Gang Starr - The Ownerz

Gang Starr's sixth album comes at a time where they've become the last of the '80s rappers to show that they can still compete in a post-2000 world. The Ownerz has all the elements that Gang Starr's fans have come to expect: flint-hard tracks produced by DJ Premier and aggressive (but not thuggish) lyrics from Guru. When this formula clicks, like on the pulsating "Same Team, No Games" or slinky "Skills," the group sounds timeless. At other points, however, the formula sounds in need of a tune-up, such as on the lethargic "In This Life" or overblown "Who Got Gunz." The album's biggest strength--or, to some, potential weakness--is that there's not much of a noticeable evolution since their previous release, 1998's Moment of Truth (although Guru's lyrical acumen has climbed a notch). Depending on your view, that's either consistent or to a fault. --Oliver Wang Amazon.com

Sick Wit This Flava

It is not surprising that Gang Starr has had longevity in this game, since the late 80's to be exact. This has to be one of the best duos of all time because of the chemistry between Premier's beats, and Guru's nasal monotone delivery and sick flow and battle raps work hand in hand; and this album is no exception. Premier's beats have not lost a step; in fact, his beats keep improving. I have most of Gang Starr's albums (all except No More Mr. Nice Guy from '89), and by far, this has to be my favorite album of 2003. Premier still relies on soul samples, yet he elevates them to a level few producers can do. I love the 70's sample in "Skills;" beats like those remind me of the magic of hip-hop from a decade before. Premier and Guru stay true to hip-hop's artistry. Guru keeps his flow intact throughout. He drops knowledge, and stays true to the streets in jams like "Rite Where U Stand" with Jadakiss trading flows over a dope underground style beat. Some of Premier's beats here are stripped down and have simple beat sequences on joints like Nice Girl, Wrong Place" and "Who Got Gunz," but don't take it a s a negative. In fact, it shows the originality and the ability to think outside the box that Primo has. Those beats are different, and they rock! Other beats are full and sophisticated like the title track and the soul-inflected "Deadly Habitz." Where the heck do you find beats and real rhymes these good in 2003 and onwards? All in all, this album is a real underground classic in a time where classics are few and far between. October 20, 2007

Real Hip Hop

I'm not a big fan of hip hop, cuz most of it sucks big time, but as a music lover, I have to recognize the strength of this record. I know Guru from Jazzmatazz and I know a couple of other songs from Gangstarr, and this record is fierce.
The production is raw and rough, but with an intelligent, soulful asthetic, and it is as organic as rap music can be.
It is music for rude boys,not FM fluff, it is street-level, and you can feel the realness.
Some of the boasting and gun-toting talk is tired, but Guru has that nice voice, and the music itself is superior. As with most rap albums, there are at least 18 songs, so some of them are weak, but for the most part, it is an excellent album. The title track is my favorite. Check it out.

December 17, 2006

The only golden-age artists to endure the turn of the century..

Whether some'd like to admit it or not, Gang Starr are the only hip-hop artists to still succeed, musically, in the new millenium. This isn't up to the standard of the album it preceded, Moment of Truth, but it's still a classic release, from a legendary duo. Comparing it to Moment of Truth is unfair, and this album does suffer from the Illmatic complexity; in that, an artist releases a mind-blowing album(Illmatic), and then follows that up with an individually classic album(It Was Written), which is virtually shat upon because it's slightly inferior to its predecessor. If you're viewing this album on its own, as you should be, you'll see that this IS a classic release; if you compare it to Gang Starr's relatively definitive Moment of Truth, then you'll likely be dissapointed.

In a year where critics were clamoring over weak releases like Get Rich Or Die Tryin', or sub-par albums such as Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Gang Starr dropped an infinitely dope release like The Ownerz. Each joint on here is tight in its own way; with the militant feel of Riot Akt and Capture, the old-school vibes of Sabotage and Skills, or even the hilarious Clipse parody, this album delivers everything you'd expect from a Gang Starr release.

Guru's still throwing lyrical darts, and Primo's production continues to be excellent upon this release; Guru's even stepped up a bit in flow, while Primo's samples are just as perfectly chosen, and his scratches as well-timed, as they've ever been. This is pure, unadulterated New York hip-hop on this release, by two of the most respected veterans in the game; if you've slept on it because reviews have indicated it's inferior to Moment Of Truth, wake up, snatch your keys, climb into your car, and go to your favorite music outlet now to purchase this; this should find a place in any hip-hop head's collection.

This is generally regarded as Gang Starr's final album; whether it is, or isn't, has no relevance in regards to the music. If this is Gang Starr's finale, then they leave on quite a high note; and if not, then I look forward to another dish of dope music from Guru and Primo. November 30, 2006

Gang Starr Pulls Together (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4 Stars)

This was my very first Gang Starr album that I bought back in 2003. I was familiar with Primo's production, because he was producing for almost every other artist after the "Moment Of Truth" album. As for Guru, after that "Bald Head Slick..." album I heard, it was not appealing. But the duo together as Gang Starr, was something that I was ready to cop after I heard "Skills" and "Rite Where You Stand" with Jadakiss.

From hearing their other albums, then hearing this album, most things are consistant. Guru's rhymes are on point for the most part through out this album. "Put Up Or Shut Up" and as "Rite Where You Stand" are some of the tracks where he keeps his consistancy on. But at the same time I can hear the decline of his skills a little bit like on the song "Riot Akt". M.O.P. outshines him and Fat Joe (who bites Biggie's rhymes) on the song "Who Got Gunz".

As for Primo, he's cool. He can still cook up some hot beats on this album. "Playtawin" is one of the beats that I like, as Guru kicks some dope rhymes. "Same Team, No Games" and "The Owners" are some other dope beats by Primo. The latter song has some tight scratches also. And I don't understand why he was shouting at the top of his lungs "Peace Of Mine". That wasn't necessary Primo.

As for guest appearances; some are good and others are horrible. The good, Krumbsnatcha on the song "Put Up, Shut Up". Freddy Foxx and Big Shug comes for another version of "The Militia Pt. 3" which is just as good as the first one. As said earlier M.O.P. and Fat Joe comes in for the song "Who Got Gunz". The bad, some group named the The NYG'z. They're like a 2003 version of Group Home (speaking of which...) with sub par rhymes on the song "Same Team, No Games". And one of them thought it was funny to do a paroody of the Clipse's "Grindin" on the song "(Hiney)" sounding pretty wack to me. Snoop Dogg verse is decent on the song "In This Life...".

So overall, the latest Gang Starr album may not be as hard hitting as some of their previous, but it' still dope. The decline in the skills are seen here, and it's evident that this duo hit their peak on their previous album. If you like Gang Starr and still dig their style, this album is highly recommended to you.


Lyrics: B
Prodction: A
Guest Appearances: B-
Musical Vibes: B
Overall: B

Favorite Tracks: Put Up, Shut Up, Skills, Rite Where You Stand, Deadly Habits, Who Got Gunz, Capture (Militia Pt. 3), Playtawin, The Owners, Eulogy

Honorable Mention Tracks: Riot Akt, In This Life...

Peace!! November 8, 2006

THE BEST CD OF 2003

THIS CD BANGS ALL THE WAY THROUGH DJ PREMIER (I DONT KNOW HOW TO SPELL HIS NAME) AND GURU . GURU NAMES STAND FOR GIFTED.UNLIMTED.RYHMES.and UNIVERSAL. MY FAVORITE TRACKS ARE .
PLAYTAWIN,RIOT AKT,ZONINAND SKILLS.

I RECCOMEND THIS CD TO ANYBODY. April 15, 2006

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