Gang Starr: The Ownerz Vinyl 2LP Hot on Sale

2015 repress. Gang Starr s sixth and final album back on wax, triple vinyl to be exact. Here s what we said back when it was originally released: Why is that every two bit rapper drops an album quarterly, but Gang Starr made us wait longer than leap years? With 2003 s The Ownerz, the hiatus can be forgiven but you still wonder where all the time went. While this is a good album by any standard, it s the group s least consistent LP since No More Mr. Nice Guy, with too many hip-hop is bullshit rants and too few moments of pure magic that songs like You Know My Steez and Mass Appeal inspire. I d say at least they still know how to punch you in the gut though (the good way). The album kicks off lovely with Put Up Or Shut Up, a pugilistic pairing between Guru and Boston s Krumbsnatcha. Rite Where You Stand, is easily one of the best cuts here with Premier s head puncturing beat. Likewise, the group s first single, Skillz holds up as one of the album s certifiable classics (plus, you can dance to its uptempo rhythm). Guru scores one of the most brilliant songs in his long career on Riot Akt, regarded as the album s best track. Personally, I m more up into Same Team, No Games, some classic Primo head-nod shit that brings on newcomers the NYG z and H. Stax. Guru and Premier run back to the boulevard with the yell-fest Who Got Gunz, their high-caliber pairing with Fat Joe and MOP, while their 12 Nice Girl, Wrong Place, goes astray as a song more in the vein of Royalty and less like Lovesick. You know their steez.