Hard To Earn – Gang Starr – Released March 8th, 1994, Chrysalis/EMI Records
Hard To Earn is the fourth album from Gang Starr, following on from 1992’s Daily Operation.
Gang Starr was one of the greatest duos in hiphop history, comprised of acclaimed DJ/producer DJ Premier and rapper Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal), who sadly passed back in 2010.
Jeru Da Damaja, Lil Dap, Melachi the Nutcracker, Greg Nice, Smooth B and Big Shug also feature as guest rappers.
The album consists of 17 tracks, though obviously, being a 90s hiphop album, this includes several skits and instrumental interludes along with the full songs.
Hard to Earn may not be my favourite Gang Starr album, but it’s a Gang Starr album none the less. So, by definition, it’s already of higher quality than the vast amount of the hiphop that’s out there. And it’s obviously jam-packed with bangers.
With the name Gang Starr, you’re also guaranteed a higher degree of style and lyrical complexity than your average rap album. You can always rely on Guru to come through with his unique cadence and swagger, whether he’s documenting life on the mean streets, seeking to educate and spiritually elevate or, in most cases, both.
By his side is DJ Premier, DJ and producer extraordinaire, dropping some of the dopest beats in the business. Raw, gritty and underground, but always showing reverence to the source material, especially when borrowing from the greats of jazz.
Case in point, there’s Code Of The Streets, sampling Little Green Apples by Monk Higgins, one of the standout tracks on this album.
Code Of The Streets – Gang Starr
DWYCK is a minimal groove consisting of a simple yet effective beat and bassline combo from Premier while Guru’s verse sits between versus from guest rappers Nice & Smooth. Really enjoy this one.
DWYCK – Gang Starr
Mass Appeal is another highlight for me, again it consists of a simple and raw yet compelling backing track from Premier while Guru blasts all those wack sellouts going after the mass appeal.
Mass Appeal – Gang Starr
Blowin’ Up The Spot sees Guru deliver on the track’s premise while Premier borrows a loop from George Clinton, albeit in a defiantly East Coast fashion.
Blowin’ Up The Spot – Gang Starr
Suckas Need Bodyguards featuring Melachi the Nutcracker has a rough beat and a killer hook, “fake MCs they always act hard but won’t walk the streets without dey bodyguard.” This one is likely to play in your head for a while.
Suckas Need Bodyguards – Gang Starr
Now You’re Mine is another perfect example of Premier’s penchant for sampling jazz greats while putting his unique stamp on them.
In this case he borrows from legendary drummer Buddy Rich but he pitches it up and loops just the tiniest snippet of a sample to create a knockout one-two horns and upright bass combo over which Guru then delivers the final knockout blow.
Now You’re Mine – Gang Starr
F.A.L.A (fuck around, lay around) bristles with pure old skool East Coast bravado and sees Guru joined by Big Shug, one of the original members of Gang Starr in the pre-Premier era.
F.A.L.A – Gang Starr
Comin’ For Datazz is the final track on the album, just to clarify they’re coming for dat ass, rather than your datas, your data is perfectly safe with Guru, dat ass, not so much.
Here’s another perfect example of Premier’s ability to take a short sample and mutate it to the point where it’s barely recognisable. The main beat comes from the track Blind Alley by Chicago soul trio The Emotions, but again it’s a blink and you’ll miss it snippet that’s been repitched and put through the ringer so the point where it becomes something new entirely.
Comin’ For Datazz – Gang Starr
Hard To Beat
Like I said, you see the name Gang Starr and you know it’s going to be quality.
Guru is one of my favourite rappers of all time. He has a style and tone all of his own and a legacy that places him in the pantheon of all-time hiphop greats. Hard to believe it’s been 14 years since he passed.
And then we have Premier, one of the best beatmakers in the business and I’m inclined to say the best, since nobody can dig crates and flip samples quite like he does.
But Premier’s true superpower is his ability to match beats to rhymes, creating tracks which perfectly compliment not just the style of whoever he’s working with, but the theme and message too.
But of all the teamups he’s had over the years, nothing quite matched that partnership with Guru. If you’re a fan of hiphop you need this album. In fact, let me be blunt, you need all theGang Starr albums.