Their track "Jazz Thing", featured on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's film Mo' Better Blues, helped establish the sound of jazz-hop, although they themselves consider their sound solely straight hardcore hip hop.
The group was founded in 1987 with Guru, DJ 1,2 B Down, Mike Dee and various producers, such as Donald D, J.V. Johnson or DJ Mark The 45 King. In 1987 and 1988 they released three 12" vinyl singles on the legendary Wild Pitch label, and in 1989 Guru and DJ Premier (then working under the name Waxmaster C) met for the first time. In the same year they released their first single "Words I Manifest" and went on working together as a group for six albums, a 2 CD "greatest hits" compilation and numerous singles and soundtrack contributions.
Current status
On September 1, 2005, Guru revealed in an interview with the hip hop online magazine sohh.com that the group doesn't exist anymore, but that it has ended instead of breaking up. This finally cleared up the rumors that came up first on the European Gang Starr tour in 2003/2004 when DJ Premier suddenly went back to the US and Guru continued touring under the group's name with another DJ. However, in an December 21, 2005 interview with the online magazine allhiphop.com, DJ Premier has denied that Gang Starr is history; he said it's rather a long break than a real break up. In a interview from April 20, 2006, with the online magazine hoodstars.net, Guru stated he would not work with his previous partners anymore. In a newer interview he said that "Gang Starr has reached the peak" and that he is out of the project.
Guru passed away after a long battle with cancer on April 19, 2010.
Mostly Tha Voice
Gang Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's mostly the voice, that makes you buck
A lot of rappers got flavor, and some got skills
But if your voice ain't dope then you need to chill
Up steps one, and he gets done
Then up steps another, he gets smothered
That's word to mother, or should I say moms
Sucka, boy, get off my shit
Get off my dick so what I make butter hits
You better change your behavior, 'cause battling Gangstarr
No religion could save ya
My religion is rap, R-A-P
R-e-a-l-i-t-y, G
'Cause when I rock street kids rejoice
I got mad rhymes, still
It's mostly the voice, that gets you up
It's mostly the voice, that makes you buck
A lot of rappers got flavor, and some got skills
But if your voice ain't dope then you need to chill
So when you think you know the whole you don't even know the half
You're not a threat to myself, and neither to my staff
Not the type to really dance too much, although I used to
Rather bust a fresh line, and get loose to
The blunted ill types of beats Premier makes
Makes your girl's rear shake, let me set it straight
It's the voice, that gets you up
It's mostly the voice, that gets you buck
A lot of rappers got flavor, and some got skills
But if your voice ain't dope then you need to chill
Some rappers use hooks to this shit
But if you took that shit out
And you took all the music out
What would remain? The voice no doubt
Bless my soul I control
When in pimp mode
My bank roll expands I invest in my man
I plan, to keep rap real
So if your shit ain't fat then kneel
You squeal, feeling pain from my oral flex
What about oral sex, which chick's next
To open wide and get a chunk from a real brother
Yeah, some real funk from a real brother
They get sprung and most of them don't recover
But I don't diss 'em I just talk to 'em
'Cause the sound, of my voice, it does a lot to 'em
So you and, the niggas right there
Be aware, like SWV, I'm right here
Waitin' to correct your ass
And if you don't follow now I'll disrespect your ass
More Vicious then Sid, do a crime with no bid
I tell a bitch that I didn't when you know that I did
Take a trip to a land a-far
Then come back, and people still know Gangstarr
See I'm the ladies choice
'Cause I got crazy styles, but still
It's mostly the voice, the voice, that gets you up
It's mostly the voice, that makes you buck
A lot of rappers got flavor, and some got skills
But if your voice ain't dope then you need to chill
Oh shit Shug, what up
(Whassup money?)
Just loungin', about to go do this shit in the studio
(Oh yeah, you just let me get on that shit
You always said I could get on, you need to let me get on that)
Word?
(For real man)
Yo man
(Don't front on that shit)
I'm sayin' yo, if I let you get busy, you know what I'm sayin'
You can't be dissapointin' me
(I flip shit, I'ma flip shit on this)
Aight man, let's go
The lyrics of Gang Starr's "Mostly Tha Voice" are an ode to the power of voice in hip-hop music. The first verse mentions that while some rappers may have skills, it is mostly their voice that grabs the listener's attention and makes them move. The second verse takes a more confrontational tone, warning other rappers not to try to battle Gang Starr and stating that their religion is rap. The third verse reflects on the fact that the voice is the most important element in hip-hop music, as even without music or hooks, a strong voice can still captivate the listener.
Throughout the song, the rapper emphasizes the importance of having a "dope" voice in order to be successful in the rap game. He never explicitly defines what he means by a "dope" voice, leaving it up to interpretation. However, it's clear that he values authenticity and skill over gimmicks or trends.
"Mostly Tha Voice" is a testament to Gang Starr's own vocal abilities, with the rapper showcasing his unique flow and delivery throughout the song. The lyrics also reflect the duo's commitment to real, unfiltered hip-hop music, unfazed by the commercialization and trends that dominated the genre in the late 90s.
Line by Line Meaning
It's mostly tha voice, that gets you up
The most important part of a rap is the voice that raps it
It's mostly tha voice, that makes you buck
The voice that raps the rap song is what makes you enjoy it or get excited
A lot of rappers got flavor, and some got skills
Many rappers have a unique style and some of them have great talent in rapping
But if your voice ain't dope then you need to [chill... chill...]
But if your voice is not awesome then you need to stop rapping
Up steps one, and he gets done
One rapper steps forward to rap, but then he loses to the other rapper
Then up steps another, he gets smothered
Another rapper comes to the stage to battle, but the first rapper beats him easily
That's word to mother, or should I say moms
This is a powerful statement that assures the word is true
I drop bombs, scorchin niggaz like napalm
I am a great rapper and I defeat others with ease
Sucka, boy, get off my shit
You are not good enough to be around me or my music
Get off my dick so what I make butter hits
Stop trying to get famous using my rap songs, because my music is too good for you
You better change your behavior, battling Gangstarr
You better not underestimate us and change your aggressive behavior because we are a strong band
No religion could save ya
Even if you believe in God, you can't defeat us in a rap battle
My religion is rap, R-A-P
My passion is rapping and I believe it's the best form of expression
R-E-A-L-I-T-Y, G
The reality of my life is what inspires my raps and my name starts with 'G'
Cause when I rock street kids rejoice
My style of rapping is popular among kids living in the street
I got mad rhymes, still
I have a lot of great lyrics in my raps
So when you think you know the whole you don't even know the half
You think you know everything about rapping, but you don't even know half of it
You're not a threat to myself, and neither to my staff
You are not a danger to me or my team of rappers
Not the type to really dance too much, although I used to
I don't really like dancing, although I used to do it in the past
Rather bust a fresh line, and get loose to
I prefer to rap a new and awesome rap, and loosen up myself while doing it
The blunted ill types of beats Premier makes
The awesome music beats made by DJ Premier that are perfect for rapping and have a deep meaning
Makes your girl's rear shake, let me set it straight
The beats make your girlfriend dance and move her body
Some rappers use hooks to this shit
Some rappers use catchy verses in their songs
But if you took that shit out and you took all the music out
If you remove the verses and music from the song
What would remain? The voice no doubt
Only the rapper's voice will remain and it should sound awesome
Bless my soul I control when in pimp mode
I am confident in my skills when rapping, just like when I am in control of women
My bank roll expands, I invest in my man
I have a lot of money and I invest it in my friends
I plan to keep rap real
I want to keep the real essence of rap music alive
so if your shit ain't fat then kneel
If your rap music is not good, then you should bow down to me
You squeal, feeling pain from my oral flex
You cry in pain from my powerful rapping
what about oral sex, which chick's next
I use oral sex as a metaphor for how powerful my rapping style is and which group or person I will challenge next
To open wide and get a chunk from a real brother
To absorb my rapping and see how powerful it is
They get sprung and most of them don't recover
They get excited but most of them will not be able to create anything like it
But I don't diss em I just talk to em
I don't humiliate them, I only communicate with them using rap words
Cause the sound of my voice, it does a lot to em
The way I use my voice in rapping inspires people who listen to my music
So you and the niggaz right there
You and the people here
Be aware, like SWV, I'm right here
Be cautious because like the music group SWV, I am here and I am good
Waitin to correct your ass
I am waiting for the right moment to criticize your rapping skills
And if you don't follow now I'll disrespect your ass
If you don't listen to my advice, then I will criticize you in a harsh way
More Vicious than Sid, do a crime with no bid
I am more aggressive than Sid Vicious and I can commit crimes without getting caught (although not to be taken literally)
I tell a bitch that I didn't when you know that I did
I lie to girls about not doing something, when in reality I did (metaphor)
Take a trip to a land afar
Traveling to distant places
Then come back, and people still know Gangstarr
Even when I travel a lot, people still know about my rapping band
See I'm the ladies choice
I am the preferred rapper for most women
Cause I got crazy styles, still
Because I have unique and surprising ways to use my voice while rapping
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Keith Elam, Christopher E Martin, Christopher Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Rite Where U Stand
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