Tag Archives: gang starr

Gang Starr Celebrates ‘One Of The Best’ Yet Anniversary with New Single “FINISHEM”

November 1, 2024 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

To mark the fifth anniversary of One Of The Best Yet, legendary hip-hop duo Gang Starr returns with a fresh single, “FINISHEM,” available now across all streaming platforms. Known for their lasting impact on hip-hop, DJ Premier and Guru continue to inspire fans globally, blending old-school authenticity with timeless style.

Released on November 1, 2019, Gang Starr’s first album in sixteen years was One Of The Best Yet. It received widespread acclaim and lit up billboards from Times Square to London. The project made waves on social media, spiking to the #2 spot in the U.S. album charts.

“As One Of The Best Yet was approaching the five-year anniversary mark, that milestone moved me to create a new track to match the occasion. The album is special on so many different levels; what it meant to me, Guru’s family, and the fans, it warranted something new to honor the occasion” DJ Premier affirmed. “I started going through files, looking for something that stood out and fit; and as soon as I heard Guru’s hook “now I’m about to finishem, my rep alone could diminish’em” I knew that was it and went to work crafting a beat for it. I had some unused Antman Wonder files that I decided to check out, and one of the sounds hit me emotionally from the very first note. I knew this was the one to shape the song. The fans always appreciate more Gang Starr—and this one is for them.”

“FINISHEM” keeps Gang Starr’s legacy alive, delivering classic, head-nodding beats and lyrics that remind fans of their enduring influence in hip-hop. The anniversary track promises to be a tribute to their powerful comeback and continued inspiration across generations.

The post Gang Starr Celebrates ‘One Of The Best’ Yet Anniversary with New Single “FINISHEM” appeared first on .

Click Here to Discuss in the Forums

Spread the love

Hip Hop, Hip Hop News, Hip-Hop, News

Gang Starr Announces Instrumental Release Of Historic Album ‘One Of The Best Yet’

December 11, 2020 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

Last fall, after a sixteen-year hiatus in-between projects, DJ Premier set the music industry ablaze by announcing a new and historic Gang Starr album One Of The Best Yet. While his brother Guru had passed away ten-years prior, against all odds, Preem willed the album into existence and embarked on an emotional journey that had been years in the making. “I never lost faith or wavered. I still felt it inside of me” Premier commented. “We all want the things we want right now, but I’m a patient guy. I hung in there and just kept believing.”

Meticulously crafted by DJ Premier, One Of The Best Yet immediately resonated with critics and fans alike. There was no escaping its monumental impact culturally and on the charts.

While One Of The Best Yet further cemented Gang Starr’s legacy and harkened you back to their seminal work of the past, just as importantly, it re-established their influence in a modern-day perspective; which their feature in the New York Times poignantly affirmed.

Now, nearly a year after the release of One Of The Best Yet, DJ Premier announces its release in instrumental form, and he does so with a brand new Gang Starr single “Glowing Mic.”

One of Guru’s main defining characteristics was his larger than life persona, energy and undeniable aura. DJ Premier has always possessed an innate ability to accentuate the words Guru manifests and he again displays those qualities with “Glowing Mic.” “There are two versions of a song called “Mr. Gang Starr,” one version was released right after Guru passed away. The version I had stored away has totally different and unreleased lyrics” DJ Premier revealed to Rolling Stone. “As I was constructing the track, I found a scratch from Torae “I Destroy The Mic For My Glow” and it was an instant decision on what to name the track (“Glowing Mic”).”

Forever a purist, DJ Premier is the embodiment of a DJ and the culture, which is why it was essential for him to release One Of The Best Yet in instrumental form. “The DJ market, especially for instrumentals has never waned. I have always stayed in tune with my consumers because I am one of them” Preem commented. “I like to release what I would buy and it seems like I am not alone.”

Now that he has had time to process the voyage that was One Of The Best Yet, DJ Premier reaffirms that the response to the album resonates just as much for him today, as it did the day it was released. “I feel totally satisfied knowing I made so many people happy; including Guru’s family, his fans and peers who love him and Gang Starr.”

Stream Gang Starr’s new single “Glowing Mic”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F93iOLJJNAE

Purchase and stream Gang Starr’s new single “Glowing Mic” & One Of The Best Yet Instrumental Album at your preferred DSP: https://ffm.to/ootbyinstrumental

Purchase and stream Gang Starr’s One Of The Best Yet at your preferred DSP: https://ingrooves.ffm.to/oneofthebestyet (explicit version)

https://ingrooves.ffm.to/oneofthebestyetclean (clean version)

Follow Gang Starr:

https://twitter.com/gangstarr

https://www.instagram.com/gangstarr/

https://www.facebook.com/GangStarrOfficial/

Follow DJ Premier:

https://twitter.com/REALDJPREMIER

https://www.instagram.com/djpremier/

https://www.facebook.com/DJPremierOfficial

http://premierwuzhere.com/

The post Gang Starr Announces Instrumental Release Of Historic Album ‘One Of The Best Yet’ first appeared on UndergroundHipHopBlog.

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

Spread the love

Hip Hop, Hip Hop News, Hip Hop News | Trending Hip Hop Stories, News

Today in Hip-Hop History: Gang Starr’s Final Album ‘The Ownerz’ Turns 20 Years Old!

June 24, 2020 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

On this day in Hip-Hop history, prolific rap duo Gang Starr released their sixth and final studio album The Ownerz. Coming off of a five-year hiatus, the success of this project served as the perfect farewell to one of Hip Hop’s most acclaimed tandems.

Usually, an artist’s final album is a painful opus of a career that once was, never to be as successful as the work that came prior. For Gang Starr and The Ownerz, this was not the case. Although the rap game had changed considerably since the groups 1989 debut, this project came hard as ever, critiquing and ridiculing artists and radio DJs of the era, stating their claim as “owners” of the culture. Guru, who had never been considered the best rapper on the East Coast, made sure his presence was felt through his delivery on this particular LP. His newly tightened flow coupled with his vivid imagery and storytelling come together to create an angry, intellectual sound missing in the early 2000s. DJ Premier also showed that he had a few tricks left up his sleeve with the production of this album. It became obvious that although he had been actively producing for many artists, he had saved his best work for this grand finale of an album.

Commercially, this album was quite successful. The LP made chart appearances in the Netherlands, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US where it peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200 chart.

This was Guru and Premier’s last album together as Gang Starr, with Guru moving on with Solar and 7 Grand Records, while Premier continued to expand his production legacy. Guru succumbed to his battle with cancer in 2010, but Gang Starr’s “Chain and the Star” will live on forever!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Gang Starr’s Final Album ‘The Ownerz’ Turns 20 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Click Here to Discuss in the Forums

Spread the love

Hip Hop, Hip Hop News, Hip Hop News | Trending Hip Hop Stories, News

Today In Hip Hop History: GangStarr Drops Their Debut LP’No More Mr. Nice Guy’ 31 Years Ago

April 22, 2020 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

31 years ago today, Boston native Keith Elam and Houston native Christopher Martin, better known as Guru and DJ Premier, came together to continue the legacy of Gangstarr and released the group’s first full studio album entitled No More Mr. Nice Guy.

Released by overseas label Chrysalis Records, Gangstarr and their debut release ironically had a heavy influence on the NYC Hip Hop sound, even though neither artists were native New Yorkers. Tracks such as “Positivity”, “Conscious Be Free” and the album’s lead single, “Manifest”, exposed Guru’s unparalleled slow flow, while instrumentals like “DJ Premier In Deep Concentration” just set the pace for who Hip Hop would later recognize as one of the greatest producers in the game.

Supreme salute goes out to DJ Premier, Guru(RIP), the Elam family, the Gangstarr Foundation and the entire East New York for creating a pivotal moment in Hip Hop history.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: GangStarr Drops Their Debut LP’No More Mr. Nice Guy’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Click Here to Discuss in the Forums

Spread the love

Hip Hop, Hip Hop News, Hip Hop News | Trending Hip Hop Stories, News

Today In Hip Hop History: The Source Magazine Remembers Gangstarr’s Guru A Decade Later

April 19, 2020 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

On July 17, 1961 Keith Edward Elam was born into this world in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Sadly, 10 years ago today the late, great MC Guru lost his battle with melanoma, a form of cancer. April 19, 2010 was a tragic day for Hip Hop heads worldwide. We lost a true emcee and all around great human being.

Guru started his career off in 1987. He relocated to the Hip Hop mecca New York City, where he founded Gang Starr. In 1989 with three records and no real blip on Hip Hop’s radar Guru switched up producers and began working with DJ Premier. After that it was a wrap. The duo released it’s first LP “No More Mr. Nice Guy” with Wild Pitch records and six more critically acclaimed albums followed.

Premier and Guru made for a perfect combination. Guru’s uniquely monotone delivery and storytelling ability, combined with Premier’s jazzy, soulful production inspired some of the dopest verses in Hip Hop history. The Source ranked Guru as the #30 Best Emcee of Our Time.

Guru’s recording career was one of the most fruitful amongst his peers; with six classic albums released by the duo Gang Starr, all of which were praised by critics and beloved by the streets Guru also released 10 albums without Premier. 16 projects from any artist is impressive, and as an emcee it’s almost unheard of.

Guru and Premier will go down as one of the most prolific duos in Hip Hop history. They have paved the way for the likes of Atmosphere from Minnesota made up of DJ/Producer Ant and emcee Slug. Today on the fifth year of his passing let us celebrate Guru’s contribution to the beautiful art of Hip Hop. Enjoy the video for “Moment Of Truth”, a classic by Gang Starr.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: The Source Magazine Remembers Gangstarr’s Guru A Decade Later appeared first on The Source.

Click Here to Discuss in the Forums

Spread the love

Hip Hop, Hip Hop News, Hip Hop News | Trending Hip Hop Stories, News

Today In Hip Hop History: The Source Magazine Remembers Gangstarr’s Guru A Decade Later

April 19, 2020 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

The post Today In Hip Hop History: The Source Magazine Remembers Gangstarr’s Guru A Decade Later appeared first on The Source.

Click Here to Discuss in the Forums

Spread the love

Hip Hop, Hip Hop News, Hip-Hop, News

Nas + DJ Khaled Share Rare Pics To Celebrate DJ Premier’s Birthday: “Keep Doin’ What’s Never Been Done!”

March 22, 2020 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

New York rapper Nas and DJ Khaled are out here putting respect on DJ Premier’s name. The hip-hop pair have acknowledged the birthday of veteran hitmaker DJ Premier.

Big Facts

This weekend, Nas and Khaled hit up their social media pages to salute Preemo. Both Nasty Nas and DJ released rare pics of the rap pioneer.

“DJ Premier, happy birthday bro. Keep doing what never’s been done! Gang Starr.” -Nas

View this post on Instagram

@djpremier Happy Birthday Bro keep doin what’s never been done! #gangstarr

A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas) on Mar 21, 2020 at 4:20pm PDT

“Two scientists sharing a very blessed birthday. Large Professor x DJ Premier.” -Nas

View this post on Instagram

Two scientists sharing a very blessed birthday. @xplargepro x @djpremier

A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas) on Mar 21, 2020 at 4:22pm PDT

“Happy birthday my friend. The legendary DJ Premier.” -DJ Khaled

View this post on Instagram

Happy b day my friend the legendary @djpremier

A post shared by DJ KHALED (@djkhaled) on Mar 21, 2020 at 7:24pm PDT

High-Key Details

Over the weekend, Premier also acknowledged his special day. He made sure to shout-out fellow hitmaker Large Professor on his born day.

“Same Born Day Brothers… 48 (Extra P) 54 (Preemo)… Aries season!”

View this post on Instagram

Same Born Day Brothers… 48 (Extra P)…@xplargepro 54 (Preemo)… ARIES SEASON!

A post shared by @ djpremier on Mar 21, 2020 at 12:13pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

4 My Born Day I Might Throw A Jam ON IG LIVE For A Bit… STAY TUNED… #ARIESSEASON

A post shared by @ djpremier on Mar 21, 2020 at 3:45pm PDT

Wait, There’s More

In October 2019, Premier came through for all Gang Starr fans. The legendary producer blessed fans with a “Family and Loyalty” music video premiere.

Before You Go

In September 2019, Premo revealed plans to drop new music. He announced a Gang Starr and J. Cole record would premiere to the masses.

DROPPIN' AT MIDNIGHT…@gangstarr pic.twitter.com/N6G5zGM9Y4

— DJ Premier (@REALDJPREMIER) September 19, 2019

The post Nas + DJ Khaled Share Rare Pics To Celebrate DJ Premier’s Birthday: “Keep Doin’ What’s Never Been Done!” appeared first on .

Click Here to Discuss in the Forums

Spread the love

Hip Hop, Hip Hop News, Hip Hop News | Trending Hip Hop Stories, News

Happy 54th Birthday To Super Producer DJ Premier!

March 21, 2020 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

On this day in Hip Hop history, super producer and generational sound shaper DJ Premier was born in 1966. As a producer, DJ Premier has worked with Big L, Big Daddy Kane, Bun B, Common, D’Angelo, Dr. Dre, The Game, Joey Bada$$, KRS-One, Ludacris, Mos Def, Nas, Snoop Dogg, The Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Immortal Technique and Busta Rhymes. As a founding member of Gang Starr, Premier along with emcee Guru helped get the New York boom bap movement get national acclaim and rise to be the standard of Hip Hop throughout the 90s.

Known for his smooth soul samples and steady drums, DJ Premier either worked with or influenced a majority of the more prominent and most respected names in Hip Hop. As Gang Starr, DJ Premier and Guru put out six studio albums; No More Mr. Nice Guy, Step in Arena, Daily Operation, Hard to Earn, Moment of Truth, and The Ownerz. Although the group never got any official critical acclaim or win any music awards, their influence can be heard almost anywhere Hip Hop is found.

DJ Premier is responsible for some of the most critically acclaimed tracks throughout Hip Hop history. In honor of his born day, below are some of his most popular songs that helped to define his career as a beat maker.

Gang Starr – Mass Appeal

Notorious B.I.G. – Kick in the Door

Nas – Nas Is Like

Big L – Platinum Plus

KRS- One – MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know

From everyone at The Source Magazine, Happy Born Day DJ Premier. Thank you for all that you’ve done for this culture that we all love.

The post Happy 54th Birthday To Super Producer DJ Premier! appeared first on The Source.

Click Here to Discuss in the Forums

Spread the love

Hip Hop, Hip Hop News, Hip-Hop, News

DJ Premier Accused Of Jacking Guru Song For New Gang Starr Album: “He’s Trying To Make Money Off A Song He Knows Was Stolen”

November 20, 2019 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

Loyalty DJ Premier Video 11-20-19

Rap pioneer DJ Premier has some explaining to do. East Coast hip-hop artist Fong Sai U has accused the iconic producer of using one of his songs for an unauthorized Gang Starr song off the newly released One of the Best Yet album.

According to the hip-hop veteran, Premo illegally purchased Fong’s “What’s Real” 2015 song from an outside source, kept the title and hook for this year’s Gang Starr project.

“[Guru collaborator] Solar sold DJ Premier my song with Guru – ‘What’s Real’ – a song that I previously put out in 2015 on my Ballads of a Massacre album and own the rights for. Between 2000 and 2001 me and Guru worked a lot. I produced “OG Talk” on 2001’s Baldhead Slick & da Click album under my other alias Divine. The only other person that was around was Phat Gary, Guru’s road manager at the time. That f*ck boy Solar wasn’t in the picture until 2005 after alerting DJ Premier of the situation. He made a BS offer instead of owning up to his mistake. He let devil Solar pull a fast one on him again. The sad part about all this is Solar is still out here causing confusion.” (SOHH)

Fong Sai also shared deep words to the memory of his late collaborator and said Premo has to ultimately rectify the situation.

“I wish Guru could just rest but what’s right is right and wrong is wrong and DJ Premier is trying to make money off a song he know was stolen and to keep promoting the album like he has no idea he stole a song and changed the beat. That hook is my concept. The majority of what Guru is spitting, mine. This is Guru before he became sober and a lot of times it was hard for him to pen sh*t because of the alcohol but that’s my brother and the only one that gave my production a chance so in my eyes he can do no wrong. But Premier has to make it right. Period. That very was very sentimental to me because that’s a memory that can’t be replaced.” (

Compare Fong Sai U’s “What’s Real” (2015) and Gang Starr’s “What’s Real” (2019) below.

Dreamville leader J. Cole appears on Gang Starr’s new “Loyalty and Family” banger.

Gang Starr is most known for putting out memorable 90’s tunes.

On six albums released between 1989 and 2003, Gang Starr were the platonic ideal of rap music, the hip-hop version of rock groups like Aerosmith or ZZ Top. Other groups had bigger hits, more iconic songs, more critically adored albums and bolder presences, but Premo and Guru represented the absolute essence of a genre. Unwavering in their dedication, consistent in their output, virtuosic but never flashy, Gang Star were skilled technicians of all the things hip-hop purists stand for: “boom bap,” “real hip-hop,” “that old New York rap,” cuts, beats, rhymes, life. (Rolling Stone)

The post DJ Premier Accused Of Jacking Guru Song For New Gang Starr Album: “He’s Trying To Make Money Off A Song He Knows Was Stolen” appeared first on .

Click Here to Discuss in the Forums

Spread the love

Its Hip Hop

Tag Archives: gang starr

Gang Starr Announces Instrumental Release Of Historic Album ‘One Of The Best Yet’

Nas + DJ Khaled Share Rare Pics To Celebrate DJ Premier’s Birthday: “Keep Doin’ What’s Never Been Done!”

Big Facts

High-Key Details

Wait, There’s More

Before You Go

DJ Premier Accused Of Jacking Guru Song For New Gang Starr Album: “He’s Trying To Make Money Off A Song He Knows Was Stolen”

Your Top Spot For Everything Hip Hop