Mass Appeal is an absolute classic, and Hard to Earn is such a fire album.

Man I think we need a video about T.R.O.Y. by Pete rock and Cl Smooth the story behind the beat is simply crazy

Ahh yes. John Williams. Mr. “if you want your movie at the Oscars just let me cook”

Preemo is one of the GOATs of hip hop man, and he’s still doing it at just as high a level as always. That hip hop 50 EP has the hottest beats I’ve heard this year.

Rest in power guru, gifted unlimited rhymes universal known as baldhead slick the king of monotone.

To all those people that argue hip hop isn’t art (there are still quite a few of them), this man (Preemo) literally found a two second snippet of an obscure jazz song off an obscure record and literally made one of the best and most recognizable beats in hip hop history from it. Not only that, but he knew exactly *which* two seconds were the *right* two seconds. That is the work of an extremely talented “artist”.

I waited on Premiere's table at a restaurant in LA early 2000s. Gangstarr is just incredible. Premiere or GURU seperate or together make incredible music. Premo was super cool... After his meal he signed my Mass Appeal 12"s. I have them framed on my wall to this day!

"...i represent, set up sh*t like a tent boy, you're paranoid 'cuz you're a son like Elroy..." RIP Guru

Mass Appeal singlehandly got me into boom bap hip hop. Played it on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 repeatedly as a kid. I had never heard something so catchy and funky, timeless classic 🔥

Fact: In 1994, DJ Premier and Guru had dropped this project in March then a month later in April, Nas dropped Illmatic, in which, Preemo helped produced, both changing the rap game forever #LivinLegends

First GangStarr song I ever heard. It represents one of my earliest memories with Hip Hop. R.I.P. Guru.

Sample snitching reminds me of the Magician’s Alliance from Arrested Development protecting their secrets 😂

I think this album got me tuned to jazz and I thank them for that.

We lost Guru on the same day I lost my old man. Much love from the UK

The way you break down these hiphop gems is masterful and entertaining. The production and format are on point too. Fantastic channel

I'd love to see you do a video on 90s Memphis Rap! So much history and influence, and so many dope samples!

Awww man, this is dope! I was just binging a bunch of his “So Wassup?” videos a few hours ago. Great vid as always!

Lol… I’ve always felt John Williams was the DJ Premier of film scores and Premo the John Williams of HipHop. To hear you say it, gave me chills and I appreciate you recognizing the legend/maestro in this realm. I’ve always wished they would have collaborated to some degree, an age old dream of mine. I see him perform at Tanglewood’s Film night every summer. A perfect cap to the season. Much success with the channel.

I mean, an I wrong for loving The Full Clip album as an album? Not just a greatest hits record, this album was a journey. Mass Appeal enlightened my mind and broadened my horizons of what hip hop could be.

Gang Starr is my ALL TIME favorite Group. I can't name Any Hip Hop group that progresses after each album. Some may Explode on the first album then Bomb (BOOOoooo) on the next. Some have lengthy careers, but track record is not consistent. Gang Starr wasn't just consistent, their album's got better & BETTER, harder & HARDER each step of the way. THANKS FOR THE UPLOAD BRO!!!

Superb. Loved growing up in the Gangstarr era

Everything about 94” hip hop records/album is apex...

Speaking of elevator music: You should check out the song Ho Happy Jackie on AZ 1995 debut album Doe or Die. The beat is literally what I imagine would play at the elevator at the mall in the 80s or maybe even in a waiting room, yet it works so fucking well! AZ first appeared as the only feature on Nas' debut, Illmatic. Something about that opening verse on Life's a Bitch hit so hard that I just had to do a deep dive into his entire discography. It is worth doing yourself if you like old school hip hop. AZ has the flow, lyrics, voice and knows what beats are worth rapping over! Please Mr. Digging, make a video about one of AZ's tracks... Perhaps Life Goes On Feat: Common and Allure??

Jeru’s The Sun Rises In The East is Preemo at his best IMHO

"Hard To Earn" set the tone for "Moment Of Truth" to go gold. That RIAA certification was long overdue and well deserved.

Mass Appeal is my favorite Gangstarr song. And that's saying a lot! RIP GURU.

Awesome comparison between Preemo and John Williams, who frequently references classical compositions in his film scores. Fun fact, Williams son is the lead singer of the band Toto, of "Africa" fame

You’re my favorite channel on KZfaq. I like how you pay homage to the greats of hip hop. Gangstarr has to be one of the greatest groups of music. Primo and Guru created the soundtrack to our lives. Appreciate your channel and all of your content. Peace!

This channel made me fall in love with hip-hop again. Thank you for the excellent content.

This one hits home!! I'm a huge Gang Starr / Preemo / Guru fan, and am SO stoked you finally dropped a video about them! Hope to see more in the future! Also, I had to pause the video to cop that squiggle slip mat, shit is so cold!! Keep it Bshawwwwww

You dude, love your stuff. When can we get another live set.??

And don’t forget the Armand Van Helden track Hot Butter that flips this beat with Q-tip’s “hot butter on what say what the popcorn” lyric, thus extending the joke

I remember trying to remake this beat when I was like 15 and the snares/kicks being the way they were absolutely confused me to no end. He's a damn genius!!!

Fantastic that you made a comparison with John Williams and Premiere. Ive always loved John Williams and because he originally started as a Jazz musician, i can only imagine what symphonic boom bap head nodders they could create. Just imagine..Mindblowing! 🎧🖤

When you started scratching in the youngsta "Moneys growing like grass with the mass appeal" I got the fuck up out my seat and had to salute. Bro you have not missed yet! And I look forward to you breaking down each and everyone of my personal classics.

Your content is why KZfaq exists. Appreciate your work!

I love this beat in spite of how simple it is. The first time I heard it I was scratching my head. How can this be so simple and so dope at the same time?

Gamgstarr is so dope 🔥 and I still bump it to this day

3 in the morning bumping through the Bronx when the streets was quiet. It was a dark strange sound. The Doppler effect as the car drives by with that piano chirping sounded crazy.

Class A entertainer, this guy. Watching your videos doesn't really feel like youtube, it feels more like reading a book. Super dope content.

In my opinion Gang Starr's best song, also one of the most iconic beats in hip hop history

Great job in analyzing this hip-hop. Legend, producer, productions.

I thoroughly enjoy your channel. Probably the only channel I don’t speed up to watch! 🔥🔥🔥

“Radio” hit is kinda strong. I don’t know this song from the radio, tho’ it was big for a Gangstarr record. Great content

John Williams is the DJ Premier of movie scores

One of the greatest producers of all times... And don't forget he's from the south!

Classic Album 💿🎙🙏🏾🙏🏿❤️👑

"Mass Appeal" has the kind of beat that's repetitive but you don't want to stop listening to it.

My favorite of all time! Gives me goosebumps

Premo and Pete Rock forever. The two goats that made me want to begin making beats

Another awesome episode. Would love to see you put out something on Dj Premier and PE State of the union.

I laughed at how at the end of each of your videos, you say, buy you have to peep this video to get the brilliance of my knowledge! So super dope, your like poetry in motion! Keep bringing your brilliance brother!

Top 10 beat in all of hip hop

Love Hard to Earn…”Speak ya Clout” is sonically on another level…particularly the music for Lil Daps verse

Bruh ... Mass Appeal is one of many tracks in Hip Hop that has influenced my approach on sample flips! Much respect to Premier and Rest Easy King Keith "Guru" Elam 👑👑

I love you channel. Not only is it entertaining as hell, i learn soemthint new ever time. Being a hip hop head that not often a video will teach me something. Plus you remind me of songs i forgot about long ago.

He caught that piece very well

The face I made when you matched the sample with the drums. 😣😝🔥🎶

This channel is by far the best thing on KZfaq.

We used to make this beat riding back from sports events back in high school… like 4-5 beat boxing. The good old days

This album and .. dailly op and moment are their best albums

Loved this video. Comparing Premier to John Williams is so on point - both absolute masters of their craft that do it like nobody else and are instantly identifiable. Keep up the great work, your videos are really inspiring!

"We made it as a joke" Fans: Jokes on you, we love it 👍

Missed this one when it dropped by 🔥🔥🔥 keep dropping!

Guru is one of our most underappreciated legends

oh yeah! I was so waiting for you to cover some Gang Starr. Gonna be a blast, I'm sure of it.

in my Record colection since it came out!

Oh man. Hopefully we get a video based off LoTUG

Yo you even did some cuts!!!! Lol I’m dead. Love it!!

Just ordered the slipmats, and sticker pack! Gonna use em out here in AZ!

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with “sample snitching” at all! I love finding the original samples and opening myself to a whole new genre of good music.

I need to get into more Gang Starr tbh, I'd love to see a video about Nujabes at some point

Great video. Love hearing the story behind these classics. My favourites from Hard to Earn were Code of the Streets and Blowin’ Up the Spot. Nigh on 30 years have flown by since I bought this one on cassette 😅

Glad you did a video on Gang Starr!

That was dope. I love your channel, man!

i’m so happy i found this youtube account i could watch these for hours

Always One of the best yet! oh and ive got to get me those slipmats.

Great video as always. Hard to Earn will always have a special place in my heart as the first CD I ever bought

When this came out, it seemed like the natural progression of beats and rhymes from the dynamic duo of hip hop

I was just listening to this yesterday.

Great video! Always look forward to your new uploads man!

LETS GOOO! I WANT MORE GANG STARR VIDEOS!!

I think a video on the various Jazzmatazz could be really good

Mass Appeal is one of my top 5 favorite Hip Hop tracks of all time. Raekwon's Ice Cream & Above The Law Black Superman is in that top 5 as well.😎

First, it took years to find the original sample of "Mass Appeal" and it was a real cheesy fusion LP. The sample itself is an extremely short little riff. Premier's ear is impeccable in finding the tiniest sound to sample. Second, the fact that Premier thought this is what mainstream hip-hop sounded like in '93/'94 is hilarious cause there are many mainstream hip-hop songs from that era that are classics today.

Such a perfect breakdown of this song. Keep Diggin!!

Yo Big up from France Paris ✌️ Gangstarr ft MC Solar Haha that was dope!

Not sure if Gang Starr and "Sabrina" have ever been mentioned in the same context, but both are DOPE... I'm all for it!

Really enjoyed your production 🔥

Another stroke of genius....

If Premier was trying to do what you're saying he was, then he failed. Instead, what he did was create an elegant, seemingly simple and gritty sound that you listen to in the back of the bus with headphones on while you watch the city pass by through the window. It's a masterpiece of Hip Hop... No worries "Primo" we can't win em all...

GangStarr and Black Star are my two favorite groups of all time.

just ordered my slipmat.. tracksthinkin.. geeeah!!

8:46 Incredible summary.

"What's the deal with all you break-record cats, SNITCHING, and put us on the back of records saying we used staff. That's violating, straight up and down."

Salute to my brother Premier! I was wondering...will you ever be doing a video on one of Pete Rock's productions? You mentioned him in several of your videos but you haven't done a video on him yet...I would love to see that!👍🏾🎶🔥👑💯

You should do some content on DJ Paul and Juicy J and Three Six Mafia! The way the beat flows with the vocals is surreal

I've been A Gangstarr fan since "Positivity" 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Wow, I had no idea! I had the song play my entire sophomore year of college as if it was my theme song.

tuesdays were always my favorite day. if you know, you know.