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.
Now You're Mine
Gang Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll never have the skills like mine
I write the ill type rhymes
Now I'm reaching my prime
360 dunk in your face
You can't compete, you're just a basket case
Let's separate the men from the boys
And put your money where your mouth is
Your game is weak, get it, so don't sleep
'cause I'll be checking and wrecking ya
When I start to creep
Through the backdoor
I know I caught you out there
You got no clout here
And I doubt there
Is anyway that you can stop the beat down
You better play the background
And sit back down
Chumps like you, I gotta keep'em in line
So prepare to suffer boy, 'cause now you're mine
I'll fake you left and go right
Straight down the lane
Here's one in your eye
You feel pain, you strain
To put together some strategy
But you're raggedy, and I'll be glad to see
The frown on your grill when i drill and thrill
Set out my offense, commence to kill
I'll be leading from beginning to end
And after I guard ya
You're gonna want to make friends
And make amends for the silly trash you were talking
Take a walk and your shots I'm swatting
With ease, and the ladies are swooning
Clocking my swiftness, why you drooling?
You ought ta practice up and get your game with mine
I been waiting to guard you, and now you're mine
Hurry up, sucker
Go ahead and pick your squad
Try to play hard, but I'ma rob
You of your crazy notions to defeat me
Your weak see
I rock all courts
And even get down to give you a rematch
After I wax and tax that butt
When I slam the alley oop
You can rally troops
But I play the awesome defense
I'll pick your pocket
And send you to the bench
With tears in your eyes as you realize
The prize is for me
Yes all the money
Son, my flow is too nice
My handle's precise
I'll fake you right and go left
Because my game's so def, and now you're mine
The lyrics of "Now You're Mine" by Gang Starr tells a story of a confident and skilled rapper who challenges a weaker opponent. The first verse indicates that the rapper has extraordinary skills that his opponent could never match. He claims to write "ill type rhymes" and speaks about a 360 dunk in his opponent's face. He challenges his opponent to back up his trash-talking with money and warns that he will anger him. The rapper states that he will be able to check and wreck his opponent and that he will creep through the back door. The verse demonstrates the rapper's overall confidence and warns his opponent to keep his game strong.
The second verse sees the rapper starting a physical attack. He wants to fake his opponent and go for an attack, but the opponent tries to strategize while his moves are raggedy. The rapper seems to enjoy the agony of his rival, and he always leads in the game. He has no problem shutting down his rival's shots and only letting down the opponent's frustration. He encourages his opponent to practice more and get his game better. As he has been waiting to guard him, he is now his "to control." The final lines of the verse indicate that the rapper is in charge and there's nothing his opponent can do about it.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo Duke, you're dead wrong
I must correct you and inform you, Duke, that you are mistaken.
You'll never have the skills like mine
You will never possess the same level of skill that I do.
I write the ill type rhymes
I create exceptional and impressive lyrics.
Now I'm reaching my prime
I am currently at the peak of my abilities.
360 dunk in your face
I will perform a 360 degree dunk directly in front of you.
You can't compete, you're just a basket case
You are unable to match my abilities, and you are incompetent.
Let's separate the men from the boys
Let's distinguish between those who are skilled and those who are not.
And put your money where your mouth is
You should back up your words with your actions and place a bet.
No time for toys
There is no space for playfulness - this is a serious matter.
Your game is weak, get it, so don't sleep
Your skills are inadequate, so do not underestimate me.
'cause I'll be checking and wrecking ya
I will scrutinize and defeat you with ease.
When I start to creep
When I approach stealthily and unsuspectingly.
Through the backdoor
I will gain access secretly and indirectly.
I know I caught you out there
I know I have caught you in a vulnerable position.
You got no clout here
You have no influence or power in this situation.
And I doubt there
I highly doubt that there is any way for you to succeed.
Is anyway that you can stop the beat down
There is no possible way for you to prevent the impending defeat.
You better play the background
You should stay in the background and observe, rather than participate.
And sit back down
Please take a seat again.
Chumps like you, I gotta keep'em in line
I must keep individuals like you under control and in order.
So prepare to suffer boy, 'cause now you're mine
Be prepared to experience pain and struggle, because I have now taken control and you are under my power.
I'll fake you left and go right
I will deceive you by pretending to move one way and actually moving in the opposite direction.
Straight down the lane
I will proceed directly down the court.
Here's one in your eye
I will score a point with ease, right in front of you.
You feel pain, you strain
You will experience discomfort and exertion in trying to keep up with me.
To put together some strategy
You must devise a plan in order to compete with me.
But you're raggedy, and I'll be glad to see
You are unorganized and untidy, and I will be pleased to witness your defeat.
The frown on your grill when i drill and thrill
The look of disappointment on your face when I easily score points will be satisfying to me.
Set out my offense, commence to kill
I will begin my offensive moves, ready to dominate and defeat you.
I'll be leading from beginning to end
I will remain in control of the game from start to finish.
And after I guard ya
After I successfully defend against your attacks.
You're gonna want to make friends
You will ultimately want to form an alliance with me due to my superior skills.
And make amends for the silly trash you were talking
You will want to apologize for speaking negatively and foolishly about me.
Take a walk and your shots I'm swatting
You will fail to score points, and I will easily deflect all of your shots.
With ease, and the ladies are swooning
I will excel effortlessly, and the women watching will be impressed and attracted to me.
Clocking my swiftness, why you drooling?
You will observe how fast and agile I am and be envious.
You ought ta practice up and get your game with mine
You should practice more and improve your skills in order to compete with me.
I been waiting to guard you, and now you're mine
I have been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to compete against you, and now I have full control over the game.
Hurry up, sucker
Move quickly and with haste, foolish individual.
Go ahead and pick your squad
Choose your team, if you dare.
Try to play hard, but I'ma rob
You will attempt to play well, but I will steal your success.
You of your crazy notions to defeat me
I will rid you of your unrealistic beliefs that you are able to defeat me.
Your weak see
You are weak and ineffective.
I rock all courts
I excel in all types of sports and athletic activities.
And even get down to give you a rematch
I am even willing to humiliate you again in a future game.
After I wax and tax that butt
After I easily defeat you and your team.
When I slam the alley oop
When I perform a difficult and impressive move and score points.
You can rally troops
You may attempt to gather and organize your teammates.
But I play the awesome defense
I am excellent at defending and preventing you from scoring.
I'll pick your pocket
I will steal the ball from you repeatedly and easily.
And send you to the bench
I will make you take a break from the game due to your lack of ability.
With tears in your eyes as you realize
You will be emotional and upset as you finally understand the severity of your defeat.
The prize is for me
The ultimate prize, victory, belongs to me and me alone.
Yes all the money
I will win all of the money associated with this competition.
Son, my flow is too nice
I am far too skilled and impressive for you to compete with.
My handle's precise
My ball-handling skills are exact and precise.
I'll fake you right and go left
I will deceive you by indicating that I will move one direction but then move in the opposite direction.
Because my game's so def, and now you're mine
My abilities are so exceptional that you are now under my control and will surely lose to me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRIS E. MARTIN, KEITH ELAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dufunitus
on Rite Where U Stand
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