Moment of Truth: 20 essential Gang Starr tracks

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Lesser Known Tracks


Moment Of Truth

Gang Starr
“Betrayal (Featuring Scarface)” from Moment Of Truth
(Noo Trybe, 1998)

Listen / Buy

Another stand out from Moment Of Truth, this one slows the tempo all the way down and a great paring of Guru and Scarface for their tales of money, greed and lust. This one is a super fan favourite for sure!


Hard to Earn

Gang Starr
“Mostly Tha Voice” from Hard To Earn
(Chrysalis, 1994)

Listen / Buy

Displaying Guru’s monotone, smooth style of rhyming perfectly, this puts him front and centre over a really laid back jazz baseline and huge drums. One of the slickest battle tracks ever made.


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Gang Starr
“Doe In Advance” from Doe In Advance
(Not On Label)

Listen / Buy

This was only on the advance tape copies of Hard To Earn and later on a couple of bootleg 12”s apparently due to sample clearance issues, it’s another really simple loop with super smooth but harsh lyrics. One of my personal favourites!


Full Clip A Decade Of Gang Starr

Gang Starr
“Soliloquy Of Chaos” From Full Clip: A Decade Of Gang Starr
(Virgin, 1999)

Listen / Buy

Guru painting pictures of parties and shows gone wrong due to guns and violence over a string driven backdrop. No one had really used a strings sample really before this came out, Premier ahead of everyone again!


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Gang Starr
“Zonin” from The Ownerz
(Virgin, 2003)

Listen / Buy

LP cut from their last LP together, The Ownerz, this to me shows the energy and vibe was still present even after all this time. The way the cuts & scratches sit on the intro almost hesitating before Guru comes in gives it an almost live feel. And that beat is just beautiful.


Rite Where U Stand

Gang Starr
“Rite Where U Stand (Featuring Jadakiss)” from Nice Girl, Wrong Place
(Virgin, 2003)

Listen / Buy

B-Side wins again! Second single from The Ownerz had this great and grimy flip featuring a guest verse from Jadakiss. Super simple beat (it doesn’t even have hi-hats!) but this works really well, Jada’s gruff style complimenting Guru’s smoothness.


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Gang Starr
“Credit Is Due” from Love Sick
(Chrysalis, 1991)

Listen / Buy

Another single only B-Side, this was on the back of the Love Sick US 12” (although the instrumental is on a separate 12” oddly). Hard drums with a catchy James Brown cut chorus and a mellow jazz piano backing, a great example of their sound.


Royalty

Gang Starr
“Royalty (Featuring Jodeci)” from Royalty
(Noo Trybe, 1997)

Listen / Buy

On paper this shouldn’t work but this record is hard as nails. Got a lot of plays at r&b nights and hip-hop nights, and backed by one of the most musical but mind bending sample chops EVER. So, so good.


8 mile road

Gang Starr
“Battle” from 8 Mile Soundtrack
(Interscope, 2002)

Listen / Buy

From the soundtrack to Eminem’s 8 Mile film, this is a banger. Huge and abruptly cut short horns with an taunting Audio Two vocal sample, it does exactly as it’s title suggests! Should have been on a 12” or something, great piece of work!


Blade

Gang Starr
“1/2 & 1/2 (Featuring M.O.P.)” from Blade Sountrack
(TVT Soundtrax, 1998)

Listen / Buy

A.K.A. the mosh pit starter. This is my favourite of the numerous Gang Starr/M.O.P. collaborations, I love the contrast between the two groups but it makes sense as well, Premier’s amazing string laced beat just makes this sound epic. From the Blade soundtrack of all things as well!


Bonus


The Militia

Gang Starr
“The Miltia (Pete Rock Remix)” from The Militia
(Noo Trybe, 1998)

Listen / Buy

There’s only been a handful of remixes of Premier production, the Large Professor remix of “Gotta Get Over” and this brilliant promo 12” only Pete Rock remix of The Militia being my favourites, but this one edges it slightly with it’s chopped into oblivion piano loop and monstrous drums, love this!