Gang Starr - The Ownerz (Virgin)

Vibe.com, July 10th, 2003

For the generation of hip hoppers who persevered through puberty with the help of conscious kings like KRS-One and Chuck D, but came of age stuck on the street nihilism of Kool G Rap and, later, Mobb Deep, Gang Starr represents a stripped-down and indispensable aesthetic. Few groups embody good old-fashioned hip hop like Keith “Guru” Elam, 36, and Chris Martin, aka DJ Premier, 34, who still encompass the breadth of hip hop before it splintered into subgenre—each too good to recognize the others. The duo has maintained a blemish-free catalog for 14 years, including classics like Step in the Arena and Daily Operation. Should they falter, let alone fall off, as most of their contemporaries have, it would truly indicate the end of an era. But Gang Starr’s formula is both straightforward and timeless. And as evidenced by The Ownerz, their first studio album in five years, the two have no intention of switching it up this late in the game. You know their steez: Songs like “Riot Akt” fit right into the canon of Gang Starr greats. Melancholy horns accent a diesel bass line, while Guru laments that “real criminals get immunity.” In his simple but pleasant cadence, the 5’8” MC again puts substance before slickness—and the results are refreshing. “Ain’t nothing worse than a rebel without a cause / Ain’t nothing worse than a people without laws / 200 million square miles under attack / Reparations for us blacks, yeah they gotta come with that.” Guru doesn’t stop at politically charged one-liners.

It’s a jazz thing on “Deadly Habits” as Primo resurrects lackadaisical brass over a chopped rubber-band bass line. Meanwhile, Guru, still one of the better topical rappers, addresses fatal behavior from many different angles: “I got issues that haven’t been resolved / You know, like money people owe me, while they out havin’ a ball / Yeah, they got deadly habits…my manager’s coked up / My A&Rs doped up / Old-school style, have ’em gagged up and roped up.” But not all of The Ownerz is mature, middle-aged musing. “Who Got Gunz,” a violent collaboration with undisputed wild-out kings Fat Joe and M.O.P., proves the fellas still got plenty of fire in their bellies (“Tonz ‘o’ Gunz ’03” this is not). Backed by a descending bass line and very un-Primo drums (they knock, but avoid his patented pattern), the fearsome foursome does its best Charlton Heston impression. Even the more dissident “Rite Where U Stand” subtly showcases Guru’s ability to run with Lox front man Jadakiss as they trade raspy raps. Each of The Ownerz’ songs, however, stands on its own as a respectable Gang Starr effort. As a cohesive unit, the LP suffers overall from two flaws: Several of the beats sound similar to each other (most notably the diced bass lines of “Sabotage” and “Nice Girl, Wrong Place”). And though Guru certainly recharged his batteries in the group’s absence with heavy doses of lyricism, he could have easily cut filler lines out of many of these tracks. But even the most mundane Primo banger and simplest Guru verse still stand above the clouds. And while The Ownerz does not spark any new rap trends, it brings back the power of the basics in an ever-evolving rap music landscape. For the first time in five years, a generation of Gang Starr disciples can take ownership of their music, and claim it as a moment of truth.