Gang Starr
Gang Starr is a boom-bap and jazz rap group from Brooklyn, New York.
The duo of Guru and DJ Premier, whose jazzy, hard-hitting boom-bap became the blueprint for New York hip-hop.
Who are Gang Starr?
Gang Starr is a duo of rapper Guru (Keith Elam) and producer DJ Premier (Christopher Martin). Guru founded the group in Boston and moved to Brooklyn, where Premier joined him in the late '80s. Guru died in 2010.
Known for
A row of classic albums, from Step in the Arena (1991) and Daily Operation (1992) to Hard to Earn (1994) and Moment of Truth (1998). "Jazz Thing", made for Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues (1990), made them pioneers of jazz rap. Their Gang Starr Foundation launched artists like Jeru The Damaja, and in 2019 they released a final album, One of the Best Yet.
Style
DJ Premier's beats are the definition of boom-bap: chopped jazz and soul samples, heavy drums and hooks built from scratched vocal snippets. Guru raps over them with a calm, monotone and wise voice, which he called "the mostly tone".
Impact
Gang Starr is one of the most respected groups in hip-hop. DJ Premier became one of the most influential producers ever, working with Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and many more, and Guru's Jazzmatazz series (from 1993) helped bring jazz and hip-hop together.
Gang Starr: quick answers
What genre is Gang Starr?
Gang Starr’s music falls under Boom-Bap and Jazz Rap. Gang Starr is part of East Coast hip-hop, with the most important work in the 1990s.
Where do Gang Starr come from?
Gang Starr comes from Brooklyn, New York (founded in Boston).
When did Gang Starr start?
Gang Starr has been active since 1986.
Which artists are similar to Gang Starr?
Artists in the same genre as Gang Starr: Pete Rock, J Dilla, The Alchemist, A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes.
