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.
She Knowz What She Wantz
Gang Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To that woman that knows what she wants
And just how to get it, word up
She knows what she wants
Yo, she knows what she wants
She knows what she wants and just how to get it
Yeah, she knows what she wants
She knows what she wants
She knows what she wants and just how to get it
She knows what she wants, she's bold so she flaunts
Her hourglass jewels to mad clientele
Rejected oh well, she ain't goin to no hotel
Not the frantic freak type, but if you speak right
You get to take her out and dig her out on a weeknight
Weekends, she wants to spend your ends
Her shopping spree is colossal, attitude semi-hostile
Mack diva senorita, no reefer, no pizza, just
Shrimp and lobsters, champagne and mobsters
Suckin up the cream like a vac to a carpet
Strictly black market now you're her next target
Watch out, cause yo she knows what she wants
She knows what she wants
Yo, she knows what she wants
She knows what she wants and just how to get it
Spotted her in the club, with her crew nearby
Her looks are a lullaby, to pass us by, she's too fly
Never gunshy, hair is blown dry
She craves a wiseguy to help her gain amplify
So when you say, "Yo baby," she ain't gotta say hi to ya
Cause prior to this, he put rocks on her neck and wrist
Plus a fat joint on her finger
You best to have a batch of scratch and treats to bring her
And if you happen to luck up and get in
You'll find yourself another jealous trick-ass boyfriend
And furthermore the mink she's donning is stunning
Blinding your senses Dunn, never put the two
Before the one son
"It's the lesson well learned"
"It's going down!"
"It's the lesson well learned"
"It's going down!"
She knows what she wants
Yo, she knows what she wants
Yeah, she knows what she wants and just how to get it
Never fall victim to a chicken you was stickin
Even if you think the punanny might be finger-lickin
Never fall victim to a wicked woman's ways
"Why son?" She's trying to get paid, check it
One: She said she wanted to give me a son
Two: She said she didn't like my crew
Three: She never ever cooked for me
Four: She was my cheri amore -- YEAH RIGHT
It was all hype, I needed more insight
In retrospect, I know I slept from the first night
She did a split and that was it
Gave up my pimp license, and flipped my whole friggin script
But now I'm back like the Isley's moving wisely
Sizing up the situation, keeping honies waiting
Cause I got more to do, than to be sucked dry
This tough guy, will get by, while the chickens wonder why
I don't be callin cause it's like Ex to Next kid
I know what I want, and just how to get it
Like her, no disrespect Miss
The lyrics to Gang Starr's "She Knowz What She Wantz" are a tribute to a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. The song speaks of a confident and bold woman who flaunts her hourglass figure and jewels to attract wealthy men. She is selective in her choices, rejecting those who do not meet her standards, and she is not interested in casual encounters in hotels. The woman is a "mack diva senorita" who enjoys the finer things in life - shopping sprees, champagne, and high-end seafood with mobsters. She is a master of the black market and knows her worth, and will only date men who can afford to treat her like the queen she is.
The song highlights the importance of not falling victim to the charms of a manipulative woman who is out to get what she wants, regardless of the cost. The lyrics advise listeners to be wary of women who use their looks and sex appeal to gain expensive gifts and favors without any real connection or commitment. The song urge listeners to be smarter than that and to know what they want and how to get it.
In summary, the song portrays a strong and confident woman who knows her worth and how to get what she wants. It also cautions against being taken for a ride by manipulative women who are only after material things.
Line by Line Meaning
She knows what she wants
The woman is confident and clear about what she desires
Yo, she knows what she wants
Emphasizing her certainty and surety
Yeah, she knows what she wants
Reinforcing her knowledge of what she wants
She knows what she wants and just how to get it
She not only knows what she wants, but she also knows how to achieve her goals
She knows what she wants, she's bold so she flaunts
She's bold enough to show off her assets and confident enough to make it known what she wants
Her hourglass jewels to mad clientele
She puts her body on display for interested suitors
Rejected oh well, she ain't goin to no hotel
She's not going to settle for anything less than what she wants, and she won't compromise her standards just to please others
Not the frantic freak type, but if you speak right
She's not the type to be easily swayed or impressed, but if someone can convince her, she might be open to new experiences
You get to take her out and dig her out on a weeknight
If someone can impress her enough, they might get the chance to spend intimate time with her
Weekends, she wants to spend your ends
On weekends, she wants to spend a lot of money and be treated to luxurious experiences
Her shopping spree is colossal, attitude semi-hostile
She has expensive taste and an attitude that shows she won't tolerate anyone who can't keep up with her
Mack diva senorita, no reefer, no pizza, just
She's a sophisticated woman who doesn't partake in cheap habits; she prefers indulgence over simplicity
Suckin up the cream like a vac to a carpet
She's able to get what she wants easily and efficiently, like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dust
Strictly black market now you're her next target
She's not interested in conventional, legal ways of acquiring what she wants; instead, she prefers the excitement and risk of the black market
Watch out, cause yo she knows what she wants
Be careful around her because she's aware of what she wants and won't hesitate to go after it
Spotted her in the club, with her crew nearby
She's often seen in public with her group of friends, creating an intimidating appearance
Her looks are a lullaby, to pass us by, she's too fly
Her beauty is captivating and can put anyone in a trance
Never gunshy, hair is blown dry
She's always confident and ready to go, with her appearance perfectly polished
She craves a wiseguy to help her gain amplify
She's looking for a man who's smart and resourceful, who can help her get what she wants even more effectively
So when you say, "Yo baby," she ain't gotta say hi to ya
She's so confident in herself that she doesn't need anyone to initiate conversation with her; she knows she'll get attention regardless
Cause prior to this, he put rocks on her neck and wrist
She's already been given expensive gifts by other men, so she knows she deserves to be treated luxuriously
Plus a fat joint on her finger
She has a large and impressive diamond ring
You best to have a batch of scratch and treats to bring her
To attract her attention, the man needs to have a lot of money and something impressive to offer her
And if you happen to luck up and get in
If you're lucky enough to impress her and get close to her, that's a big accomplishment
You'll find yourself another jealous trick-ass boyfriend
Other men will be envious of your relationship with her, and they might try to cause trouble or fight for her affection
And furthermore the mink she's donning is stunning
She wears luxurious fur coats that add to her overall appearance and status
Blinding your senses Dunn, never put the two
Her appearance and attitude can be overwhelming, so it's important to separate the two and not let yourself get too infatuated
Before the one son
Her needs and desires should never be prioritized over your own
"It's the lesson well learned"
Reflecting on past experiences and learning from them
"It's going down!"
The situation is happening and becoming more intense and complex
Never fall victim to a chicken you was stickin
Don't let yourself be taken advantage of by a woman you're seeing or sleeping with
Even if you think the punanny might be finger-lickin
Even if you're really attracted to her, don't let those feelings cloud your judgment or make you vulnerable to manipulation or deceit
Never fall victim to a wicked woman's ways
Don't let a woman who's cunning or manipulative take advantage of you or your resources
"Why son?" She's trying to get paid, check it
Her motives are financial, and she's trying to use you or manipulate you for money
She said she wanted to give me a son
She made promises or hinted at wanting a long-term relationship or family with him
She said she didn't like my crew
She was dismissive or critical of his friends and tried to isolate him from them
She never ever cooked for me
She didn't make any effort to contribute to the relationship or show appreciation or affection
Four: She was my cheri amore -- YEAH RIGHT
She pretended to be his sweetie or love interest, but he now realizes it was all a lie
It was all hype, I needed more insight
He was blinded by the excitement and thrill of the relationship, and now he realizes he should have been more cautious and insightful from the beginning
In retrospect, I know I slept from the first night
He was too quick to trust and let his guard down, even from the first night they spent together
She did a split and that was it
She used sex as a way to lure him in and convince him to trust her, but then abandoned him once he was emotionally invested
Gave up my pimp license, and flipped my whole friggin script
He realized he needed to change his ways and not be so eager to trust or manipulate women; he now wants to focus on his own goals and interests
But now I'm back like the Isley's moving wisely
He has learned from his past mistakes and is now approaching relationships and life in a more thoughtful and mature way
Sizing up the situation, keeping honies waiting
He's taking his time to assess situations and people before getting involved, and he's not letting himself get too attached too quickly
Cause I got more to do, than to be sucked dry
He has other interests and goals that he wants to focus on, rather than letting himself be taken advantage of by women
This tough guy, will get by, while the chickens wonder why
He's a strong and independent person who won't be swayed or manipulated by others, and people who try to manipulate him will be left wondering why they couldn't succeed
I don't be callin cause it's like Ex to Next kid
He's not interested in continuing relationships or conversations with people who are insincere or manipulative; he's moving on and not looking back
I know what I want, and just how to get it
He's confident and clear about what he wants and how to achieve his goals
Like her, no disrespect Miss
He doesn't necessarily agree with or approve of the woman from the beginning of the song, but he still respects her confidence and assertiveness
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
Dufunitus
on Rite Where U Stand
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