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.
Words From The Nutcracker
Gang Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uplift your soul and make the brothers want to roll.
Sixteen years old, with heart that's gold.
Yo, check it, check it out, like this, here we go.
Run around the streets, cold strapped like an alley rat,
But now I'm gettin' much props, like a fat cat.
A young mack, but I don't think I'm all that.
I just can't sweat another brother's bozack.
Gonna swim in big bucks, like Scrooge McDuck.
And if ya don't like and you want to step up,
Then open your mouth, and suck my nuts.
Melachi the Nutcracker, I'm always gettin' blacker,
Fatter, I bust a fat rhyme to make your head shatter.
I'm from the Bronx, New York City.
The big fuckin' apple, where the niggaz get busy.
God bless the dead, and God rest my pops.
Peace to the niggaz goin' out bustin' shots...
In Gang Starr's "Words From The Nutcracker," the lyrics paint a picture of a young man forced to navigate the harsh realities of life on the streets. The opening lines, "Sick thoughts on my mind, with no self-control. Uplift your soul and make the brothers want to roll," set the tone for the song, with the singer struggling to keep his head above water while simultaneously trying to inspire those around him. He reflects on his youth as a sixteen year old with a good heart, but acknowledges his current reality of being cold and strapped like an alley rat.
Amidst the struggles, the singer refuses to give up hope on a better future, believing that he and those around him are destined to swim in "big bucks, like Scrooge McDuck." He challenges those who doubt him to "open [their] mouth, and suck my nuts," a line that reflects both his defiance and desperation to prove himself. Throughout the song, he asserts his identity as "Melachi the Nutcracker" and uses his rhymes to empower himself and those like him.
Overall, the lyrics of "Words From The Nutcracker" highlight the complex reality of life on the streets, where hope and despair often exist side by side, and where strength is found in the ability to persevere.
Line by Line Meaning
Sick thoughts on my mind, with no self-control.
My mind is troubled with disturbing thoughts and I don't have any control over them.
Uplift your soul and make the brothers want to roll.
Inspire and motivate your spirit to make people want to groove and move to the beat.
Sixteen years old, with heart that's gold.
I am a young person with a pure and good heart.
Yo, check it, check it out, like this, here we go.
Hey, pay attention because I'm about to start something.
Run around the streets, cold strapped like an alley rat,
I used to roam the streets with a weapon like a rat in the alley, always prepared.
But now I'm gettin' much props, like a fat cat.
Now I'm receiving a lot of praise and recognition, like a wealthy and powerful person.
A young mack, but I don't think I'm all that.
I am a young player (womanizer) but I don't consider myself as superior to others.
I just can't sweat another brother's bozack.
I don't care about another man's genitals or what he has to say.
So what the fuck, y'all movin' on up;
So what the hell, you're progressing and advancing in life;
Gonna swim in big bucks, like Scrooge McDuck.
Going to be financially wealthy, just like the cartoon character Scrooge McDuck who swims in a pool of gold coins.
And if ya don't like and you want to step up,
And if you don't like it and want to challenge me,
Then open your mouth, and suck my nuts.
Then talk trash and insult me, you're just wasting your time.
Melachi the Nutcracker, I'm always gettin' blacker,
I am Melachi the Nutcracker, as I age, my skin gets darker.
Fatter, I bust a fat rhyme to make your head shatter.
I am also becoming heavier (fatter) and I rap so well that it can blow your mind.
I'm from the Bronx, New York City.
I come from the Bronx, a borough of New York City.
The big fuckin' apple, where the niggaz get busy.
It's also known as the Big Apple and it's a place where black people are always active and hustling.
God bless the dead, and God rest my pops.
May the souls of the deceased be blessed, and I hope my father is resting peacefully in the afterlife.
Peace to the niggaz goin' out bustin' shots...
I wish for peace for those who are involved in gun violence.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: CHRISTOPHER E MARTIN, KEITH ELAM, JAMEL FELDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Rite Where U Stand
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