Gang Starr announce first album in 16 years, share "Bad Name"
Last month, DJ Premier unearthed some posthumous Guru vocals and put together the first Gang Starr song in 16 years, "Family and Loyalty" featuring J. Cole. Today, he announced an entire new Gang Starr album, titled One of the Best Yet and due November 1 via TTT/Gang Starr Enterprises (pre-order). In addition to J Cole, it features Q-Tip, Royce Da 5'9", M.O.P., Jeru the Damaja, Nitty Scott, Talib Kweli, Big Shug, Freddie Foxxx, and Ne-Yo. Of the album, Premier said:
I never lost faith, or wavered. I still felt it inside of me, it just happened to be nine years later [after Guru's passing]. We all want the things we want right now, but I am a patient guy. I hung in there and I just kept believing.
This album means everything to me. It's a continuation of what I never wanted to end. It's a very foreign place for me and very emotional. I get happy, sad, excited; my feelings are kind of all over the place. But predominantly, just very happy to be making music with Guru again.
Along with the album announcement, Premier released a second song, "Bad Name." It's a pensive, head-nod-inducing song that pays homage to Big and Pac and pretty much sounds like classic Gang Starr. It's cool stuff and if there are even more unreleased Guru verses like this, it's very good news that this album is coming out. Listen and check out the tracklist below.
"The Sure Shot" (Intro)
"Lights Out" feat. M.O.P.
"Bad Name"
"Hit Man" feat. Q-Tip
"What's Real" feat. Group Home & Royce Da 5'9"
"Keith Casim Elam" (Interlude)
"From A Distance" feat. Jeru The Damaja
"Family and Loyalty" feat. J. Cole
"Get Together" feat. Ne-Yo & Nitty Scott
"NYGz/GS 183rd" (Interlude)
"So Many Rappers"
"Business Or Art" feat. Talib Kweli
"Bring It Back Here"
"One Of The Best Yet (Big Shug Interlude)
"Take Flight (Militia Pt. 4)" feat. Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx
"Bless The Mic"
Filed Under: Big Shug, DJ Premier, Freddie Foxxx, gang starr, Guru, J Cole, Jeru the Damaja, MOP, Ne-Yo, Nitty Scott, Q-Tip, Royce Da 59, Talib Kweli
Categories: Hip Hop news, Music News