Editor’s Note: From Albumism’s inception back in 2016, we’ve remained unabashedly and unequivocally passionate about our mission of celebrating the world's love affairs with albums past, present and future.

But while our devotion to the album as an art form has remained steadfast, as evidenced by our deepening repository of individual album tributes and reviews, we’ve admittedly seldom taken the opportunity to explicitly articulate our reverence for the virtues of artists’ complete album repertoires as a whole.

Hence why we’ve decided to showcase what we believe to be the most dynamic discographies of all time in this recurring series. In doing so, we hope to better understand the broader creative context within which our most beloved individual albums exist, while acknowledging the full breadth of their creators’ artistry, career arcs, and overall contributions to the ever-evolving musical landscape.

We hope you enjoy this series and be sure to check here periodically for the latest installments.

GANG STARR

Gang Starr are the embodiment of hip-hop. The duo, comprised of Keith “Guru” Elam and Christopher “DJ Premier” Martin, typify what the art form is at its peak. Between 1989 and 2003, the group graced us with six full albums, a two-volume “greatest hits” release (1999’s Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr), and a handful of soundtrack-only compositions. Overall, their recorded output represented some of the best music of the era.

Though the group is sometimes thought of as emblematic of New York City’s ’90s and early ’00s hip-hop scene, neither member was from the Big Apple. Guru was Boston born and bred, while DJ Premier migrated to NYC via Prairie View, TX. Both became respected artists on their own. As a solo artist, Guru released the respectable and occasionally incredible Jazzmatazz series, while DJ Premier is considered one of the most gifted hip-hop producers to ever draw breath.

However, the pair always seemed at their strongest when they were working together. Guru’s smoky baritone sounded best when delivered over Preemo’s tracks, and symbiotically, Preemo’s brand of expertly chopped and manipulated boom-bap was at its best when paired with Guru’s rhymes.

The duo’s initial offering, No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989), showed inklings of the group’s talents, but their debut seems like a first draft in retrospect. The pair was able to make a substantial leap on their follow-up Step in the Arena (1991), utilizing their meats-and-potatoes approach to hip-hop. They eschewed gimmicks and flash in favor of focusing on creating dope music for its own sake. This philosophy carried them through an incredible run of albums throughout the 1990s, as they released universally revered gems like Daily Operation (1992), Hard to Earn (1994), and Moment of Truth (1998).

Sadly, there aren’t going to be anymore Gang Starr albums. Guru and Premier stopped recording music together in the mid ’00s, as Guru got involved with controversial producer Solar (the less said about Solar, the better). Guru died in 2010, and hip-hop music has felt the massive void ever since. After a year’s worth of effort, Premier’s representatives negotiated the purchase of about 30 unused Guru verses and hooks from Solar. This resulted in Preemo putting together One of the Best Yet (2019), one of the strongest posthumous albums ever. Though Guru had been gone for nearly a decade, it still feels like a vintage Gang Starr album.

Though the term “real hip-hop” has become hackneyed and cringe-inducing, Gang Starr absolutely manifested what it signifies. The music just feels authentic as it escapes your speakers or headphones. There was nothing fake about Gang Starr, as they set a bar for which other “true” hip-hop artists can and should be judged by.

Jesse’s 3 Favorite Gang Starr Albums of All Time:

1. Hard to Earn (1994)
2. Moment of Truth (1998)
3. Step in the Arena (1991)

VISIT Gang Starr’s Official Store

LISTEN & WATCH: