Gang Starr Mass Appeal: Best Of CD

This hits collection from one of the most influential groups in hip-hop is fully maxed with a CD of 20 tracks, including Top 10 Billboard singles and bonus tracks not on the 2 disc set, plus a DVD of their well known and iconic videos. Featured artists on the CD include Big Shug, Freddie Foxxx, Nice & Smooth, Krumbsnatcha, Inspectah Deck, K-Ci, & Jo Jo. This release carries a parental advisory.

Undoubtedly one of the most respected, influential, and consistently tight DJ/MC combos in the history of hip-hop, Guru and Premier have evolved from an afro-centric, break-heavy duo in the vein of Eric B & Rakim to legendarily versatile veterans with almost 20 years in the game. The untouchable one-two punch of DJ Premier's street-level beats and Guru's signature smoothed-out voice leaves an army of producers and lyricists in their shadows. Though just a small sampling of the group's output, the 16 classics that make up the greatest-hits compilation, MASS APPEAL, prove that Gang Starr's body of work--which never once pandered to commercialism at the expense of artistic vision--has irrevocably raised the bar of East Coast hip-hop to a level that most newer acts can only dream of reaching.
The fact that Mass Appeal: The Best of Gang Starr is the second greatest-hits compilation released by Virgin simply attests to the importance of the duo, one of the first great MC/DJ-producer teams in hip-hop (and both of who, incidentally, have gone on to do well as solo artists, Guru with his whole Jazzmatazz series and DJ Premier most recently on Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics). But while 1999's Full Clip was two discs of 31 tracks (some of which were remixed versions), Mass Appeal limits itself to one disc of 20 songs, and includes almost all of their singles ("You Know My Steez" is the most notable exclusion), which means that while the scope is actually greater, spanning all six of their studio albums, the depth is less. Though the tracks are not listed chronologically, the jazz-based beats of Premier and Guru's relaxed flow are highlighted and strong in each. Gang Starr staples "Take It Personal," "The Militia," "Just to Get a Rep," "Mass Appeal," "Ex-Girl to Next Girl," and "Step in the Arena" (all but the latter also found on Full Clip) are found on the compilation, as well as lesser-known though not obscure cuts like "Check the Technique" and "B.Y.S." More serious fans may be intrigued by the bonus tracks, "Natural" and "Tha Squeeze," but considering that both are also found on the 2004 Japanese import of The Ownerz, Mass Appeal is probably a better pickup for fans who've heard about the glory and genius of the group but don't own all the albums. ~ Marisa Brown
DVD Features:
DVD Includes:
Music Videos:
1. Step In The Arena
2. Just To Get Rep
3. Ex-Girl To The Next Girl
4. Take It Personal
5. Code Of The Streets
6. Mass Appeal
7. The Militia (Feat. Big Shug, Freddie Foxxx)
8. Full Clip
9. Discipline (Feat. Total)
10. Nice Girl, Wrong Place (Feat. Boy Big)
11. Skills