Founded in 1987, Gang Starr built a sizable following in the early 90's, releasing classic albums like Step in the Arena (1991) and Daily Operation (1992). Guru's lyrical style was based on battle rhymes delivered smoothly, modestly, and with sly wit; he typically avoided using overwhelming charisma, focusing instead on his rhyming ability. Over the years he even took on younger rappers, including Jeru the Damaja, as proteges. He is credited, along with DJ Premier, for the executive production of Jeru's debut, The Sun Rises in the East (1994).
In 1993, he released his first solo album, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1. The album featured collaborations with Donald Byrd, N'Dea Davenport, Dee C. Lee, and Roy Ayers, whilst his second LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, featured Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis, and Jamiroquai. The Jazzmatazz albums have been met with mixed reviews, Guru continued with Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul (2000) and Baldhead Slick & Da Click (2001).
Moreover, recent Gang Starr albums have continued to garner Guru critical acclaim. Prominent Boston underground rapper Mr. Lif frequently cites Guru as a major stylistic influence; he appears as a guest with Lif on the Perceptionists' debut album, Black Dialogue (2005).
Besides Gang Starr, his Jazzmatazz and solo albums, Guru collaborated with countless artists since the early 90s. Not only in Hip-Hop, but also with artists from various genres such as pop, electronica/dance, acid jazz, and even brass bands.
His "first proper solo album", in his own words, was Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures (2005), released with the help of producer and new backup MC/producer Solar. The album reached #1 on the college hip-hop charts, but was a failure with both fans and critics. It still managed to sell relatively well for an independent release.
Guru's latest project is the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, entirely produced by Solar. It was released in early June 2007 and received good reviews and comments from fans.
In 2007 Guru was ranked at 45 for the Top 50 MCs of our time: 1987-2007
On February 28th 2010, Guru suffered a severe heart attack and was in a coma. He passed away on April 19, 2010 at the age of 49 after a long battle with cancer.
Theres another artist with the same name:
2. Guru also refers to a Ghanaian hip-hop artist known for his single "LaPaz Toyota" and the song "Akayida" - basis for a azonto dance craze
No Time To Play
Guru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't got no time to play
Gotta make moves
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves with no delay
Never no time to play
(No time to play)
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
(I gotta make moves)
Gotta make moves
Nope, I can't stop
Nope, I can't stop to talk
I gotta go, I gotta go, yo
Basically I'm a brother they depend on, lean on
So now I gotta be gone, I gotta keep strong
Always stayin' busy, kid 'cause I can never fall off
Laziness ain't gettin' to me
There's too much opportunity
And I'm not waitin' for no one
'Cause slow ones, they don't get nuttin' done, son
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
(No time to play)
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves with no delay
(I gotta make moves)
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
(No time to play)
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves
(I gotta make moves)
Your time is runnin' short, sport
Make a move or get caught
Nothing lasts forever, nothing lasts forever, baby
Maybe, you shouldn't act so crazy
Instead of tryin' to be the man
You could really be the man
If you had a plan, understand?
But I'm not the one to be waitin' for ya
Back in the day, I used to do stuff for ya
Now I'm warnin' ya
That you really ain't no pimp, you wimp
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
(No time to play)
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves with no delay
(I gotta make moves)
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
(I gotta make moves)
Gotta make moves
I gotta make moves, each and every day
I need the cash, I need the cash money
With my rhyme display, I may take all the paper wild
I guess I have the know-how
When you see me in the house you better go
"What's up G? What's up Gang?"
Then give me a pound because I've been down
Dedicated and I've waited for my turn
'Cause respect is somethin' you earn
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
(Uh, I gotta make moves)
Gotta make moves with no delay
Never no time to play
(No time to play)
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
(I gotta make moves)
Gotta make moves
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves with no delay
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves
Never no time to play
No time to play, ah
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves
Ain't got no time
I ain't got no time
Ain't got no time
I ain't got no time
(No time to play)
I ain't got no time
(No time to play)
No time to play
(No time to play)
Ain't got no time
(No time to play)
(No, no time to play)
(No time to play)
I ain't got no time
(No time to play)
I ain't got no time
(No time to play)
No time to play
(No time to play)
Ain't got no time
I ain't got no time
I ain't got no time
Never have the time
Never no time to play
No time to play
No time to play
No time to play
No time to play
My man Ronny Jordan gets busy on guitar
DC Lee and Big Shug in the house
Big shouts to the crew
"Whassup?" To the Cutthroats, slicker than most
I ain't got no time, yo, so I'm gone, I'm gone
In the song "No Time To Play," Guru talks about how he can't waste time on anything that isn't work-related. The beat is produced by DJ Premier, and the song boasts the classic boom-bap sound that Premier is known for. Guru admits that he used to have more time to waste but, now that there is money to be made, he can't afford to take breaks.
He raps about how he is always busy, always working, and always moving towards his goals. The hook of the song repeats the phrase "Never no time to play," which emphasizes that he has to stay focused and make the most of every moment. Even when someone tries to talk to him, he can't stop or slow down; he has to keep going. Moreover, he warns people to make moves or get left behind, and how respect is something you earn.
One of the interesting things about this song is that it features two samples from two classic soul songs. The piano loop in the background is taken from "I Keep Asking You Questions" by Black Ivory, and the vocal sample is from "I Want to Be Your Everything" by Manhattans. As for the song's theme, it is a common theme found in hip-hop music, where rappers talk about how they have to hustle and grind to make something out of themselves. The song has been regarded as one of the classics of the 1990s hip-hop movement.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, I'm tired of chumps tryin' to waste my time
I'm fed up with people trying to waste my time.
I ain't got no time to play
I don't have time to waste.
Gotta make moves
I need to take action.
Never no time to play
I never have free time.
Gotta keep workin' every day
I need to continue being productive daily.
Gotta make moves with no delay
I must act quickly to get things done.
Nope, I can't stop
I can't afford to stop and rest.
Nope, I can't stop to talk
I don't even have time for casual conversation.
Basically I'm a brother they depend on, lean on
People rely on me to be there for them.
So now I gotta be gone, I gotta keep strong
I have to leave to take care of my responsibilities.
Always stayin' busy, kid 'cause I can never fall off
I keep myself occupied to avoid failure.
Laziness ain't gettin' to me
I am not going to allow myself to become lazy.
There's too much opportunity
There are too many chances to succeed.
And I'm not waitin' for no one
I am not wasting time waiting for someone else to take action.
'Cause slow ones, they don't get nuttin' done, son
People who take it slow do not accomplish much.
Your time is runnin' short, sport
Time is limited, so act quickly.
Make a move or get caught
You need to take action or risk falling behind.
Nothing lasts forever, nothing lasts forever, baby
Time is limited, and nothing is permanent.
Maybe, you shouldn't act so crazy
Perhaps you need to calm down and make a smart move.
Instead of tryin' to be the man
Don't focus solely on trying to be the center of attention.
You could really be the man
You can achieve your goals if you plan appropriately.
If you had a plan, understand?
Having a plan is crucial to success.
But I'm not the one to be waitin' for ya
I am not going to wait for someone else to act.
Back in the day, I used to do stuff for ya
I helped you in the past, but things have changed.
Now I'm warnin' ya
I am cautioning you.
That you really ain't no pimp, you wimp
You are not as successful as you pretend to be.
I gotta make moves, each and every day
I have to take action every day to reach my goals.
I need the cash, I need the cash money
I need money to achieve my goals.
With my rhyme display, I may take all the paper wild
I can potentially make a lot of money with my music.
I guess I have the know-how
I am capable of succeeding.
When you see me in the house you better go
Acknowledge me when you see me.
"What's up G? What's up Gang?"
Greet me when we meet.
Then give me a pound because I've been down
Show me respect because I have been through a lot.
Dedicated and I've waited for my turn
I have worked hard and been patient to get where I am.
'Cause respect is somethin' you earn
Respect is not given, it must be earned.
My man Ronny Jordan gets busy on guitar
Ronny Jordan is a talented guitarist.
DC Lee and Big Shug in the house
My friends are with me.
Big shouts to the crew
Acknowledgement to my support circle.
"Whassup?" To the Cutthroats, slicker than most
Shout-out to the Cutthroats, who are skilled and dangerous.
I ain't got no time, yo, so I'm gone, I'm gone
I don't have time for anything right now.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Keith Elam, Barry Eugene White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Staalstraal
I used to play this before work. Helped me through the day. GURU R.I.P.
@forestdwellerresearch6593
So did i. I had it on my headphones when people still had those. Just commuting to work and feeling good with it. Great music helps us get through the day.
@nistramo
Same here!!!!!!
@defvanas
A big help and a great mis❤️
@RoamingHeathen
Man … this comment was 11 years ago. I keep forgetting how long ago we lost Guru. Also something about being able to connect with comments from years past and see the love of music stay strong throughout decades … I love it
@369ucc
Peace and love family 🛸
@danizm4165
RIP Ronny and Guru two masters of their craft! Their music lives on forever..
@Mclenchie
Ahh shit when did Ronnie J die?
@danizm4165
@@Mclenchie back in 2014,
@massimomuntoni93
what a dope song, love this type of songs with jazzy vibes, Guru was one of the realest mc's! respect from Italy.
RIP Guru, gone but never forgotten