Gang Starr

Boston beginnings

Gang Starr began in the mid-1980s as a group of three friends from Boston, Massachusetts: Keith Elam, then rapping as MC Keithy E, alongside Big Shug and DJ Suave D. The group's founding is usually traced to their time at Morehouse College in Atlanta. After Shug was imprisoned and Suave D left, Elam, now calling himself Guru, carried on with MC Damo D-Ski and DJ 1, 2 B-Down. Between 1987 and 1988 this early version of Gang Starr released three 12-inch singles on Wild Pitch Records, "The Lesson," "Believe Dat!" and "Movin' On," working with producers including the 45 King.

DJ Premier joins

Christopher Martin was born in Houston, Texas, in 1966 and attended Prairie View A&M University, where he worked as a campus DJ. Known then as Waxmaster C, he sent a beat tape to Wild Pitch that caught Guru's attention. In 1989 Guru invited him to join Gang Starr and relocate to Brooklyn. As DJ Premier, he formed the duo that the name would stand for from then on. That year they released the single "Words I Manifest" and their debut album, No More Mr. Nice Guy, issued by Wild Pitch on June 6, 1989. Its single "Positivity" reached No. 19 on Billboard's rap chart.

"Jazz Thing" and the Chrysalis years

Spike Lee asked the group for a song for his 1990 film Mo' Better Blues, and "Jazz Thing," recorded with saxophonist Branford Marsalis, appeared on the soundtrack. The track fixed the jazz association that followed the group for years. In 1990 Gang Starr signed to Chrysalis through A&R director Duff Marlowe.

Their Chrysalis debut, Step in the Arena, carries a 1990 date in its liner notes and reached stores on January 15, 1991. It produced the rap-chart singles "Just to Get a Rep," "Step in the Arena," "Who's Gonna Take the Weight?" and "Lovesick." Daily Operation followed on May 5, 1992, with the singles "Take It Personal" and "Ex Girl to Next Girl," and peaked at No. 14 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. Hard to Earn, released March 8, 1994, reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Its single "Mass Appeal" became the group's breakthrough, reaching No. 67 on the Hot 100.

Moment of Truth and after

Moment of Truth, released March 31, 1998, on Noo Trybe and Virgin, debuted at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA in May 1998. The retrospective Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr (Virgin, 1999) added new songs including "Full Clip" and was also certified gold. The Ownerz, released June 24, 2003, on Virgin, reached No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and was the last Gang Starr album released in Guru's lifetime. The group's "Battle" also appeared on the 8 Mile soundtrack in 2002.

The Gang Starr Foundation

From 1993 the duo gathered a wider circle of artists under the Gang Starr Foundation name. Its members included Big Shug, Jeru the Damaja, Group Home, Afu-Ra, Bahamadia, Krumbsnatcha, Freddie Foxxx, M.O.P. and others, many of whom worked with DJ Premier as producer.

Split, Guru's death and the Solar dispute

After a 2002 European tour from which Premier returned early, Guru toured in 2003 and 2004 with another DJ, and in 2006 he indicated the group had reached its end. Guru, meanwhile, worked with producer Solar. He died on April 19, 2010. After his death Solar released a letter attributed to Guru that asked that Premier have no involvement with his name or legacy. Guru's family and Premier disputed that he had been able to write it, and the family said Solar had kept them from him during his illness. In 2014 a Rockland County, New York, judge ruled against Solar, giving Guru's family control of his estate.

One of the Best Yet

Premier later reached a deal with Solar, through attorneys, for about 30 unreleased Guru vocal recordings. Over roughly 18 months he built new productions around them. Released November 1, 2019, One of the Best Yet featured J. Cole, Royce da 5'9", Talib Kweli, M.O.P., Q-Tip, Jeru the Damaja, Big Shug and others, and reached No. 82 on the Billboard 200. Solar has disputed the validity of the agreement.