Gang Starr's innovative synthesis of jazz samples, rap rhymes and hip hop production first caught the public's ear with "Jazz Thing," the masterful tribute to the achievements of jazz that accompanied the closing credits of Spike Lee's latest film, "Mo' Better Blues." With the release of Step In The Arena, their debut recording for Chrysalis/Cooltempo Records, Gang Starr -- rapper extraordinaire G.U.R.U. and his partner, scratch and beat expert DJ Premier -- leave no doubt that they are a distinctive and vital musical team. Their first single, "Just To Get a Rap" / "Who's Gonna Take The Weight," sets the tone for a climb to the top of hip hop with infectious beats and real-deal rhymes -- a refreshing blend of intelligence and fun. On the title track, "Step In The Arena," as well as cuts like "Check The Technique," "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" and "Take a Rest," DJ Premier and G.U.R.U. style themselves as Herculean gladiators of rhythm and rhyme who are committed to battling the sonic cliches and social irresponsibility of those performers who have given rap a bad rep. Just as prominent are the selections -- "Street Ministry," "Say Your Prayers," "As I Ready My Essay," "The Meaning of the Name" and "Form of Intellect" -- which speak directly to the dancer/listener about Gang Starr's positive philosophy over a variety of seductively mellow tempos and instrumental textures rarely heard in rap. On the other hand, it can't get much funkier than than the jeep drum boom bass of "Precisely the Right Rhymes" and the churning James Brown-derived track of their message of groupies, "What You Want This Time?" Before the success of "Jazz Thing," the Brooklyn-based team paid some serious dues on the New York scene. Unpleasant experiences with their first label inspired the pointed lyrics of "Execution of a Champ," while the problems of an entertainer maintaining a relationship prompted the deeply-felt "Lovesick." Cont'd...
So how did this dynamic duo come together? Believe it or not DJ Premier and Guru met over the phone. Premier was in search of a rap partner and Guru was looking for a new DJ. Their former label played the role of matchmaker by bringing the two together over the phone. Premier played Guru some beats and it was love at first hearing. Within two and a half weeks they had produced their first recording, No More Mr. Nice Guy. Although the album sold 100,000 units things went sour with their label and Gang Starr found themselves in a purgatory of sorts. Gang Starr's fortunes took a turn for the better when Spike Lee saw their video on MTV and then bought a copy of No More... One track in particular, "Jazz Music," gave Lee the idea that Gang Starr could contribute something valuable to the film. Lee put Gang Starr together with jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis who was handling the music for "Mo' Better Blues," and they collaborated to create "Jazz Thing." On the heels of that success came Gang Starr signing with Chrysalis. Cont'd...
The prospect of stardom has left Gang Starr unaffected. DJ Premier is a self-professed mystery man who remains reluctant to talk much about himself. What he does reveal, however, is instructive. A Brooklyn native, Premier has been a fanatic for music since he was a tot. He estimates that he has a record collection of several thousand ranging through jazz, classical, rock, r&b and gospel among other styles of music. He plays several instruments by ear including saxophone, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums. Premier's passion for music led to his running a record store in Houston, Texas while completing studies at Prairie View A&M University. The son of a Boston municipal court judge and a self-confessed rebel in a family of superachievers, Guru has exchanged his family name for an acronym that stands for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal. Guru started rhyming at parties while studying Business Administration at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Upon graduation the challenge of the New York rap scene left Guru no choice but to relocate. He now considers himself a true Brooklyn homeboy as well as a friend and kindred soul to Chuck D and KRS-One. While not a practicing Muslim, Guru is strongly influenced by the spirituality and principles of Islam. At the same time he is streetwise enough to have weathered a stint as a juvenile caseworker for a maximum detention home. All of these experiences and influences have helped to crystalize Guru's belief that hip hop must be more than just another musical commodity. It must be a progressive social movement in which artists are accountable for the impact of their music and lyrics. Clearly there is much more to DJ Premier and Guru than the boisterous braggadocio that has dominated rap music. They step in the area with gusto, not to be macho, but as a way of announcing that they are ready to shoulder their share of the weight. - Press Kit, 1991. My favorite group of all time, periodT....
