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.
New York Strait Talk
Gang Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Yo I'm not new to this I'm true to this" "Word up!"
"From New York straight talk, America's best"
Yo, it doesn't make sense, for you to compete against
This New York vibe that gets your whole body tense
Calm down, listen to a brother who knows
Cause the rappers out here come up with mad different types of flows
So we can build on this shit, for real that's how we came up
Used to ride the subway trains back and forth
Now I push an E-Class, four-two-zero of course
Still material gains, make one more aware
Of all the madness and the civil unrest that's out here
I doubt there, is anyplace more complex
You can get lost in the sauce, New York'll have you vexed
Who's next to get served, herbs'll get knocked off
Burning flammable rappers, is how I get my rocks off
I pop your top off as if you were the bottle
Then I'll drain all your fluid, you're better off playing lotto
Bright lights, big city and the dark alleyways
New York we get the money all day everyday
"From New York straight talk, America's best"
"Yo I'm not new to this I'm true to this" "Word up!"
"From New York straight talk, America's best"
True if you can make it out here, you can make it anywhere
That means a lot of rappers, they should stay away from here
Cause we still care, about the total artform
Niggaz could sell more records but they still can't flip a live forum
Plus everybody out here ain't talkin true shit either
Mad niggaz is fakin jacks, I don't like them neither
But the competition keeps me on point
That's why I lamp in the studio composin fresh new joints
From the streets, Medina, Manhattan, Staten, P-Lawn
The struggle continues, everybody wants to be on
The rat race, makes this lifestyle fast paced
I've loved it since the days of fat shoelace
Screwface me all you want, but I'm used to it
I'll never give up rep in New York, I'm true to it
From forty-deuce to Queens, back to East New Yi
We takin no shorts, and plus we showin no pity
Bright lights, big city and the dark alleyways
New York, we get the money all day everyday
You get bent up, sent up creek, without a paddle
You want to battle? Well I live in New York
So think twice blink twice now your Roley and Lincoln's gone
Don't come into this rap game if you don't belong
You won't be on but for a minute anyway
You're just a scavenger, you don't live this life everyday
Rap is regional, so you can check the demographics
Everybody represent where they live, cause shit is drastic
Confusion, while I'm givin rappers contusions
And people don't realize that real hip-hop is losing
They want to shut us down, and I say, "Shut up clown!"
Cause New York is too corrupt and too tough to lay down
And just quit, cause MC's out here kick serious lyrics
And I come to you, with my infinite spirit
Not takin nothin from your hood or your set
But GangStarr could be a threat, in New York we rep
That's where it comes from, that's why you're feelin it
So why suppress it, I'd rather be revealin it
Bright lights, big city and dark alleyways
New York we get the money all day everyday
"From New York straight talk, America's best"
In Gang Starr's song "New York Strait Talk," the lyrics praise the city of New York as the best in America. The rapper asserts that those who try to compete against the New York vibe will fail, and that New York rappers have a unique way of switching up their flows. The song suggests that the struggle to make it in New York is real, but if someone can succeed in the city, they can succeed anywhere.
The lyrics also critique the rap game, specifically calling out rappers who don't speak truthfully in their lyrics and can't perform live. The rapper notes that competition in New York keeps him on point and helps him create fresh new music, while acknowledging that the fast-paced lifestyle can be draining. Throughout the song, Gang Starr emphasizes the strong and unyielding spirit of New York, and how it shapes the artform of hip-hop.
Line by Line Meaning
From New York straight talk, America's best
New York has the best rap because we have a unique sound that keeps our listeners engaged.
Yo I'm not new to this I'm true to this
I have been rapping for a long time and I stay true to myself and my style.
Word up!
Agreeing with what was just stated or emphasizing a point.
Yo, it doesn't make sense, for you to compete against this New York vibe that gets your whole body tense
It's futile for other rappers to try and replicate our style because our music is unique and it makes you feel a certain way.
Calm down, listen to a brother who knows. Cause the rappers out here come up with mad different types of flows
Listen to an experienced rapper who knows what they're talking about because New York rappers have mastered multiple styles of rap.
Switch-up, change-up, yo pull the range up. So we can build on this shit, for real that's how we came up
Let's switch up our style and try something new, just like how we used to ride different trains to meet new people and build our careers.
Used to ride the subway trains back and forth. Now I push an E-Class, four-two-zero of course
I used to struggle to get around on the subway, but now I have a fancy car and I'm successful.
Still material gains, make one more aware. Of all the madness and the civil unrest that's out here
Even though we have achieved material success, we are still aware of the social and political issues that plague our communities.
I doubt there, is anyplace more complex. You can get lost in the sauce, New York'll have you vexed
New York is a complicated city and it's easy to get overwhelmed, confused, and frustrated here.
Who's next to get served, herbs'll get knocked off. Burning flammable rappers, is how I get my rocks off
I enjoy defeating weaker rappers and I do it in a creative and forceful way.
I pop your top off as if you were the bottle. Then I'll drain all your fluid, you're better off playing lotto
I'll easily defeat you in a rap battle and leave you feeling drained and hopeless.
True if you can make it out here, you can make it anywhere. That means a lot of rappers, they should stay away from here
If you can succeed in New York, you can succeed anywhere, which means that many rappers should avoid New York because it's too challenging.
Cause we still care, about the total artform. Niggaz could sell more records but they still can't flip a live forum
We value the art of rapping more than record sales and many rappers can't perform well live even if they sell a lot of records.
Rap is regional, so you can check the demographics. Everybody represent where they live, cause shit is drastic
Rap music is tied to specific regions and reflects the struggles and issues of those areas.
Confusion, while I'm givin rappers contusions. And people don't realize that real hip-hop is losing
There is chaos in the rap industry and while I am succeeding, real hip-hop is fading away.
Cause New York is too corrupt and too tough to lay down. And just quit, cause MC's out here kick serious lyrics
New York is a difficult and corrupt place to succeed, but our rappers are still creating great music despite the challenges.
GangStarr could be a threat, in New York we rep. That's where it comes from, that's why you're feelin it
Gang Starr represents New York and we are a force to be reckoned with in the rap industry.
So why suppress it, I'd rather be revealin it. Bright lights, big city and dark alleyways. New York we get the money all day everyday
We should embrace and celebrate our unique style of rap because New York is a city that never sleeps and our rappers are always making money.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER E MARTIN, KEITH ELAM, Christopher Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dufunitus
on Rite Where U Stand
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