia or if Eulogy wasn't as dope as In Memory Of...it's still a great album. I like it a lot and I think I'll listen to it today.

 

[Mike the Executioner]

This song is fukking beautiful.

I was legit tearing up at every Guru verse. Especially the last one.

I don't know if I have high expectations for this or not, but I think I just want consistency. Ever since Step in the Arena, Gang Starr always came out with quality work, and they're probably one of the few rap acts that got better with time, not worse. Not many hip hop artists you can say peaked on their fifth album.

I'm definitely playing this back.

 

[Big Mel]

I for one thought 'The Ownerz' was one of the best albums of its release year. I damn near stan that album.

 

[ShaDynasty]

The Ownerz is dope. I listen to it more than Moment Of Truth, which is too long. The style of raps and beats are too uniform for an 80 min album.

The Ownerz had better balance, some different sounding beats and more guests. A lot of Moment Of Truth is better songs but I end up playing them in playlists whereas I'll throw Ownerz on start to finish.

 

[TripleAgent]

fukk, I missed it. Someone PM me please. Dap and rep on deck.

 

[NormanConnors]

Cats still finding a way to hate on Cole

Preem still has it

 

[Shameonyou]

Goodness cole bodied that

 

[TripleAgent]

Caught it on YT. Dope! Cole started his verse badly, was that an Em impression? Verse got better. Would still prefer a No Cole version.

EDIT: Moms overheard the song and commented on how beautiful it was RIP GURU

 

[EBK String]

So this song really, really makes me miss Guru. No one ever rhymed quote like him. There are better emcees that Premier worked with and has good chemistry with, like Nas, Royce, Jay, etc, but I've always found it fascinating that no one has been able to link with Premier and reproduce the magic that was Gang Starr.

I'd obviously love a Nas/Preem album before I leave this earth, but honestly I don't think there's anyone I'd rather hear Preem with than Guru. I used to not think that, but as the years have gone on there's just something so special about the way they complimented each other. And funny enough Guru was never an emcee I enjoyed listening to if it wasn't over Preem's production. But together? Gang Starr all day.

This is a perfect example of why I like Guru so much. Cole can technically out-rap just about anyone on earth, but straight up I prefer the version of this song without him on it. Guru stands out and is way more interesting on Premier's beats than Cole is. No hate. Cole is dope. And Cole is dope on this. And Cole would've rapped circles around Guru in a battle. And yet I still find Guru's verse and hooks to be far and away the best vocal aspects of this song.

RIP Guru

his voice and flow is unique. It fits preme beats perfectly.

 

[keond]

shyt is fire

 

[Big Mel]

Cats still finding a way to hate on Cole

Preem still has it

J Cole absolutely sucks.

 

[phonthought3000]

4. Certain songs seemed like watered down versions of previous songs that were on Moment of Truth (Capture, Who Got Guns, and Eulogy).

This was my biggest complaint with that album it was like they were trying to make Moment of Truth II. They used the same formula and tried to make the same album again

 

[Suspicions]

Cole ripped it

 

[NYK Loyalist]

I like the song a lot. I could be wrong but in my mind Premier and Guru didn’t fukk with each other at all from the time when The Ownerz was released to the time he passed so I wonder how many verses he has? Hopefully he has enough to put a dope album together without stacking them around ridiculous features