Mass Appeal: The Best of Gang Starr [PA]

Performer: Gang Starr
Artist: K-Ci & JoJo; Nice & Smooth
Producer: DJ Premier; Guru Keithy E; Frank Collura; Frank Collura (Compilation)
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Liner Note Author: Soren Baker. Photographer: Daniel Hastings. Undoubtedly one of the most respected, influential, and consistently tight DJ/MC combos in the history of hip-hop, Guru and Premier have evolved from an afro-centric, break-heavy duo in the vein of Eric B & Rakim to legendarily versatile veterans with almost 20 years in the game. The untouchable one-two punch of DJ Premier's street-level beats and Guru's signature smoothed-out voice leaves an army of producers and lyricists in their shadows. Though just a small sampling of the group's output, the 16 classics that make up the greatest-hits compilation, MASS APPEAL, prove that Gang Starr's body of work--which never once pandered to commercialism at the expense of artistic vision--has irrevocably raised the bar of East Coast hip-hop to a level that most newer acts can only dream of reaching.

Striking the perfect balance between street cred and sophisticated musicality, Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr emerged as hip-hop pioneers in the late 1980s with their sophisticated, jazz-influenced (but still funk-based) sound. They are the rare rap troupe who command respect from every corner of the rap spectrum, as evidenced by their track record of collaborations, including everyone from jazzman Branford Marsalis to Brooklyn gangster rap-dudes M.O.P. DAILY OPERATION and HARD TO EARN remain among the classic albums of the genre. Guru would go on to release a groundbreaking series of jazz-rap collaborations entitled JAZZMATAZZ.

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