Gang Starr - Hard to Earn

On "ALONGWAYTOGO," the second track from Gang Starr's Hard to Earn, rapper Guru draws a line in the sand between the "counterfeit" and the "legit" and challenges the listener, "If you don't know what you're doing, how the hell can you be real?" He goes on to explain that being "real" means walking the streets with a pistol in your belt and no bodyguards, ready to rumble when you don't get your "props." What he never bothers to explain is why this macho "Shaft" fantasy is more real than earning a business degree at Morehouse College and becoming a jazz fan (which is what Guru did in his earlier life as Keith Elam). Outflanked on the hip-hop/jazz front by Digable Planets and Us3, Gang Starr try to reestablish their hardcore credentials with an album that finds Guru rapping about sucker MCs and pistol-packing homeboys while Premier loops funky but repetitive beats behind him. --Geoffrey Himes Amazon.com

Pure Genius

With such classic albums as Moment of Truth and Step into the Arena, Hard to Earn goes under the radar. I believe it is the best Gangstarr album for several reasons. Step into the Arena is a bit old school for my liking and Moment of Truth is a bit too new for my liking. Moment of Truth has great lyrics and concepts but I think that beats are sub-par compared to Hard to Earn. Everybody always discusses how Premier is the greatest producer and I believe on Hard to Earn he shows his true capability bringing crazy gritty NY beats. Guru also comes with his most thoughtful and hardest lyrics really bringing out the true meaning of GANGSTARR.

1. The First Step- a little laid back intro with a sick little beat and good story.
2. ALONGWAYTOGO- I think the chorus sampled from Phife dawg says it best "here's a funky introduction on how nice I am". A sick little opening song with a great beat and message, love the chorus.
Lyrics=9/10 Production= 10/10 Flow= 9/10

3. Code of the streets- One of the top beats on the album, Guru switches up from his laid back flow to a quick yet steady pace, hard song.
Lyrics=10/10 Production= 10/10 Flow= 10/10

4. Brainstorm- Interesting song, pretty hardcore. I think it is the weakest song and the album and the weakest beat. And Guru comes a bit different on it.
Lyrics-9/10 Production=10/10 Flow=9/10

5. Tonz of Gunz- Song with a great lyric, a pretty street song right here. Premiere laces one of his weaker beats on the album, still one of my favorite songs on the album because of Guru's lyrics.
Lyrics= 9/10 Production= 9/10 Flow= 10/10

6. The Planet- a little story telling song about how Guru came up and how he worked hard to be a rapper. The beat is nice and steady and laid back, good solid bass, unique Gangstarr song you would see from only them.
Lyrics=10/10 Production=9/10 Flow=9/10

7. Aiiight Chill- Just a little skit about people calling Gangstarr, sick little 808 bass though.

8. Speak ya clout- Song featuring Jeru, Premiere switches up the beat with 3 different beats for all 3 of the rappers on this track.
Lyrics=10/10 Production= 10/10 Flow= 8/10

9. DWYCK= Song featuring Nice and Smooth. One of the top beats on the album and songs in general. Very popular song and funny, Nice and Smooth lays down some nice hilarious rhymes and you even see Guru switch to a more sense of humor here.
Lyrics=10/10 Production=10/10 Flow=10/10

10. Words from the Nutcracker= The Nutcracker just laying down a couple smooth lines here to introduce the greatest song ever.

11. Mass Appeal= My favorite rap song of all time. The beat is just out of this world. It def. gives you that nice night time feeling late on the streets after a hot night. Guru's lyrics are also unreal speaking on fake rappers and sell outs. Brilliant scratching as well.
Lyrics=10/10 Production=10/10 Flow= 10/10

12. Blow up the spot= I think this song would have been better served at the beggining of the album, it doesn't fit well after Mass Appeal. The beat is still laced in full effect and Guru comes correct.
Lyrics=9.5/10 Production=9/10 Flow= 9/10


13. Suckas need bodyguards- Probably the 2nd best song after Mass Appeal. Guru just comes no hold barred and brings his top lyrics, also a great chorus.
Lyrics=10/10 Production=10/10 Flow=10/10

14. Now you're mine- Again, the 2nd half of the album comes hard. This time Premiere uses some nice NY horns and Guru uses basketball analogies to describe his rep.
Lyrics=10/10 Production=10/10 Flow=10/10

15. Mostly the Voice- A bit of one of the weaker songs, it is really laid back after about 4 hard tracks in a row. It really grows on you after a while though, I think it ends up being strong.
Lyrics=9/10 Production=9/10 Flow=9/10

16. F.A.L.A- Another tight track from the duo, a bit like mostly the voice, it came off weak the first few times, but ends up growing on you.
Lyrics=8/10 Production=9/10 Flow=8.5/10

17. Comin for datazz- I think a better chorus would've been better served here and the flow is a bit weird, the beat is unique though and I dig it.
Lyrics=8.5/10 Production=9/10 Flow=9/10


Overall a classic album, def. check it out you won't be dissapointed.
May 3, 2007

ESSENTIAL PERIOD!!!!!

for me, this was the last gang starr album that moved me. now do not get me wrong, their other stuff was good as well, but they just did not move me like the STEP INTO THE ARENA, DAILY OPERATION, and this one. hip hop, no bells, no whistles. gotta love it!!!!! March 1, 2007

Gang Starr(DJ Premiere+Guru)

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 January 13, 2007

"ITS A LONG WAY TO GO WHEN YOU DONT KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING"

Hard To Earn is by far my favorite Gangstarr album of all(even better then Daily Operation AND close to 2nd Moment of Truth). Guru is just sick when he spits out some of his classic lines like in "Tonz O' Gunz" when he spits lines like "Check your nearest overpopulated ghetto/they greet you with a pistol/not trying to say hello". And Premier? BETTER THEN EVER, You thought his production on the last 3 albums where good this is just pure FLOW-goin'! Not one track bites(sept for maybe track 10), but other then that the production sound in this album is A+ Material. Not only do Guru and Primo bring it up to the plate with tracks like "Sucka Mc needs a bodygaurd" but they also can take a notch when they bring out some gritty yet dope guests like Nice N' Smooth, ughhhh just everything in this album is dope, dope dope, now lets get to it..


2. ALONGWAYTOGO - 10/5!!!!
3. Code Of The Streets - 10/5!!!!
4. Brainstorm - 5/5
5. Tonz 'O' Gunz 10/5!!!
6. The Planet - 5/5
7. Aiiight Chill... N/A but an extreamly dope filler
8. Speak Ya Clout - 10/5!
9. DWYCK - 5/5
10. Words From The Nutcracker - Lyric wise-1/5, beatwise-10/5!!
11. Mass Apeal - 10/5!!!
12. Blowin' Up The Spot 5/5!
13. Suckas Need Bodyguards 10/5!! HOW DID THIS NOT MAKE GREATEST HITS, I STILL DONNO WHY?!!
14. Now You're Mine - 10/5!!
15. Mostly Tha Voice 5/5
16. F.A.L.A. - 10/5!!
17. Comin' For Datazz -5/5!

Well there you have it, cop this album, its freaking amazing, so many standouts, ugh im gonna shut up now COP IT PYCE OUT IN B-R DOUBLE "O" K-lyn the PLANET


Final score
5/5 stars
August 7, 2006

BROOKLYN DA PLANET!!!

ahhh man...to be living in brooklyn when this album dropped was lovely. this joint brings back alot of good memories. this is that chillin' on the corner or in a schoolyard smokin' a blunt type of gritty hip-hop. it's definately gang starr's best album and every track is bangin'. nothing really more to say. July 8, 2006

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