Premier’s production bounces around in eclectic fashion, and he uses both old-fashion jazz loops and samples that are far more obscure and difficult. For better or worse, it is also their most creative. GangStarr’s fourth album, “Hard to Earn,” is their oddest and most uneven work. Premier knows it too, because while other collaborators like the Group Home, Afu-Ra, and Jeru have gotten their share of time in the D&D Studio, he has never left Guru’s side without eventually returning. DJ Premier has worked with the likes of Rakim, KRS-One, Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas, but while his production resumé reads like a who’s-who of NYC legends, Guru has always sounded the most at home over his sharpened drums. For those who have become close acquaintances with the music of GangStarr, he is a comforting voice in a musical world that is frequently harsh. He is an emcee who shows admirable restraint in his occasionally maligned monotone, but will not hesitate to verbally maul those whose talents and motives he doubts. Guru just keeps on trucking, and he has become one of the trustiest voices in hip-hop. While Premier has been constantly brilliant throughout the GangStarr catalogue, he has certainly been more likely to explore the confines of his style. “Hard to Earn” stands as the final product of their more prolific days, and despite minor flaws, it is just as effective a gauge of their legacy as anything else.
Since their 1994 album “Hard to Earn,” we have only witnessed the release of two GangStarr albums and a greatest hits compilation with a few bonus cuts. In their early days, before other artists had developed such a demand for their services, the records came more frequently. They take their time between releases, perfecting and evolving their music a bit while pursuing other projects individually, and when their fans have developed a sufficient hunger for more music, they come to the rescue. The formula is relatively simple: Let Guru speak his mind over whatever Primo wants to throw down on top of the drums. DJ Premier and the Guru are models of consistency that most artists can only dream of becoming.
GangStarr is undeniably one of the best groups in modern rap history.