help me get into Gang Starr/Jazzmatazz

boogers

cats rule, dogs drool
Supporter
Joined
Mar 11, 2022
Messages
10,482
Reputation
5,031
Daps
30,239
Reppin
#catset
i only really know their singles/videos. where should i start? which album is your favorite?
 

AnonymityX1000

Veteran
Joined
Jun 6, 2012
Messages
31,833
Reputation
3,311
Daps
72,573
Reppin
New York
The first 1 is terrible 2, 3 and 4 are cool. Nothing crazy but it's good stuff to play when you are cleaning your house or your parents are around.
 

Awesome Wells

The Ghost of Jack Tripper
Joined
Jun 20, 2012
Messages
11,115
Reputation
5,368
Daps
35,526
Reppin
Uptown, NYC
Daily Operation is where you should start. That's Gang Starr 101. Then Hard to Earn.

Day one Gang Starr fans will tell you those are their true two best albums. Step in the Arena has a lot of Golden Era classics from the group, and Moment of Truth is their last album where the music was up to their standard. Those four LP's are pretty much untouchable.

The first two Jazzmatazz albums are dope, but it's not going to be the same kinda listen as the Gang Starr sh*t. The other volumes are cool, but hit or miss.
 

TrapHouse Rock

All Star
Joined
Jul 29, 2012
Messages
4,891
Reputation
813
Daps
7,616
Reppin
NULL
"No more Mr Nice Guy" 4mic
"Step In The Arena" 5mic
"Jazzmatazz Vol.1" 4mic
"Hard to Earn" 5mic
"Jazzmatazz Vol.2" 4.5 mic
"Jazzmatazz Vol 4" 4.5mic (People slept on this it was Guru's best solo project)

^these are the albums I fukk with

"Daily Operation"/"Moment of truth" are overrated some classic songs but song I don't fukk with at all....
I skip songs like crazy when I listen to these two joints

"Jazzmatazz" 3 I didn't like "the ownerz" was just decent

avoid any guru solo lp that doesn't say jazzmatazz
 

Art Barr

INVADING SOHH CHAMPION
Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
68,874
Reputation
13,880
Daps
96,000
Reppin
CHICAGO
Start at the single.
where guru on debut.
was arguably the best emcee at that exact time.





Then follow up it up.

Where arguably again on the next album.

Guru did it again like the debut.



Not to many followup singles on a sophomore album.
to the debut album can touch this to this day.

Art Barr


Who gonna take the weight is still mad crazy.

Imma bang public enemy after this.
 

Art Barr

INVADING SOHH CHAMPION
Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
68,874
Reputation
13,880
Daps
96,000
Reppin
CHICAGO
Hard to Earn or Moment of Truth are must listens are their best albums IMO


Hard to Earn and moment of truth ain't shyt st all to daily operation or one of rhe vinyl goat long players in rap history step in the arena.


Art Barr


My next door neighbor was Janet Jackson's control and rhythm nation and gangstsr a&r.
So i seen how gsngstarr went platinum in real time.
 

Art Barr

INVADING SOHH CHAMPION
Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
68,874
Reputation
13,880
Daps
96,000
Reppin
CHICAGO
Gangstarr was a lil before my time but the jazzmataz series is one of my favorites.

Heard this song before I even knew what these albums were and been hooked ever since





One of the most unheralded long players in rap.

A jazz thing leading into the jazzmatazz volumes were like. how you could get yo pops.
to stop hating rap music other than heavy d.

Jazzmatazz series are some the least talked about legendary longplayers and lp's.
They are a bit mired in controversy tho. So sometimes sifting through the negatives. from right before guru passed.
or was solo can be tough looking back.

Yet as far as a listen.

the jazzmatazz series is high quality and severely overlooked.

Art Barr
 
Last edited:
Top