Hip Hop Needs More Artists Like Gangstarr

[I Really Mean It]

One thing about Gangstarr that I appreciate is how the group straddled the line between street and conscious rap, mixing a NY bred gangster vibe with reflective and contemplative rhymes about the consequences of that life. Their music was the perfect blend of gangsterism, pro-blackness and consciousness. That mix no longer exists nowadays. You either have pure and unadulterated gangsterism or consciousness that comes across as preachy and patronizing.

Just to get a rep. Mass Appeal. Code of the Streets. Moment of Truth.

I feel like THIS is what our children are missing. Street dudes with a conscience. We need more music like this, if we mean to speak their language in a way that uplifts them. Maybe Kendrick is the closest we have? He tends to insert street shyt into his otherwise conscious lyricism, but I don't think Kendrick comes across as convincingly street the way Guru and Preme did.

 

[Counter Racist Male]

One thing about Gangstarr that I appreciate is how the group straddled the line between street and conscious rap, mixing a NY bred gangster vibe with reflective and contemplative rhymes about the consequences of that life. Their music was the perfect blend gangsterism, pro-blackness and consciousness. That mix no longer exists nowadays. You either have pure and unadulterated gangsterism or consciousness that comes across as preachy and patronizing.

Just to get a rep. Mass Appeal. Code of the Streets. Moment of Truth.

I feel like THIS is what our children are missing. We need more music like this, if we mean to speak their language in a way that uplifts them. Maybe Kendrick is the closest we have? He tends to insert street shyt into his otherwise conscious lyricism, but I don't think Kendrick comes across as convincingly street the way Guru and Preme did.

Gangster was an acquired taste. They were purest that didn't have much commercial success. I remember my cousin from down south used to hate them. Im a huge fan though.

 

[I Really Mean It]

Gangster was an acquired taste. They were purest that didn't have much commercial success. I remember my cousin from down south used to hate them. Im a huge fan though.

Love em. Preme's production helps, but Guru is underrated for his lyricism. Definitely in my top 5.

 

[Counter Racist Male]

One thing about Gangstarr that I appreciate is how the group straddled the line between street and conscious rap, mixing a NY bred gangster vibe with reflective and contemplative rhymes about the consequences of that life. Their music was the perfect blend of gangsterism, pro-blackness and consciousness. That mix no longer exists nowadays. You either have pure and unadulterated gangsterism or consciousness that comes across as preachy and patronizing.

Just to get a rep. Mass Appeal. Code of the Streets. Moment of Truth.

I feel like THIS is what our children are missing. Street dudes with a conscience. We need more music like this, if we mean to speak their language in a way that uplifts them. Maybe Kendrick is the closest we have? He tends to insert street shyt into his otherwise conscious lyricism, but I don't think Kendrick comes across as convincingly street the way Guru and Preme did.

I think you mean street knowledge intellect and spiritually. That was there trifecta.

 

[Counter Racist Male]

Love em. Preme's production helps, but Guru is underrated for his lyricism. Definitely in my top 5.

Imo Premier didnt come in his own Intel the moment of truth. That's when his production went from decent to legendary.

 

[I Really Mean It]

Imo Premier didnt come in his own Intel the moment of truth. That's when his production went from decent to legendary.

Ehh.....his beats on Hard to Earn were crazy. I dunno about that, fam.

 

[BlackDiBiase]

I do my thing like the whole planet depends on me
I got game to make Janet want to spend on me

guru had bars for sure.

 

[I Really Mean It]

guru had bars for sure.

Miss that dude.

 

[Wallychamp]

Love em. Preme's production helps, but Guru is underrated for his lyricism. Definitely in my top 5.

Guru was underrated as a producer as well.

 

[I Really Mean It]

Guru was underrated as a producer as well.

Did he produce anything on the main Gangstarr albums?

 

[BlackDiBiase]

Miss that dude.

his a good dude i was with a friend when we met him. my friend designs illustrations on clothing and gave guru a t shirt and common sense was there and got some jeans. all with their images on it. guru love the drink though other wise he would have done even more.

that was the bar from the track. (right where you stand ft. jadakiss) and guru didnt get dominated, he held solid.

 

[I Really Mean It]

his a good dude i was with a friend when we met him. my friend designs illustrations on clothing and gave guru a t shirt and common sense was there and got some jeans. all with their images on it. guru love the drink though other wise he would have done even more.

that was the bar from the track. (right where you stand ft. jadakiss) and guru didnt get dominated, he held solid.

Right where you stand is ill, but Jada did get him on that.

 

[BlackDiBiase]

Right where you stand is ill, but Jada did get him on that.

cause he p*ssy, he ain't gonna do nothin but look
When it come to beef, he don't want to do nothing but cook

i've just always felt guru's bars especially third verse but you never hear a bad jada verse most wouldnt even want to step on the track.

I see you got the fear of God in you
We'll tear your heart in two
Too bad you didn't know what you got into
Yeah, the most righteous, to Malcolm got a close likeness
My name carry weight, decapitate most vipers
Hot rhyme-spitter, dime-hitter, case-beater
Flow is angry like I'm in your face with heaters
Chasin' beavers? Nah, I don't ever have to do that
P.I. till I die, and then I laugh at you cats
You happy perhaps ‘cause you got dough and bytches
But no love in the streets, only from 'mos and snitches
Only from the meat-lappin', suckers won't see it happen
Cross that line, then it's time for the heat-clappin'
I do my thing like the whole planet depends on me
I got game to make Janet wanna spend on me
Some say I'm triflin', and sometimes I rightfully am
Get your man: I'll lay him right where he stand

 

[I Really Mean It]

i've just always felt guru's bars especially third verse but you never hear a bad jada verse most wouldnt even want to step on the track.

Fat Joe killed it on Who Got Gunz, too. That whole album was underrated.

 

[BlackDiBiase]

Fat Joe killed it on Who Got Gunz, too. That whole album was underrated.

fat joe when he wants can go in. i remember the big L track. fat joe got big L. (got a bunch of those like dre getting pac on california love)



dont mean to deter your thread, but on a good day. i dont even have jayz in my top 20 MC's i like to rock with regularly.

guru and them got a catalogue of ill shyt too.