Gang Starr Album: “Hard to Earn [Japan]”

This is a ill all-around CD. YOu have to be a fan of true hip-hop to like it and its energy for rap is alive. Premiere,being my favorite producer anyway) drops dope beat for the 93 era, and Guru keeps the album even with his unique sense of mic presense. Guru has to be the most on-beat MC I've ever listened to. His flow goes so smooth and on top of that, his wordplay and rhyme skill never seem to fail.

My Top 5 tracks

1.DYWCK feat. Nice&Smooth(great feature)

2.Suckas Need Bodyguards

3.Mass Appeal

4.Blowin Up Ths Spot

5.ALONWAYTOGO

This is one of GANG-STARR's best albums ever! In the midst of the NYC, Boom-Bap era, Gang-Starr drops a jewel on all feeble minded suckers and wages war against "fake MC's who always act hard, but won't walk the streets with out their body guards". In a time when every other MC was sounding either like either ONYX or DAS-EFX, Guru with his unique trademark monotone flow, let's all bitin'-ass MC's know that it's "MOSTLY THE VOICE" and stays true to his original style of MCing. On "Mass Appeal" he attacks the wave of "so-called" hard-core MC's selling out by making commercial, wack-ass, radio friendly songs. Side by side, Guru's lyrics are complimented by the beats of one of the "ILLEST" Hip-Hop producers to date, the one and only "DJ PREMIER". There are many classic tracks on this CD. From the classic "Dwyck" (feat. Nice & Smooth) to the Boom-Bappin' "Speak ya' Clout" (Feat. Jeru Da' Damaja & Lil'Dap) just to name a few. This IS straight up and down, NYC, Boom-Bap, East-Coast Hip-Hop at it's best! GANG-Starr wouldn't deliver anything less.

YES, I SAID AND I KNOW WHAT I TALKING ABOUT, since 1989 during the "golden age" of hip-hip no duo or group has consistantly, persistantly produced truly classic, meaningfull, survival-essential hip hop as gang starr...no even eric b. and rhakim. for over a decade gang starr has delivered the "raw essence" of real hip-hop that not only uplifts but instills a powerfull sense of belonging to something much larger than the hip-hop itself. the beats and lyrics produced by dj Premier and Guru have roared across college campuses radio as well sport locker rooms to the phatest jeeps. Even when Guru dropped his solo album Jazzamatazz with the classic "watch what you say" 1995. it's hard to say what the greatest Gangstarr album of alltime would be because each one has been the perfect fit for its time, but if i had to pick, and though it is tough. I would say HARD TO EARN.

and for all of you non-knowin, weed-smoke blowin, johnny come latelies coming on the scene with false pretential and misguided lyrics go back to your roots because "its a long way to go when you don't know where your going"

This album is for real hip-hop fans, if you're in it for the populalarity this album is not for you. The same formula as before, but fresher, newer and somewhat wiser. Guru rejoins Premier after his first solo efort in 93'(Jazzmatazz) with Gang Starr's fourth album. A memorable track featuring the somewhat underated Nice & Smooth, is a highlight among many, including Code of the Streets, The Planet, Mostly Tha Voice and Tonz O' Guns. But this is an album where no track is better. Another classy performance from one of the few members of the Real School of Rap (eg;Busta Rhymes, Geto Boys, Das Efx, MOP and one or two others.)

This album is a classic.... "mass appeal" has got to have one of the sickest beats off all time

Hard to pick a favorite gangstarr album...but if youve like any of their tracks, this album won't dissapoint