Last Friday, acclaimed and beloved hip hop group Gang Starr blessed old-school rap fans with “One of the Best Yet,” their first album in 16 years. The album features previously unheard vocals from the legendary MC Guru, who passed away in 2010 from health issues.
The overall tone of the album is that of an instant classic. DJ Premier comes through with unique and skillful beats on every track, showing why he is the best hip hop producer alive. Guru delivers thoughtful and soul fulfilling raps leaving a book of wisdom on wax from the grave.
“One of the Best Yet” opens with “The Sure Shot,” an intro that contains audio from a live show with Guru leading a chant with fans with the underlying beat changing from classic track to classic track. The album offers a variety of genres from the beats as the album follows the opening track with “Lights Out,” a very funkadelic beat and goes to vintage boom bap. The album is packed full with guest features for hardcore hip hop fans as Q-Tip, Royce Da 5’9, Talib Kweli and J. Cole show out on the album, among others.
The album’s crowning achievement is “Family and Loyalty,” the first single from the album, which appears halfway through the track list. The track features J. Cole as he takes the second verse and along with Guru, they deliver an amazing lesson on what family and loyalty means over a vibrant, smooth and melancholy Premier beat. The two great MCs layer the topic, comparing it to diamonds and how they are long lasting and hard to break, while giving a nod to classic hip hop tracks stating that “Diamonds are forever like family and loyalty / Or like real rap songs like ‘C.R.E.A.M.’ or ‘My Melody.'”
Cole and Royce express their honor of rapping with the ghost of Guru in their verses and lends a good blend of current and respected MCs to the old-school vibe of Gang Starr. It is a shame that the legendary group of Premier and Guru have to reunite in this fashion without Guru here, but the project is a gift to many, and hearing new Guru vocals over a Premier beat after 16 years has left many fans in tears.
The group’s final project is a must-listen for hip hop fans. Rest in power to Keith Edward Elam, also known as Guru.
