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'Gang Starr' is an influential hip hop group that consists of Guru and DJ Premier from Brooklyn, New York.

Contents

Background

Gang Starr Foundation

Current status

Discography

External links

Background

The group was founded in 1987 by Guru (then known as Keithy E. The Guru), DJ 1,2 B Down, Mike Dee and various producers, such as Donald D, J.V. Johnson or DJ Mark the 45 King helping out. In 1987 and 1988, Gang Starr released three 12" vinyl singles on the legendary Wild Pitch label.
In 1989, the group split and the only member willing to continue under the name Gang Starr was Guru. He soon got in touch with DJ Premier (then known as Waxmaster C) who sent him a beat tape which Guru apparently liked. He invited DJ Premier to join the newly founded group and in the same year they released their first single "Words I Manifest". With that line up, Gang Starr went on working together for six albums, a 2CD "greatest hits" compilation and numerous singles and soundtrack contributions. Another compilation was released after the group's departure from Virgin.
During their career Gang Starr helped pioneer the New York City hip hop sound. The entirety of Gang Starr's catalog, especially ''Step in the Arena'' (1991), ''Daily Operation'' (1992) and ''Moment of Truth'' (1998) are well-respected among critics and hip hop heads alike. Their track "Jazz Thing", featured on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's film ''Mo' Better Blues'', helped establish the sound of jazz rap.
The video for "Dwyck" can be found here:
http://stage6.divx.com/When-Mtv-was-cool/video/1602160/Gangstars---Dwyck---Old-School-Rap

Gang Starr Foundation

Both members of Gang Starr have deep roots in the New York hip hop scene, despite hailing from Boston, Massachusetts (Guru) and Houston, Texas (DJ Premier), and have each worked with countless artists.
The Gang Starr Foundation was a loose collective comprised of various members that have worked closely with the group, through either Guru's now defunct Ill Kid label, DJ Premier's production work or the management company that Gang Starr was represented by, Empire Management.

Current status

The group's current status is unknown. It is unconfirmed whether it still exists or if it has broken up. Instead of issuing a proper press release, both members have made often contrary statements on their own in various print, radio, TV and online magazine interviews.
On September 1, 2005, Guru has revealed in an interview [1] with the hip hop online magazine sohh.com that the group doesn't exist anymore, but that it has ended instead of breaking up. This has finally cleared up the rumors that came up first on the European Gang Starr tour in 2003/2004 when DJ Premier suddenly went back to the US and Guru continued touring under the group's name with another DJ. However, in an December 21, 2005 interview [2] with the online magazine allhiphop.com, DJ Premier has denied that Gang Starr is history; he said it's rather a long break than a real break up. In a more recent interview [3] from April 20, 2006, with the online magazine hoodstars.net, Guru has stated he would not work with his previous partners anymore. In a newer interview [4] he stated that Gang Starr has reached the peak and that he is out of the project.
To add even more to the confusion, DJ Premier said in a November 21st, 2006 interview [5] with the XXL Online Magazine "If I confirm it, then it’s official. If I don’t confirm it, then we still together."

Discography

:''For a full Gang Starr discography, see external links.''

★ ''No More Mr. Nice Guy''

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★ Released: 1989

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★ Billboard 200 chart position: -

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★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: 83

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★ Singles: "Words I Manifest"/"DJ Premier In Deep Concentration"/"Here's The Proof", "Positivity"/"No More Mr. Nice Guy (Remix)"

★ ''Step in the Arena''

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★ Released: January 15 1991

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★ Billboard 200 chart position: 121

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★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: 19

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★ Singles: "Just To Get A Rep"/"Who's Gonna Take The Weight?", "Love Sick"/"What You Want This Time?"/"Credit Is Due", "Step In The Arena"/"Check The Technique (Remix)"/"Credit Is Due"

★ ''Daily Operation''

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★ Released: May 5 1992

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★ Billboard 200 chart position: 65

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★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: 14

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★ Singles: "2 Deep"/"Take It Personal"/"DWYCK", "Ex Girl to Next Girl"/"B.Y.S."/"Soliloquy of Chaos"

★ ''Hard to Earn''

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★ Released: March 8 1994

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★ Billboard 200 chart position: 25

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★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: 2

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★ Singles: "Code of the Streets"/"Speak Ya Clout", "Dwyck", "Mass Appeal", "Suckas Need Bodyguards"/"The ? Remainz"/"Now You're Mine"

★ ''Moment of Truth''

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★ Released: March 31 1998

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★ Certification: Gold

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★ Billboard 200 chart position: 6

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★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: 1

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★ Singles: "Royalty", "You Know My Steez"/"So Wassup?", "The Militia"/"You Know My Steez (Three Men And A Lady Remix)"

★ ''

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★ Released: July 13 1999

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★ Certification: Gold

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★ Billboard 200 chart position: 33

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★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: 11

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★ Singles: "1/2 & 1/2"/"Gangsta Bounce", "Full Clip"/"Dwyck", "All 4 Tha Ca$h"/"The ? Remainz", "Discipline"/"Just To Get A Rep"

★ ''The Ownerz''

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★ Released: June 24 2003

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★ Billboard 200 chart position: 18

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★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: 5

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★ UK chart position: 74

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★ Singles: "Skills"/"Natural", "Nice Girl, Wrong Place"/"Rite Where U Stand", "The Ownerz"/"Same Team, No Games"

★ '''

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★ Released: December 26, 2006

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★ Billboard 200 chart position:

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★ R&B/Hip-Hop chart position:

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★ Singles:

External links

★ Year Round Records DJ Premier's label site

★ Guru - Who he's worked with + discography

★ DJ Premier - Who he's worked with + discography