Gang Starr - One of the best yet (2LP)

Format: 2 x LP
Catalogue No.: GSE001LP
Barcode: 0192641066726
Release Date: 21 Apr 23 [back in]
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B

Gang Starr is undoubtedly one of the most revered, beloved and influential groups in Hip Hop. Over the course of their distinguished career, they became a cultural institution and a brand you could ultimately trust. With a handful of indelible classic albums on their resume, DJ Premier and Guru’s catalogue has not only persevered but mastered the test of time. Simply, Gang Starr did not follow trends, they created them.

Album includes guest spots from:
M.O.P / Q-Tip / Royce da 5’9” / Jeru The Damaja / J. Cole
Ne-Yo / Nitty Scott / Talib Kweli / Big Shug / Freddie Foxxx

Though they never “officially” disbanded after the release of their last project (The Ownerz 2003), Premier and Guru still remained infinitely connected to each other even as they embarked on solo paths.

Premier won three Grammy’s along the way and assisted in turning fast rising artists such as Nas, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G. and many others into rap royalty; and his imprint included work from artists such as Drake, Christina Aguilera, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Mac Miller, The Game, Ludacris, Maroon 5, Common, Mos Def, Rakim, KRS-One, Janet Jackson, D’Angelo, DJ Khaled, Joey Bada$$, Royce 5’9, Twenty One Pilots, and Miley Cyrus; all of which spoke to his diversity and ability to traverse genres.

In turn, Guru would go on to release his own quartet of highly influential Jazzmatazz projects.

All the while, fans always clamoured for another Gang Starr album. Though there were whispers and murmurs over the years, nothing ever panned out and the possibilities of that project being willed into existence seemingly grew more remote as the years passed by. After Guru tragically passed away in 2010 the hope seemed to vanish altogether. The one person who refused to give up hope was DJ Premier.

‘One Of The Best Yet’ is many things. Yes, it’s the first new Gang Starr album in sixteen-years and it is a historic event to be celebrated and rejoiced, but it symbolizes much more than that. ‘One Of The Best Yet’ further cements Gang Starr’s legacy. This literal gift of an album not only harkens you back to Gang Starr’s seminal work of the past, but it re-establishes their impact in a modern-day perspective.

To officially announce their reformation, Gang Starr released the album’s first single and video for “Family and Loyalty,” featuring J. Cole. The adulation and reaction was immediate, palpable and overwhelming! Funkmaster Flex dedicated an entire hour long-tribute set to Gang Starr before debuting the single and a Gang Starr Billboard lit up Times Square as “Family and Loyalty” rocketed up charts and playlists generating millions of streams; Gang Starr and “Family and Loyalty” also became trending topics on social media.

J. Cole added further urgency by announcing that his guest appearance on the single he labelled “an honor to be a part of” and “a classic” was to be his last guest feature.

Tracklist
Side 1
1. "The Sure Shot" (intro) (1:25)
2. "Lights Out" (feat MOP) (3:36)
3. "Bad Name" (2:22)
4. "Hit Man" (feat Q-Tip) (2:25)
Side 2
1. "What’s Real" (feat Group Home & Royce 5'9") (3:26)
2. "Keith Casim Elam" (interlude) (0:18)
3. "From A Distance" (feat Jeru The Damaja) (2:29)
4. "Family & Loyalty" (feat J Cole) (4:37)
Side 3
1. "Get Together" (feat Ne-Yo & Nitty Scott) (3:25)
2. "NYGz/GS 183RD" (interlude) (1:10)
3. "So Many Rappers" (2:11)
4. "Business Or Art" (feat Talib Kweli) (3:02)
Side 4
1. "Bring It Back Here" (0:52)
2. "One Of The Best Yet" (Big Shug interlude) (0:28)
3. "Take Flight" (feat Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx - Militia part 4) (2:56)
4. "Bless The Mic" (2:37)

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