Gang Starr

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GANG STARR

Formed: 1988, Brooklyn, New York

Members: Keith "Guru" Elam, vocals (born Roxbury, Massachusetts, 18 July 1966); Christopher "DJ Premier" Martin, disc jockey, production (born Brooklyn, New York, 3 May 1969).

Genre: Hip-Hop

Best-selling album since 1990: Moment of Truth (1998)

Hit songs since 1990: "Take It Personal," "Ex Girl to the Next Girl," "You Know My Steez"

With Guru's self-proclaimed "monotone style" of rapping and DJ Premier's inventive, genre-blending production, Gang Starr emerged as one of hip-hop's most unique and respected groups. Originally noted for incorporating jazz into their sound, they quickly branched out to demonstrate mastery of a wide range of styles. Balancing intelligence and spirituality with a hard street edge, they bridged the gap between "old school," turntable-based DJing, and "new school," studio-concocted production. Though major commercial success eluded them, their legend grew throughout the 1990s.

After graduating from Atlanta's Morehouse College in the mid-1980s, Boston native Keith Elam relocated to New York City. He took the name Guru and began releasing singles as Gang Starr on the independent label Wild Pitch Records. He had no full-time musical partner until he happened upon a demo tape of a Texas-based group called ICP that was produced by Waxmaster C, Christopher Martin. Guru was impressed by his work and eventually convinced Martin to join him.

Martin changed his name to DJ Premier and sought to be the top DJ and producer in hip-hop. At the time, fellow DJs had been sampling abundantly from 1970s funk, especially James Brown, to construct their tracks. Premier wanted to explore new territory, so he began integrating jazz recordings into their music. Though their independent label debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989) went widely unnoticed, it contained an homage called "Jazz Music" that caught the attention of filmmaker Spike Lee. Lee asked Gang Starr to update the tribute for his film Mo' Better Blues (1990) and "Jazz Thing" landed on the soundtrack. The exposure led to a major label deal with Chrysalis, who planned on marketing them as "jazz rap," like budding contemporaries De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.

Uneasy with being pigeonholed, Premier was determined to show the range of Gang Starr's musical palette on Step in the Arena (1990). Though horn and piano snippets were prevalent, the musical vocabulary expanded to include both taught rhythmic and spare melodic guitars, orchestrated strings and swirling cosmic sounds. The most divergent endeavor from previous work was the dark, street-tough "Just to Get a Rep." Over a mysterious backdrop, Guru illustrates the motivation behind gang violence and details a chilling narrative ending in murder.

Such commentary on the urban and black situation in America became a widespread part of Guru's agenda. He sought to educate and empower by disseminating knowledge and promoting spiritual wholeness. For balance, he left time for traditional hip-hop topics, too, boasting about his vocal skill and prowess with women. Regardless of the subject, his delivery is always silky smooth, effortless, and undeniably distinguishable from all other rappers. Though his stage name stands for the acronym Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal, the maturity in his voice and wisdom in his lyrics position him as a highly respected teacher, a guru, as his acronym suggests.

Step in the Arena and Daily Operation (1992) were heralded by critics and became underground classics. Despite the praise, the camp was divided. Premier still felt there was too much focus on the jazz elements in the group's sound, so Guru launched a solo career to maintain a jazz outlet, releasing Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 in 1993.

The following year, Gang Starr returned with their angriest and darkest album, Hard to Earn. They remained adamantly noncommercial as stated in their single "Mass Appeal" and maintained the group's lyrical ideology. However, they employed several guest rappers and more of a gangster tone, two trends of the time. Though a solid effort, they seemed confused about their place in the current hip-hop market. The indecision led to a hiatus. Guru released Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality in 1995, and Premier went on to produce tracks for several of hip- hop's top names including KRS-One, the Notorious B.I.G., Nas, and Jay-Z.

By the late 1990s Gang Starr's music became essential listening to hip-hop aficionados. When they returned with Moment of Truth (1998), their legacy propelled their fifth studio release to become their first gold album. A year later, Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr (1999) served as a career retrospective. Fans looking for an abbreviated introduction to the group pushed the album to gold sales, as well. After more side projects, Guru and Premier returned again with The Ownerz in 2003.

Gang Starr's modernization of hip-hop's original sound—two turntables and a microphone—and preservation of its original mission—positive promotion of change—give their music a timeless quality. Throughout their careers both in and out of the group, Guru and DJ Premier established themselves as inimitable and consummate professionals.

SELECTIVE DISCOGRAPHY:

Step in the Arena (Chrysalis, 1990); Daily Operation (Chrysalis, 1992); Hard to Earn (Chrysalis, 1994); Moment of Truth (Noo Trybe/Virgin, 1998).