Gang Starr

Formed:: 1987, over 25 years ago.
Snapshot:: A Group with 18 releases, and credited once on others' music. 2 members.

Gang Starr were originally founded as a hip-hop group in 1987, but after a few unsuccessful single releases, most of the band left. The remaining MC, Guru, then hooked up with DJ Premier, and Gang Starr became the duo that went on to be so influential in the New York hip-hop scene.

Their second album, Step In The Arena (1991), wasn't a commercial success but it was critically acclaimed and is thought of as one of the best hip-hop albums from that period. Daily Operation (1992) did slightly better in the charts, and critics debated whether it might be better than Step In The Arena. Hard To Earn (1994) was also appreciated by the press.

After a long break, Gang Starr returned with their highest-charting album yet, Moment Of Truth (1998). It reached No.6 in the Billboard 200 and went on to sell over half-a-million copies, and was also well received by critics. Gang Starr released their sixth studio album in 2003, called The Ownerz.

Pictures

Getty Images

Photo of Gang Starr

Positive votes: 4 Negative votes: 0

PR Photos

Positive votes: 0 Negative votes: 1

back next

Music

To use the music player, install Flash.

Genres

Know Hip-Hop? Take the quiz

Hip-Hop, Soul, Jazz, Pop, Traditional R&B. Vote on Genres

The Ownerz 2003 (Play) Buy mp3

Moment of Truth 1998 (Play) Buy mp3

Hard to Earn 1994 (Play) Buy mp3

Daily Operation 1992 (Play) Buy mp3

Step in the Arena 1991 (Play) Buy mp3

No More Mr. Nice Guy 1989

View full timeline

DJ Premier

current & founder member

Guru

founder member

Gang Starr's Guru In A Coma

Mar, 2 2010

Gang Starr rapper Guru is in a coma after suffering a serious heart attack at the weekend. The Boston MC, real name Keith Elam, underwent surgery yesterday (Monday). His partner in Gang Starr, DJ Premier, was due to give an interview to Sirius XM's Hip Hop Nation radio station to explain Guru's situation, but wasn't able to speak about it. Reports say 43-year old Guru is "fighting for his life." Gang Starr were one of the most popular and influential East Coast hip-hop groups of the early 90s, thanks to second album Step In The Arena and follow-up Daily Operation, which were both hailed as classics on release. Gang Starr never officially broke up, but they haven't released anything since 2003 album The Ownerz. Guru released a series of heavily jazz-oriented solo albums called Jazzmatazz, and DJ Premier is known as one of the most revered producers in hip-hop. Guru released his latest solo album, Lost And Found, in May last year.