Gang Starr

Gang Starr
Gang Starr performing in Hamburg, 1999.
Background information
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genres	East Coast hip hop
Years active	1986–2006
Labels	Wild Pitch Records, Chrysalis Records, Virgin
Associated acts	Gang Starr Foundation, M.O.P., Ed O.G., Nice & Smooth, Wu-Tang Clan, Rakim, D.I.T.C. Big L
Past members	Guru (deceased) DJ Premier

Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of MC Guru and the DJ/producer DJ Premier.

The original Gang Starr group was founded in Boston, Massachusetts by Keith Elam (then known as MC Keithy E.) and DJ 1, 2 B-Down (also known as Mike Dee) with various producers, such as Donald D, J.V. Johnson or The 45 King helping out, their earliest recordings was in 1986 where they made various demos. In 1987 and 1988, Gang Starr released three 12" vinyl singles on Wild Pitch Records.

In 1989, the group split and the only member willing to continue under the name was Guru. He soon got in touch with Houston, Texas native DJ Premier (then known as Waxmaster C) who sent him a beat tape, which Guru liked. He invited DJ Premier to join Gang Starr and in that same year they released their first single "Words I Manifest" along with the album No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989). In 1990, the group was signed to the Chrysalis record label by then A&R director Duff Marlowe, a former DJ and Los Angeles Times rap music critic. The London-based label offered Guru and Premier unlimited artistic license and major-label distribution worldwide, a platform the group used to become one of the most influential hip hop acts of that decade. During their career Gang Starr helped pioneer the New York City hardcore hip hop sound. The entire Gang Starr catalog, especially Step in the Arena (1990), Daily Operation (1992), Hard to Earn (1994) and Moment of Truth (1998) are well respected among underground rap fans and critics. Gang Starr provided a track, Battle, for the sound track of the 2002 movie 8 Mile. Their track "Jazz Thing" was featured on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's film Mo' Better Blues.