History Music / GangStarr

In 2010, Guru died of heart cancer, shaking the hip-hop community to its foundations. DJ Premier did a tribute mix on his radio show called ''Live at Headquarterz'' in his honor.

* DreamTeam: Besides the duo themselves, we have:
** Guru, Lil' Dap, and Jeru the Damaja on "I'm the Man" and "Speak Ya Clout".
** Guru and Nice & Smooth on "DWYCK".
** Guru and [[Music/WuTangClan Inspektah Deck]] on "Above the Clouds".
** Guru, Big Shug, and Freddie Foxx (aka Bumpy Knuckles) on "The Militia".
** Guru and Music/{{Scarface}} on "Betrayal".

Along with a new single, "Words I Manifest", the duo released their debut album ''No More Mr. Nice Guy.'' The next year, a former DJ, Duff Marlowe, signed them to Creator/ChrysalisRecords. The album (and subsequent albums) [[TropeCodifier popularized]] the usage of {{jazz}} samples in hip-hop throughout the early-mid [[TheNineties '90s]], effectively creating what is known as Jazz Rap.

* NewSoundAlbum: Premier said in an interview that he wanted ''Hard to Earn'' to sound less musical than the previous three albums so's to avoid Gang Starr being pigeonholed as a "Jazz Rap" duo. As a result, some of the beats sound more atonal and dissonant. ''Moment of Truth'' also counts since it was made after Premo developed his SignatureStyle.

* CreepyMonotone: Guru was known for his subdued delivery, but the only true example of this trope in particular is "Take It Personal".

** Guru, Big Shug, and Freddie Foxx (aka Bumpy Knuckles)) on "The Militia".

** Earlier still, "The Lesson" features a minimalist drum machine-driven beat typical of rap at the time and even louder delivery from Guru, reminiscent of acts like Music/LLCoolJ. DJ Premier is also nowhere to be seen.

* GoldDigger: "She Knowz What She Wantz" warns listeners to avoid these.

* BaldOfAwesome: Guru.
--> ''That's why they call me Baldhead Slick''

In 2010, [[AuthorExistenceFailure Guru died of heart cancer,]] shaking the hip-hop community to its foundations. DJ Premier did a tribute mix on his radio show called ''Live at Headquarterz'' in his honor.

* ''[[PosthumousCollaboration One of The Best Yet]]'' - (2019)

* InstrumentalHipHop: "DJ Premier In Deep Concentration", featuring only DJ Premier on the turntables. Instrumental versions of ''Step Into the Arena'', ''Hard to Earn'' & ''The Ownerz'' were also released alongside their vocal counterparts.

* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: The second verse of "Moment of Truth", about how even though Guru is fearful of his situation, he'll remain calm and not buckle under the pressure.
-->''The situation that I'm facin, is mad amazin''
-->''To think such problems can arise from minor confrontations''
-->''Now I'm contemplatin in my bedroom pacin''
-->''Dark clouds over my head, my heart's racin''
-->''Suicide? nah, I'm not a foolish guy''
-->''Don't even feel like drinking, or even gettin high''
-->''Cause all that's gonna do really, is accelerate''
-->''The anxieties that I wish I could alleviate''
-->''But wait, I've been through a whole lot of other shit, before''
-->''So I oughta be able, to withstand some more''
-->''But I'm sweating though, my eyes are turning red and yo''
-->''I'm ready to lose my mind but instead I use my mind''
-->''I put down the knife, and take the bullets out my nine''
-->''My only crime, was that I'm too damn kind''
-->''And now some scandalous motherfuckers wanna take what's mine''
-->''But they can't take the respect, that I've earned in my lifetime''
-->''And you know they'll never stop the furious force of my rhymes''
-->''So like they say, every dog has its day''
-->''And like they say, God works in a mysterious way''
-->''So I pray, remembering the days of my youth''
-->''As I prepare to meet my moment of truth''

In 2019, [[CueTheFLyingPigs pigs flew]], and a new Gang Starr single dropped out of nowhere: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMsdzxuldQM Family & Loyalty]], featuring Music/JCole. Even more shocking was the announcement of a brand new album from the duo: *One Of The Best Yet*, the group's first album in nearly *two decades*, featuring unreleased vocals from Guru, a bevy of special guests, and new beats from Premier.

* InstrumentalHipHop: "DJ Premier In Deep Concentration", featuring only DJ Premier on the turntables.