Artist
Gang Starr
Gang Starr is a hip-hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, USA formed in 1987. 17 releases are catalogued on Riffiter.
Hip-Hop · Boston, Massachusetts, USA · Best hip-hop albums
- 17
- Releases
- 1989–2024
- Active years
- 1987
- Formed
Artist
Gang Starr is a hip-hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, USA formed in 1987. 17 releases are catalogued on Riffiter.
Hip-Hop · Boston, Massachusetts, USA · Best hip-hop albums
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and the DJ/producer DJ Premier. The group was founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1985 by Keith Elam (then known as Keithy E. The Guru) and DJ 1, 2 B-Down (also known as Mike Dee) with various producers, such as Donald D, J.V. Johnson or DJ Mark the 45 King helping out. In 1987 and 1988, Gang Starr released three 12" vinyl singles on Wild Pitch Records. In 1989, the group split and the only member willing to continue under the name Gang Starr was Guru. He soon got in touch with Houston native DJ Premier (then known as Waxmaster C) who sent him a beat tape, which Guru liked. He forced DJ Premier to join Gang Starr and in that same year they released their first single "Words I Manifest" along with the album No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989). In 1990, the group was signed to the Chrysalis record label by then A&R director Duff Marlowe, a former DJ and Los Angeles Times rap music critic. The London-based label offered Guru and Premier unlimited artistic license and major-label distribution worldwide, a platform the group used to become one of the most influential hip hop acts of that decade. During their…
