Fourteen years into their career, hip-hop veterans Gang Starr are back to give the young generation of fame and money-obsessed rap artists a stern talking-to.
From the opening Put Up Or Shut Up, lyricist Guru is on the attack about rappers selling out hip-hop's original ethos, and he drafts in guests including Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe and MOP for added firepower as the album unfolds. But whatever Guru's abilities as an angry, intelligent, uncompromising rapper, it is musical mastermind DJ Premier who is the secret of Gang Starr's success and longevity, drawing on jazz and soul samples to craft a cinematic urban soundtrack around his big, rolling beats and deft turntable scratching. From the call-to-revolution of Riot Akt to the angry ghetto tales of Who Got Gunz, Gang Starr are proudly not in the business of watering down their stance for the benefit of a mainstream audience. Which is laudable, but does make this a record for the serious rap aficionado rather than the casually-interested listener.
Updated: 12:12 Thursday, July 24, 2003
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