Exclusive Interview with Guru (Gang Starr) and Solar

Exclusive Interview with Guru (Gang Starr) and Solar

As you can imagine I was ecstatic to interview Guru, who I feel is one of the the most prominent emcees of our time. He's was part of one of the most influential hip-hop groups ever.

Now I've done interviews with Ghostface Killah, AZ, Cormega, Kurupt and Ras Kass just to name a few, and never have I balked at asking a question. I do these interviews as a fan not a journalist.

Prior to the interview I was informed that Solar would be accompanying Guru on the interview. I had no problem with this, but I was not prepared being that I was under the impression it was just Guru. Not to mention the fact I knew very little about Solar and didn't have ample time to study his work and create some questions for him.

I was also informed that Guru requests no questions about Gang Starr or DJ Premier. Well, when I heard that I thought how am I going to do this interview without bringing up the past? Without a past there is no present. There is no Guru 8.0, there is no fans buying the album or attending their concerts. How could you have an interview with Guru and completely ignore the past?

Every Paul McCartney interview you hear John Lennon is always brought up. Every Scottie Pippen interview you hear Michael Jordan is brought up. You don't think C.L. Smooth gets asked about Pete Rock all the time? The shit goes with the territory and as an artist you have to understand that. We're not talking about an intimate relationship about an ex-wife, this is about a very public and professional relationship that was in our faces, in our tape decks, in our magazines and on our radios for 20+ years. You cannot dismiss that.

Now I understand both their positions about wanting to move forward, but as fans and long time supporters we should be entitled to know what happened, right? How come Guru won't work with DJ Premier? How come there is no more Gang Starr Foundation? What happened to his childhood friend Big Shug who he no longer friendly with? Why has Guru chosen to work exclusively with Solar?

These are very legitimate questions with absolutely no maliciousness behind them. This isn't about hating on their future. This isn't about not supporting Guru and Solar, this is about how did we get to where we are today? Prior to doing this interview I read a few recent Guru and Solar interviews and even saw a clip and it was no secret that when the mention of Gang Starr or Premier happens the interview takes a sharp turn. I didn't want any knee-jerk reactions and I definitely didn't want to agitate either of them, but still I wanted to get my questions in somehow because I felt we deserved some answers.

As loyal and longtime fans, we are the shareholders or their stock. Without us there is no Gang Starr, no Guru, no Solar. That's not to say we are owed an answer to everything but when it becomes public you can't expect the very people who run out the Tuesday to cop your album to simply forget past. My biggest concern with this interview was making it an informative an informative one. I may have failed or succeeded in some eyes but I gave it my best and now you can make the call yourself. Apologizes in advance as you can imagine how hard it is to conduct an interview over the phone, much less with two people answering at will.

Philaflava Interview w/Guru & Solar - Part 1


Philaflava Interview w/Guru & Solar - Part 2



Click here to download the new REMASTERED FULL INTERVIEW (40 minutes)

All in good fun...

Check out the interview in its entirety and make sure you leave your comments and question for both for both Guru and Solar.

And if you've been living under a rock, you missed one of the the most in-depth Gang Starr celebrations ever on the blogosphere. Catch up here - Gang Starr month from April.

Check out Guru & Solar at www.guru7grand.net

Peace,

Jason Gloss
philaflava@philaflava.com

Gang Starr Month: The Readers Respond

Editor's Note: Earlier this month we posed the question "where were you when you first heard a Gang Starr song?" We got a pretty decent flood of responses from around the globe, with readers naming various media outlets (from music video TV shows to to radio to video games) as their introduction to the duo's music. The songs that were mentioned span the entirety of Gang Starr's career, (even the days prior to their first record deal) and it appears that people from a wide range of ages count themselves as fans. All in all, this was a fun interactive piece, and the final product testifies to the group's enduring legacy and undeniable impact. Enjoy.

Video Shows

At RJ's crib, watching the video (Positivity) on Rap City. - Boothe

Rap City (muchmusic canada), saw Just To Get A Rep video. - Anonymous

On some alternative video show that had NitzerEbb, Front 242 and them BLAM Gangstarr with Manifest.. - Cenzi Stiles

5th grade. Living Room. Rap City. Mass Appeal. Epic. - Joshuawun

Just to get a rep, 13-14 years old, video on Yo MTV Raps, jaw dropped. - PAS

1989. I was hanging out at my friend's house watching videos on 'The Box' when the Manifest video came on. The song was so good that instead of going out to play football, we waited an hour until someone else requested it so that we could see it again. From that day on, I went to the record store faithfully twice a week just to buy that cassette as soon as it dropped. I think I still have it somewhere in a box. - Vincent Lopez

Watching TV at my Grandma's house and Manifest came on Pump It Up. - Ominous Red

The song that got me was 'Just To Get A Rep'. I was about 14 and living with my Moms at the time. I got home from school and would watch Ralph McDaniel's Video Music Box religiously. That day that 'Just To Get A Rep' got played, I went bananas. That was the most incredible sample I had ever heard. - Verge

Came home from high school back in 8th or 9th grade, and it was old skool wednesday on Rap City. They played the Mass Appeal video, and i was hooked right after that. that beat is very infectious. i remembered the lyrics to the song about 3-4 time i heard it! this was around late '96 early '97. - Brandan E.

Words That I manifest, 1989, I saw this on videotape because my g-parents refused to get cable, so my uncle's friend used to record Yo! MTV Raps for us. - Andrew Fly

I think I saw "DWYCK" on MTV in '94 – Anonymous

At my godfather's house b/c his daughter used to watch my brother and I after school. His daughter was watching The Box and I think it was Mass Appeal that came on... rediscovered many years later at a smoke and chill party w/ my friends in N. Philly – livininphilly

Rochester, NY. Circa 1989-90. Rap City with Da Mayor..."Manifest" video and the whole Malcolm X motif...classic HIPHOP, dubbed the whole tape from my man when it came out. PEACE – Anonymous

Probably the Just to Get a Rep video on Video Music Box. Shout out to Uncle Ralph! – Adam Rashid

I was watching and taping Yo Mtv Raps! when I heard ' who's gonna take the weight' I was hypnotised by the screeching horns. I recorded it to cassette with a homemade cable from my television to my tapedeck so I could listen to it on my walkman. I also remember renting the step in the arena-cd at the local moviestore. – Pierski76

I was like 9 or 10 watching Rap City at the Crib on Camac st. in Logan and Words I Manifest video came on and I've been a fan since – Phil Wilson

I watched video shows (Video Music Box, Rap City, Yo!) after school every day; and they started playing "Manifest," which I loved. - Werner Von Wallenrod

Watching Video Music Box @ home summer vacation and "Words I Manifest" came on.. Great times - brooklynsidv

Radio

That would be 1987 ... WRBB radio. – Dart Adams

i was in high school when i first heard words i manifest a buddy taped the song off of whpk here in chicago - Anonymous

Used to hear "Here Is The Proof" all the time on KZSU, didnt know it was the G to the A-N-G, so technically the first time I heard a song and knew it was them was when I saw the "Words I Manifest" video on a Saturday morning episode of Yo! Raps. – bottomlesspedro

I think the first time I heard of Gang Starr was on P-Fine's show way down in the 80s side of the dial (can't even remember the station anymore but best believe I still got the tapes to prove it!) and the song was the original mix of Manifest! that joint was crazy! – rhartworks

I was a DJ at radio station KZSC in Santa Cruz CA in '89 when the Words I Manifest 12" arrived. A big moment. - nachmann

Other

I heard "Above the Clouds" at my local megamart. I scanned "Moment of Truth" into the machine, crossed my fingers that the system wouldn't recognize the explicit lyrics sticker and deny this 14 year-old entry, and skipped to the song with Inspectah Deck." - Tom Doggett

I had finished my 3rd symester of community college and was at a party. I had taken the prom queen from the graduating class that year to a party. We ended up hooking up at this house party and ended up pushing in my regaurds in the master bedroom of the house. After all was said and done, my friend mentioned earlier put the cd 'moment of truth' in and skipped to 'jfk 2 lax'. I could hear it through the bedroom walls got up and went out to grab a beer only to forget i left homegirl in the bedroom and never came back. - randomkage

Honestly.. I dont know for sure. Gang Starr is honestly an act that crept into my pores and become as synonomous to me as hip-hop itself at some point. - restless _43

Well, I won't get much cred for this one, but the first GangStarr song I really paid attention to was "Right Where You Stand." I was about 12 when it came out and just getting into good rap music. - Anonymous

I heard Gang Starr for the first time playing streetball with some friends, one of whom brought the boombox and CD. The song was Above The Clouds, and I got instantly hooked by Gurus and Decks verses and this irresistible beat so much that it distracted me from the game. - Anonymous

I was working as a public defender in the South Bronx the birthplace of hip hop!! - Matt

Seventh grade, while playing "Thrasher: Skate & Destroy" on my PlayStation. That game had the dopest soundtrack of any I've ever played; that's the first I also heard Tribe, EPMD, Ultramag, Bam, etc...but "Just To Get A Rep" was the song that really resonated with me. - Echo Leader

Um, I was probably in my dorm room at Duke freshman year, downloading whatever crap on Kazaa RapReviews.com said was classic. - tray

i heard about gang starr in a video game i used to play as a kid haha.i believe it was dave mirra pro bmx. i dont rememeber if the cut was mass appeal or moment of truth. it was like 98 or 99. either way i was hooked.... still am - BYL

"Manifest" off a friends single when it came out...I was hooked on that freaking loop...have rarely complained about a Primo beat and I actually salivate when I hear a new one...best hip hop producer period. – DJ Seen?

I was in my friends basement stacked with hip hop cassettes. He had just picked up Daily Operation a couple days before and put it in his tape player. – tk burton

Just before they got signed...I used to chill with most of them...lil dap (group home), jeru tha damaja...those were the days.... Urban Jibaro

DJ 3rd Rail - Gang Starr Megamix

DJ 3rd Rail is one of the dopest hip hop DJs to ever come out of Chicago. In the late 90s, he released a classic Gang Starr Foundation mixtape. Here is the tape rip. Make sure to check out the audio samples!

Side A
1. Alongwaytogo
2. Lovesick
3. To Be A Champion
4. Positivity
5. Suckas Need Bodyguards
6. 2 Deep
7. Mass Appeal
8. Credit Is Due
9. Step In The Arena
10. I'm The Man

Side B
1. Speak Ya Clout
2. You Know My Steez
3. Up Against The Wall
4. Da Bitchez
5. Total Wreck
6. Take It Personal
7. Dwyck
8. Paper Thin
9. Doe In Advance
10. So Wassup
11. Not Your Average

Preview:

Side A


Side B


Download both sides in one mediafire folder:
http://www.mediafire.com/?yylz1gdy30x

--Roy Johnson

DJ Premier WBLS Thunderstorm Vol.6 + Extras

Unless they are more to be released, here we have the last volume(vol.6) of the DJ Premier Thunderstorm WBLS radio show series. The selection of the tracks played on here are different from the ones from previous volumes; the main reason being that this show is from 1995(based on the tracklist) while the previous ones were aired in 1994. This is my personal favorite mix of all the thunderstorm shows that I've heard! For all you diggers, the show starts with a demo from a dope unsigned emcee called Rambo; I believe that the track is produced by Ski as his name is mentioned on the first break. I splitted that demo into a single file which you can download below this mix! Premier then mixes your favorites mid 90's hip hop tunes. Bahamadia even makes an appearance and talks about her then up&coming album Kollage.

Enjoy,

Tracklist
01. Rambo - Like That (Demo) Produced By Ski
02. Notorious B.I.G. - Who Shot Ya
03. Ol' Dirty Bastard - Brooklyn Zoo
04. Smif N Wessun - Stand Strong
05. Dr. Dre - Keep Their Heads Ringin
06. Half-A-Mil - Anyday Can Be Ya Last
07. Dark Skinned Assassin - Lock Shit Down
08. Keith Murray - Pay Per View
09. Jay-Z - In My Lifetime
10. Showbiz & A.G. - Next Level (Nyte Time Mix)
11. Big L - Put It On (L.G. Remix)
12. Heather B. - All Glocks Down
13. Lost Boyz - Lifestyles Of The Rich And Shameless

Download

Shout Outs to Serch4beatz, & Verge!
Cover Done By Dirt_Dog

Rambo - Like That (Demo) Produced By Ski


Bonus:
Are you interested in learning how to draw a DJ Premier Logo? Check out this instructional guide done by dirt_dog. PDF

In case you missed any thunderstorm volumes, click here to get all of them.

-- Thomas V

Guru “Jazzmatazz Live! (2001)”

Have you ever been digging through a box of cd's only to find something better than what you were originally searching for? Clearly, that happened to me over the weekend when I found this one. Here is Guru's Jazzmatazz Live! at Radiomafia, Belford, France on September 27th, 2001. He's on tour promoting his Jazzmatazz Streetsoul (volume 3) album. I think this was recorded from the radio as there is a French introduction, but an absolutely perfect listening experience.

Download

enjoy,

-- dirt_dog

Gang Starr “Transmusicales, Rennes, France (2003)”

Here's one just for fun. It's Gang Starr on their Ownerz Tour making a stop at the Transmusicales Festival in 2003 (tagged as 12-05-2003). I have a feeling that this 24 minute performance was recorded straight from the radio as there are a few small voiceovers, but doesn't interfere and the quality is superb (although there is some slight static noise at the beginning of track 9). Here's a link to some really nice pictures from the set. And I threw together a quick cover for those (like me) that have to have an image when listening to any audio on their iPod.

Download

enjoy,

-- dirt_dog

Gang Starr - Non-Album Tracks Volume 7

Here is the final installment of the Gang Starr Non-Album Tracks Series. What we have here is a phenomenal soundboard recording from a '98 show that they did in Amsterdam. As far as I know, Gang Starr doesn't have any other live bootlegs in circulation, which is a god damn shame. Grateful Dead got like 20,000 of 'em, but we only get one from a legendary hip hop act like Gang Starr? What a crock of shit, huh? Anyway, enjoy the concert, and make sure to check for all of the previous volumes.

Gang Starr - Non-Album Tracks Volume 7
1. DJ Premier In Deep Concentration
2. Manifest
3. No More Mr. Nice Guy
4. Code Of The Streets
5. Code Of The Streets (Continued)
6. Work
7. Royalty
8. Above The Clouds
9. The Militia
10. Crush
11. F.A.L.A.
12. Just To Get A Rep
13. Take It Personal
14. Dwyck
http://www.mediafire.com/?fzfqoddf1jm

Preview:

DJ Premier In Deep Concentration


Manifest


No More Mr. Nice Guy


--Roy Johnson

DJ Premier WBLS Thunderstorm Vol.5

Here we have the fifth volume of the DJ Premier Thunderstorm radio show on WBLS. On this show, you can hear DJ King Tech from the Wake Up Show calling the station giving a nice shoutout to DJ Premier. Besides that, you can expect another dope live mixing session from Christopher Martin!

Tracklist
01. Gangstarr - Code Of The Streets
02. M.O.P. - How About Some Hardcore
03. King Just - Warriors Drum
04. Nice & Smooth - Old To The New
05. Jayo Felony - I'ma Keep Bangin' (Original Version)
06. Beatnuts - Props Over Here
07. Lords Of The Underground - Flow On (Pete Rock Remix)
08. Lady Of Rage - Afro Puffs
09. De La Soul - She Fe Mc's
10. Jeru The Damaja - D.Original
11. Fat Joe - Shit Is Real (DJ Premier Remix)
12. Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell (Large Professor Remix)
13. Terminator X - Under The Sun
14. Nice & Smooth - Blunts

Download

Shout Outs to Serch4beatz & Ho1ogramz!
Cover Done By Dirt_Dog

-- Thomas V

Gang Starr - Non-Album Tracks Volume 6

Here is installment #6 of the Gang Starr Non-Album Tracks Series. I wanted to save all of the oddities and live material for last. Stay tuned for Volume 7, which is an outstanding soundboard from a '98 concert in Amsterdam.

Gang Starr - Non-Album Tracks Volume 6
1. Red Alert Chant
2. Dwyck (Spinbad Blend)
3. Code Of The Streets (Thunderstorm Mix)
4. Mass Appeal (Thunderstorm Mix)
5. Manifest (Jazzy Jeff Mix)
6. You Know My Steez (Spinbad Mix)
7. Dwyck (Jay Dee Blend)
8. Dwyck (Yo! MTV Raps)
9. Dwyck (In Living Color)
10. Reality Check (Skit)
11. Tony Touch Freestyle
12. Doo Wop Freestyle
13. Funkmaster Flex Freestyle
14. Mass Appeal (Arsenio Hall Show)
15. Ex Girl To The Next Girl (Uptown Comedy Club)
16. Slammin' Magazine Interview
17. Just To Get A Rep (Madlib Remix)
18. Full Clip (Live)
http://www.mediafire.com/?lvmwrt0y4yd

Preview:

Dwyck (Spinbad Blend)


Code Of The Streets (Thunderstorm Mix)


Mass Appeal (Thunderstorm Mix)


You Know My Steez (Spinbad Mix)


Tony Touch Freestyle


--Roy Johnson

Diggin' On Jazzmatazz

The Jazzmatazz projects were the brainchild of Guru and started back in 1993. He was involved in much of the coordination and arrangement. Jazzmatazz was ground-breaking on many accounts. It was not the first time that live instruments and hip hop beats were put together. However it was and still is one of the most successful blends of jazz and hip hop that ever happened. Yes, there were other groups doing similar things at the time but the lasting power of the Jazzmatazz projects is without question. Groups like Greyboy, The Solsonics, and Bill Laswells 'Bluescreen' also combined live jazz-oriented instrumentation with hip hop beats. One primary difference was the ensemble approach of Jazzmatazz. Perhaps the most famous musicians to participate were Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers, both of whom had long and storied careers prior to 1993. To most educated heads they need little introduction. At least 10 other artists were featured on volume one alone though. The breadth of scope and the number of musicians would have been a potential cause for inconsistency had it not been for the vision and oversight from Guru. More than a decade later Jazzmatazz is still one of my favorite groups. Included in my post today are the instrumentals for both albums as well as the albums themselves. I wanted to highlight the instrumentals because they are unique and creative. The remixes are a part of this too. They are dope and deserve as much shine as the albums themselves. You'll notice volume 3 was left out. Why? Er.. let's not go there. Guru should have left well enough alone after volume two was finished but sometimes too much of a good thing thins the broth and dries out the tobacco.

volume one
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KIVSH7SW

01 Loungin
02 When You´re Near
03 Transit Ride
04 No Time To Play
05 Down The Backstreets
06 Take A Look
07 Trust Me
08 Slicker Than Most
09 Le Bien, Le Mal
10 Sights In The City

volume one instrumentals
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DEXBG6YU

volume two
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=X54N1IBP

01 Intro (Light It Up) / Jazzalude I / New Reality Style
02 Lifesaver
03 Living In This World
04 Looking Through Darkness
05 Skit A (Interview) / Watch What You Say
06 Jazzalude II / Defining Purpose
07 For You
08 Insert A (Mental Relaxation) Medicine
09 Lost Souls
10 Insert B (The Real Deal) / Nobody Knows
11 Jazzalude III / Hip Hop As A Way Of Life
12 Respect The Architect
13 Feel The Music
14 Young Ladies
15 The Traveler
16 Jazzalude IV / Maintaining Focus
17 Count Your Blessings
18 Choice Of Weapons
19 Something In The Past
20 Skit B (Alot On My Mind) / Revelation

volume two instrumentals
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2S0GH0PE

the remixes
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=M0SMJYHD

01 Respect The Architect (Buckwild Remix)
02 Respect The Architect (Instrumental)
03 Watch What You Say (Chucky Remix)
04 Watch What You Say (C.j. Remix)
05 Momentum (Instrumental)
06 Loungin' (Square Biz Mix)
07 Loungin' (Guru Meets The Professor Mix)
08 No Time To Play (C.j. Longer Radio Mix)
09 Trust Me (Mackapella)
10 Le Bien, Le Mal (Instrumental)

--Schenectadyfan

DJ Premier WBLS Thunderstorm Vol.4

Here we have the fourth volume of the DJ Premier Thunderstorm radio show on WBLS. On this friday night show, Jeru the Damaja is chillin' in the studio with Premier and talks about a little bit right before Premier spins the Pete Rock Remix of Flow On by the Lords Of The Underground. I know that a lot of tracks on here have already being played many times on previous volumes but no matter what, it's always great to hear live vintage mixing from the legendary DJ Premier!

Tracklist
01. Private Investigators - Mom Dukes
02. Da King & I - Tears
03. Guest W/ Jeru The Damaja
04. Lords Of The Underground - Flow On (Pete Rock Remix)
05. Wu Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.
06. YG'z - Ghetto Celeb
07. Nas - It Aint Hard To Tell
08. Jeru The Damaja - D.Original
09. Black Moon - I Got Cha Opin (Remix)
10. Original Flavor - Keep On (Searching)
11. Conscious Daughters - Somethin To Ride To
12. Ice Cube - U Know How We Do It
13. Intelligent Hoodlum - Street Life (Return Of The Life Mix)
14. Shyheim - On And On (DJ Premier Remix)
15. Edo G. & Da Bulldogs - Love Comes And Goes

Download

Shout Outs to Serch4beatz & Ho1ogramz!
Cover Done By Dirt_Dog

-- Thomas V

DJ Premier WBLS Thunderstorm Vol.3

Here we have the third volume of the DJ Premier Thunder Storm radio show on WBLS.

Tracklist
01. Da King & I - Tears
02. Lady Of Rage - Afro Puffs
03. Trends Of Culture - Who Got My Back?
04. Ill Al Skratch - Where My Homiez (Come Around My Way)
05. DFC feat. Mc Eiht - Caps Get Peeled
06. Smif N Wessun - Bucktown
07. Lords Of The Underground - Flow On (Pete Rock Remix)
08. Warren G feat. Nate Dogg - Regulate
09. Jeru The Damaja - D.Original
10. Intelligent Hoodlum - Street Life (Return Of The Life Mix) Instrumental
11. Controversy - 2 Da Beat Y'all
12. Das Efx - Baknaffek
13. Gangstarr - Mass Appeal
14. M.O.P. - How About Some Hardcore
15. Tha Alkoholiks - Likwit

Download

Shout Outs to Serch4beatz & Ho1ogramz!
Cover Done By Dirt_Dog

-- Thomas V

DJ Premier “Planet Of The Beats Volume 1”

I got this LP years ago from hiphopsite.com. I can't quite remember the year, nor can I find any real information about it, so let's just say it was 2002. I placed my order, waited several weeks only to find out they had sold out and wouldn't be getting any more. They issued me a store credit and I moved on with my life. About 2 months later a mysterious package arrived on my door step, and now I share with you:

"DJ Premier presents Empire Management production. An original one of a kind release "Planet Of The Beats Volume 1". A reflection of classic hip hop instrumentals combined with movie dialogues from great movies. Featuring music from DJ Premier, Mobb Deep, A Tribe Called Quest, The Beatnuts, DJ Spinna, Show & AG & others. Recorded at D&D Studios N.Y.C., U.S.A."

A1 Count Down

A2 Lift Off

A3 On A Mission

B1 Up, Up Into The Sky

B2 High & Higher

B3 Into Space

B4 Stars In My Eyes

B5 Space Is Awesome

C1 All Alone In Space

C2 A New Dimension

C3 A New Time Zone

C4 Our Solar System

D1 Is This For The Love Or The Money

D2 Lets Get Busy

D3 The Journey Home

D4 Hold Tight

D5 Crash Landing

Download

enjoy,

-- dirt_dog

DJ Premier WBLS Thunderstorm Vol.2

Here we have the second volume of the DJ Premier Thunder Storm radio show on WBLS. Check out the new cover art done by the T.R.O.Y. Blog's newest addition dirt_dog. Make sure to replace the old vol.1's cover with the new version by clicking here.

Tracklist
01. Smif N Wessun - Bucktown
02. Heavy D. & The Boyz - Got Me Waiting
03. Mr Voodoo - Come Off Hard
04. Trends Of Culture - Who Got My Back
05. Private Investigators - Mom Dukes
06. LOTUG - Flow On (Pete Rock Remix)
07. Black Moon - I Got Cha Opin (Remix)
08. Ed O.G. And Da Bulldogs - Love Comes And Goes
09. PHD - Keep It Real
10. Operation Ratification - Tray Pound God
11. M.O.P. - How About Some Hardcore
12. A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation
13. Krs One - Mortal Thought
14. Controversy - To Da Beat Y'all
15. Terminator X - It All Comes Down To The Money

Download

Shout Outs to Serch4beatz & Ho1ogramz!
Cover Done By Dirt_Dog

-- Thomas V

Guru Behind The Boards

We hope our readers have dug our spotlight this month on Gangstarr. As part of that effort I assembled a collection of underground hip hop produced by the legendary mc Guru. Originally from Boston, Guru moved to New York and went to work with Dj Premier. The rest is history. This compilation however, is a "somewhat" unknown part of that history. Largely known for his vocal skills, Guru collaborated with Dj Premier for Jeru The Damaja's 1st album 'The Sun Rises In The East', as well as the Gangstarr albums. The sound here is that dark moody boom bap which is so timeless and still celebrated with reverence all these years later.

Most of the artists featured were affiliated with the Gangstarr Foundation/Ill Kid Records. Exceptions might be Deams, Cutthroats and Poverty. If anyone out there has background info about them let us know. Some of the obscure surprises on this compilation include tracks 2, 6 (co-produced by Guru), 7, 16, and 19. I have to say, the Deams track is off the hook. Holy shit that one is dope! This compilation is a tasty slice of Guru's early/mid 90's work behind the boards. I am sure however, that there are cuts out there I haven't heard. The man is a legend and it's certainly possible that in his huge volume of studio time he produced other artists who never made it onto legit releases. I salivate at the possibility of hearing these sorts of unreleased archives.


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2ALVV52X

01 (4:20) Operation Radification - Tray Pound 1993
02 (3:25) Deams - Mad Game 1996
03 (4:46) Stikken Moov - Beware 1993
04 (4:15) Group Home - Serious Rap Shit 1995
05 (4:09) Hl Rock (the Sly Fox) - Put You 1993
06 (3:52) Chapter 3 - Sounds Of Claps 1993
07 (3:59) Cutthroats - Stop Lookin' At Me 1993
08 (3:27) Bahamadia - Total Wreck 1993
09 (3:58) Guru - Feel the Music 1995
10 (3:00) Bahamadia - Wordplay 1995
11 (2:59) Big Shug - P.D.S. 1995
12 (5:23) M.O.P., Guru & Stikken Moov - Life 1995
13 (5:26) Stikken Moov, Guru, & Mash Out Posse - Life 1995
14 (3:48) Fabidden Frut - From Within Out 1995
15 (2:59) Guru & Big Shug - Momentum
16 (2:57) Poverty - Comin' Up 1993
17 (2:55) Group Home - So Called Friends 1993
18 (4:17) Gangstarr - Lovesick Upbeat Mix 1991
19 (3:05) Poverty - Peace With A Piece 1993
20 (3:40) Gangstarr - Form Of Intellect 1991
21 (3:01) Fabidden Fruit ft. Bu & Mic Rone - Cup Of Life 1995
22 (4:48) Operation Ratification - Rotten Apple 1995

I really hope our readers like this collection! Let me know what you think.

--Schenectadyfan

Gang Starr - Non-Album Tracks Volume 5

Here is installment #5 of the Gang Starr Non-Album Tracks Series. This volume contains Guru guest appearances from between the years of 1995 and 2000. Stay tuned for volumes 6 & 7.

Gang Starr - Non-Album Tracks Volume 5
1. House Of Pain - Fed Up (Remix)
2. Ini Kamoze - Who Goes There
3. Buckshot Lefonque - Black Monday
4. EZD - For Da Love
5. M.O.P. - Salute II
6. N'Dea Davenport - Bring It On (Remix)
7. Afu Ra - Trilogy Of Terror
8. Everlast - Guru
9. Group Home - The Legacy
10. Group Home - Be Like That
11. AG - Weed Scented
12. Choclair - Bear Witness
13. D.B.D. - Unknown Song
14. Masta Ace - Conflict
15. Masta Ace - Conflict (Remix)
16. Masta Ace - Conflict (Illmind Remix)
17. D-Flame - Universal
18. D-Flame - Universal (Remix)
http://www.mediafire.com/?towezk4mro4

Preview:

House Of Pain - Fed Up (Remix)


EZD - For Da Love


Buckshot Lefonque - Black Monday


--Roy Johnson

Doo Wop “The Best Of Doo Wop Freestyle Sessions Volume One (1995)”

Ahhh... the summer of 1996. My first summer in Chicago and one of the first things I purchased. The guy at the record shop (The Beat Parlor) wouldn't let me leave the store without buying it. It came packaged in a jewel case, no cover, no notes, no nothing but shrink wrap.

While this cd is full of great freestyles, some of my favorites are the Mad Lion one and the beginning of the Channel Live track (tracks 25 and 26). Scan of cd included. And yes, that is blue paint over Doo Wop's contact number. It actually came like that.

And since it is Gang Starr month 2009, there is a nice Guru freestyle in there.

01 Doo Wop-Intro
02 Keith Murray-Freestyle
03 Q-Tip-Freestyle
04 Busta Rhymes-Freestyle
05 Rampage The Last Boyscout-Freestyle
06 Fat Joe-Freestyle
07 Uneek-Freestyle
08 M.O.P.-Freestyle
09 Guru-Freestyle
10 Raekwon & Carlton Fisk-Freestyle
11 Ill Al Skratch-Freestyle
12 Shabba Ranks-Freestyle
13 Tragedy Khadafi & Don Black-Freestyle
14 Smoothe Da Hustler & D.V. Alias Khrist-Freestyle
15 Doo Wop, Fat Joe, Akinyele, Pretty Boy Floyd & Lord Tariq-Freestyle
16 Doo Wop-Freestyle
17 KRS-One-Freestyle
18 Treach-Freestyle
19 Keith Murray & Redman-Freestyle
20 Mobb Deep & Big Noyd-Freestyle
21 AZ-Freestyle
22 Lost Boyz-Freestyle
23 Uneek-Freestyle
24 Cocoa Brovaz-Freestyle
25 Mad Lion & KRS-One-Freestyle
26 Channel Live-Freestyle
27 King Just-Freestyle
28 Buckshot Da B.D.I. Emcee-Freestyle

Download

enjoy,

-- dirt_dog

Gang Starr - Non-Album Tracks Volume 4

Here is installment #4. This volume contains Guru guest appearances from between the years of 1991 and 1995.

Gang Starr - Non-Album Tracks Volume 4
1. Nice N Smooth - Down The Line
2. Slam Slam - Free Your Feelings (Remix)
3. Dream Warriors - I Lost My Ignorance (Premier Remix)
4. Dream Warriors - I Lost My Ignorance (Tim Bran Remix)
5. Heavy D & The Boyz - Buncha Niggas
6. Brand New Heavies - It's Gettin' Hectic
7. Neneh Cherry - Sassy
8. Cutthroats - Stop Lookin' At Me
9. De La Soul - Patti Dooke
10. Nefertiti - No Nonsense
11. Digable Planets - Borough Check
12. Donald Byrd - Time Is Moving On
13. DJ Krush - B-Boy Mastermind
14. DJ Krush - Most Wanted Man
15. DJ Honda - What You Expected (Original)
16. DJ Honda - What You Expected
17. Group Home - Serious Rap Shit
http://www.mediafire.com/?wnnmdydmzwd

Preview:

Dream Warriors - I Lost My Ignorance (Premier Remix)


DJ Krush - B-Boy Mastermind


DJ Honda - What You Expected (Original)


DJ Honda - What You Expected


Group Home - Serious Rap Shit


--Roy Johnson

Gang Starr - The VHS Video Collection

After recently hitting readers up with Gang Starr's DVD Video Collection, the T.RO.Y. Blog is proud to present you, with the quickness, the rare missing Gang Starr Videos from the original DVD Collection post. Friendly reader The Big Sleep(Big L Rarities/Affliates Blog) & T.R.O.Y. forum's Icon(His First Post) were kind enough to bring us hi-quality VHS rips from the remaining missing videos(except one) in a really short time(Only Few Hours After The Post)! The only video that remains missing in hi-quality is "Gotta Get Over". You can find it on youtube but the video is not in sync and in really bad quality... Again, if you have it feel free to send us a comment.

Enjoy,

Videos
Words I Manifest (1989)

Positivity (1989)

Jazz Thing (1990)

Who's Gonna Take The Weight (1990)

Love Sick(1991)

Take A Rest (1991)

Gotta Get Over (1992) - Unavailable

Suckas Need Bodyguard (1994)

Previews







































-- Thomas V

Note: If you have some problems watching the videos, it might be because of codec problems. Visit Free-Codecs.com for more information. You can also try using a new media player like Media Player Classic or VLC.

DJ Premier WBLS Thunderstorm Vol.1

Before Sirius Satellite Radio, New York Reality Check 101, Crooklyn Cuts Mixtape... Around the time of Hard To Earn, DJ Premier was mixing in live on WBLS. He would air every friday nights playing the dopest records that were out as well as dropping exclusives.

Recently, a Japanese website started selling cd-r's of original recordings of the show ranging from a collection of 6 volumes. The quality of the shows were top notch and rips started to hit up the T.R.O.Y. forums. Five of the volumes were ripped by serch4beatz while the only one missing came out to be vol.1. Two Months after the original post, T.R.O.Y. member Illest came through and uploaded vol.1.

Below you find all the tracks that DJ Premier mixed during the first session. The date is 3/04/1994.

Also, "Real mixes don't come split so there should be no complaining" Ho1ogramz

Tracklist
1. The Legion - Jingle Jangle (Feat. Dres)
2. DFC - Caps Get Peeled (Feat. MC Eiht)
3. Smiff N Wessun - Bucktown
4. Trends Of Culture - Who Got My Back
5. Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.
6. YG'z - Ghetto Celeb
7. Mr. Voodoo - Come Off Hard
8. Dred Scott - Back In The Day
9. Fat Joe - Shit Is Real (DJ Premier Remix)
10. Shyheim - Off & On (DJ Premier Remix)
11. Special Guest W/ Jeru The Damaja (Shoutouts)
12. Whodini - It All Comes Down To The Money (Terminator X & The Godfathers Of Threatt)
13. Bahamadia - Total Wreck
14. A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation

Download

-- Thomas V

Note: dirt_dog is re-working on those cheap bootleg covers so be ready for a new neat cover to soon replace it.
Note 2: dirt_dog is now finished with all the covers. Make sure to replace vol.1's old cover with the new one!