In the past, he had displayed a passion and diversity of subject matter, but he didn’t always sound as natural as he does here. Guru’s flow drastically improved in the four years between Gang Starr albums, and this is the most obvious difference. Sort of like the master builder when I make my way home” The rejected stone is now the cornerstone Searching for false lift, I’m here with the skills you’ve missed The wilderness is filled with this, so many people I come with mad love and plus the illest warlike tactics Severe facts have brought this rap game to near collapseĭropping lyrics that be hotter than sex and candlewaxĪnd one-dimensional MC’s can’t handle that Subtracting all the rappers who lack, over Premier’s tracks Sportin’ caps pulled low, and baggy slacks Words that split wigs hittin’ like some double Desert Eagles “The horror be when I return for my real people Primo’s initially awkward beat for “You Know My Steez” thumps with a crooked combination of bass and treble, but Guru actually snatches the shine from his counterpart: Premier is a constant, so the elevation of Guru’s rhymes adds an extra layer to the already lush listening experience. Guru has never broken ground, but much of the success behind “Moment of Truth” can be given to him. A painful four year layover awaited the fanbase, but Guru and Premier made it worth everyone’s patience with the wonderful “Moment of Truth.” 1994’s “Hard to Earn” was a bit too experimental for some people, but Gang Starr stayed near the top of the game.

He could craft thumping beats like “DWYCK” and “Outta Here” just as easily as the more complex, sample-driven works that he usually relied on. From that moment on, throughout the nineties, Primo was the absolute best. 1992’s “Daily Operation,” their third record, is one of the best rap records ever made, a whirlwind of jazz samples that are almost mechanically separated from the drum tracks. Say what you want about Guru’s monotonous flow, but he is really quite nice on the mic, and he always sounds at home over Christopher Martin’s engineering.

The heart of his catalogue, though, rests within the confines of the duo Gang Starr, sharing duties with Keith Elam, aka Guru. After doing Back to the Lab reviews of Group Home and Jeru the Damaja, I am running out of superlatives to describe DJ Premier’s magnificent work in the nineties.

Gang starr moment of truth zip