Six years removed from the last Gang Starr project, it’s quite clear there won’t be a follow-up anytime soon. Unyielding to the fact, Guru has continued on with his career with a series of collaborative projects with “Super-Producer” Solar, replacing the legendary DJ Premier in unexceptional fashion. Their latest venture, updates Guru’s operation system to 8.0 and finds the parched pair searching for the Hip-Hop of yesteryear in the Lost & Found bin. The 17 track LP is essentially a lambaste on today’s industry and sadly functions like an older model.
Guru’s earned a reputation throughout his career as one who takes extreme pride in the direction of his lyrics but in a classic case of irony, Lost & Found features more preaching than actual rapping as he carries on like your no-nonsense uncle, sucking all the fun out of the music with each proverb. The opening line of “Those Dayz R Gone” finds Guru stating “People always wanna live in the past, those days are gone…” Yet, the senile rapper has no qualms taking it down memory lane on the baseless “Best Of My Yearz” while “Divine Rule” sounds like a rotten leftover from the original Breakin’ soundtrack. Attempts at sounding current are equally as futile where Guru tries his hand at Auto-Tune on the upbeat “Fastlane” completely with “braggin’ about swagger from the late 90′s” (more contradiction) and the futuristic fuckery of “It’s A Shock.”
Meanwhile, “Super-Producer” Solar takes on the arduous task of delivering listenable, yet enjoyable symphonies to keep the momentum going and while it’s clear that there’s a lot of button pushing and sequencing changeups, the gratification never rises above sea level. “After Time” utilizes a tired Queen sample as well as the “Super-Producer” dropping 16 bars of random jargon. Tracks like “Stop Frontin” and “No Gimmick Shit” do their part in filling out the sound of any studio monitor but rarely are they elevated from the rhymes of Brother Elam whereas on the former he kicks unbearable lines like “Time to come clean like detergent/you really ain’t God/you just a censored version.” WTF.
Much like any elder in any realm, Guru and his “Super-Producer” prove that being stuck in your ways only diagnoses tunnel vision as the two get by on being basic and basically boring. The problems of music today have been more than documented ten times over and the last thing the game needs is a scolding from artists that are well past their prime. What was billed as a new version turns out only to be a refurbished model with a serious of existing malfunctions.
Previously Posted — Video: Guru & “Super-Producer” Solar Say Southern Rap Is Not Hip-Hop | Guru – “Divine Rule” Video | Premier Must Be Proud…
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“People always wanna live in the past, those days are gone…”
What the heck? Did I just step into a time warp, yet again?
Who’s been tampering with the flux capicitor?
My question is why doesn’t he just stick to sound engineering Jay-Z’s records over at Bassline Studio?
My question is why doesn’t he just stick to sound engineering Jay-Z’s records over at Bassline Studio?
================================
LOL!
That WAS a joke, right?
But you know what?
Two Tears In A Bucket!
Fuck it!
Let’s Take It To The Stage!
Here’s something that will make you feel all jovial, oh jolly japes, Mike, Black Sheeping It At The Mall!
[www.vimeo.com]
I can’t believe it.
You actually reviewed this shit!
I’d rather be electrocuted…
on 2nd thought….
Windows Vista >>> Guru 8.0
Solar-powered calculator watch >>> “Super Producer” Solar
Big Bank Hank >>> Guru
look at his pose on the CD cover. like he’s posin’ for a yearbook picture. Eli Porter does that pose better than him
Is MC Solaar still doing his thing?
I know there are some lurkers in the background from HHC, Hip Hop Chronicles or whatever the heck it is that you are calling yourselves these days.
Remember, when Burhan Wazir split the rating in HHC for Moment Of Truth back in 1998? 4 stars for Premier’s production and 2 stars for Guru’s lyrics?
Ha, ha, Guru got all pissed off, like when he came on Westwood and was threatening Burhan Wazir on air, for trying to divide and conquer Gang Starr and was like Burhan I’m gonna make a call to Suge Knight to come pay you a visit! Ha, ha jolly japes!
I’m not sure what happened to Guru though, dude was a pretty talented emcee, he did his thing with Gang Starr and some of those Jazzmatazz tracks were decent too.
But all this stuff with Sonar, is quite the mess.
I’d rather tool around in a Pontiac Fiero, drunk off of Natty Light, wearing a cut-off Iron Maiden shirt blasting Dokken out of cheap speakers, than listen to this shit.
@Teef, oh man, Dokken is bomb diggedy, that Dream Warriors track they did for Elm Street 3 is off the key chain, like totally!
I bet Scarface does exactly what you described cruising around Houston with the entire Dokken catalogue loaded up in the CD Changer Magazine.
You ever driven down the mountainside road, the roof down, wind blowing through your hair and Kenny Loggins ‘Highway To The Dangerzone’ playing on the Alpine, pumping loud and proud through the Cerwin Vega’s?
Oh man, what a rush!
Kenny Loggins’ beard >>> Guru
*Please make this its own post TSS. I want to hear others thoughts on this – I for one think that it is a great idea. However, I truly believe most emcees (rappers these days) are too afraid of “losing” in a battle. Mos Def is not afraid to lose. P.S. Angie’s take on it is wack… she is always trying to “keep the peace.” Ain’t nothing wrong with what Mos is proposing. Who can get shot or killed from friendly competition? Rapping might be the only place where people shy away from widespread competition of the [supposed] best. Jerry Rice? He knows he is the best because their is proof. Jay is my favorite rapper alive, but if he got beat… oh well. Just work harder and step your game up!*
Jun 10 2009 3:36 PM EDT
Mos Def Thinks Jay-Z Should Defend His ‘Greatest Rapper Alive’ Title
He proposes the ultimate MC battle, in which his team of five would go up against Jay, Kanye West and others.
When Mos Def visited Angie Martinez’s New York radio show Tuesday to promote his new album, The Ecstatic, neither had any idea that would be promoting the most spectacular MC battle ever.
In March, a video hit YouTube that featured Mos challenging Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and others to a battle. Martinez asked him about the video. Mos admitted it was a candid moment in front of friends.
“I don’t have to address it, but what I said, I will stand by,” Mos said, adding that his comments were in regards to an article he saw (ours?) naming Jay-Z the greatest MC alive. “Friend or foe, I love you all, but I’m saying if you saying that you’re better than Slick Rick, who is still very alive and well, you saying that you’re better than Rakim, you saying you’re better than Black Thought — and the people making that claim have never been in a position to have to defend that in an open forum.”
“But isn’t it all up to what you like?” Martinez asked.
“It is subjective, but people start coming out and making claims that you can’t defend,” Mos said.
He made an analogy to an automaker saying it has the best V8 engine. The automaker has to prove that against other automakers’ engines, and a race would prove who is better.
“I just don’t believe that claim, where any of these rappers are saying that they are the best alive,” Mos Def said. “Really?!? Well, you can easily put that to the test.”
“Didn’t you say that too, about yourself?” Angie asked
“I ain’t saying that I’m better than them, but they certainly ain’t better than me,” Mos replied. “I have no doubts about that at all. I work at this. This ain’t just coming off of some pumped-up ego swagger. I do this.”
Mos went on to propose a “Battle of New Orleans.” The battle would take place at the Superdome in New Orleans and would settle all discussion. There would be a variety of battles, including the marching bands from Grambling and Morgan State duking it out, breakers from Korea going against those from France, a battle of the beats between Swizz Beatz and Kanye West, and finally an MC battle between teams of five.
“My dream team would be myself, Black Thought, MF Doom, Jay Electronica and Nas,” Mos Def said. “I was saying for Jay, or somebody like Jay, or Kanye, or whoever, put you and your four together, and we’ll go at it.”
Mos said that this was a friendly proposal and that his comments were more about defending Slick Rick and Rakim than anything. He didn’t think it was right for anyone to say they were the greatest while both are alive.
Martinez asked if he realizes that people may take this the wrong way, and Mos reiterated his stance: “I ain’t gettin’ at no rappers. This is, where is your skill set at? I’m always in a position to learn or grow, so if somebody’s got a stronger skill set, and I could draw strength from that, then I’m cool with that. My ego is not involved with this.
“There are no losers in this scenario,” he added. “It’s really just a sound clash and a skill trade exhibition, and it grows the culture.”
“This took a turn I didn’t see coming today,” Martinez said, laughing.
“Y’all brought up the whole battle thing,” Mos Def said. “I don’t try to get at no rappers. Come on, man. I love all of y’all. I do this because I care.”
“He made an analogy to an automaker saying it has the best V8 engine. The automaker has to prove that against other automakers’ engines, and a race would prove who is better.”
OUTSTANDING analogy.
Honestly, I’ve always thought Guru was just average. Not a huge Primo fan either. IMO he’s been making the same beat for 15 years now. At least he’s still relevent though, Guru………..not so much!
I know TC couldn’t wait to write this review up when that AutoTune track leaked hahaha.
@ TRA
Why does there need to be some…side battle ground to display this when the man has a new album out as of just yesterday? Is his actual music that irrevelant where he has to resort to spectacles to prove who’s better? If so, he already lost…
@Teef, Loggins beard comment, ha ha ha!
@The Real Anonymous, that’s what I’ve saying all along, a rhyme battle royale extravaganza! It’s the only way to seperate the wheat from the chaff, sort of like KRS One was saying on Build Ya Skillz and The Last Emperor broke it down in Secret Wars 1 & 2.
Somebody should arrange this man, it would be like the hip hop world cup.
Slick Rick, Snoop Dogg, Breez Everflowin, Supernatural, Cella Dwellas, Jay Electronica, these are like heavyweight dudes when it comes to rhyme battles.
Everybody else, old skool or new put your money where your mouth is, put your honey up, your raggedy house, whatever whatever!
Cos once and for all, it’s time to settle it, some of these cats swagging like the like they microphone emperors, when they ain’t sheet. Man I seen LL Cool J, cold rock it live, dude’s a beast. Put em all in the competition, Joe Budden, Methodman, Melle Mel, whoever whoever.
That battle proves nothing! That’s why rappers make albums every year…..to showcase there skills! He should spend time making an album worth buying, instead of pumping up BS. And tell Jay Electronica to drop a damn album! I’m sick of this “incog-negro” shit he on. Give us fans something to enjoy!
[www.urbandictionary.com]
Sharting your pants on the way to a job interview >>> Guru
I like Mos Def and all but this is a utterly stupid fucking idea! Like he said it’s all SUBJECTIVE!!! A rap battle proves nothing and probably will not dissuade any individual into believing that a particular artist is supreme in comparison to another. Who gives two shits if you “came off the dome” harder (pause???) than some other arist that you’re battling? If you ain’t got a decent catalog and legacy I don’t give a fuck about your “hot 16′s”. Make dope albums/mixtapes and let your work speak of your greatness, not some bullshit battles.
I get the “body of work” analogy.
I get that it truly is “subjective.”
But I would love to see it.
Hip-Hop (as opposed to ALL other genres) has ALWAYS been about who is the best. Since the very beginning… it has never changed. Hip-Hop is [basically] the only genre where “bragging” is inevitable. It is a part of the culture.
If it is not then emcees (and rappers – there is a difference) need to quit making such claims.
It is like Usain Bolt saying that he is the fastest runner on the planet… and then only going out with a stopwatch and never competing to prove it.
I could see if Hip-Hop did not promote such competition, but the way that I see after all of these years, is that this/that is what Hip-Hop is!
that “ultimate rap battle” idea sounds like it could be dope, but upon further thought starts to fall apart…it reeks of that joe budden – method man situation…joey’s on camera like “put method man in front of him and i’ll outrap him” really? i mean he says it like it’s the truth and can’t be argued…well guess what, i think method man will rap circles around buddens…joey’s a funny guy and he’s got metaphors, but his delivery is off beat at times and his voice is annoying as fuck…never been able to listen to more than 1 or 2 songs in a row (much how Gotty feels about Busta)…also, mef has a gigantic catalog that has influenced millions; he’s a part of arguably the best hip-hop group ever…he has (or has been a part of) at least one, if not more classic albums…what, so because you might be able to come off the top (what you think is) better than him, you’re a better rapper? sorry, cuz, don’t work that way..
on the mos situation, i see it like this: if it’s all about showcasing rhymes and skills, why not just make it a concert? oh, that’s right, cuz you have about 100th the number of fans Jay does (or ‘Ye or Weezy)…that’s not to say i think they have more skills than mos (although i haven’t really dug anything mos put out since BOBS), just that they’re on a different level…they don’t make backpack rap cuz people don’t believe a really rich guy in his 30s is living the backpack lifestyle…so it really all comes off as a publicity stunt trying to get shine for mos and some of the people he respects in the game. who knows, maybe Jay nem will throw them a charity bone (none) and do the shit…i doubt it tho
yeah. damn. i loved the owners but he was losing it a little on there. he’s still got in him, i think. hope the slump ends soon. Gang Starr = what you should see a picture of when you look up the definition of hip hop in websters. Tho Guru was never mad strong he was still a force.
first of all, i ‘d like to say those comments where you all go off the subject are boring as hell.hell no i didn’t read all that.BORING….second of all to the “reviewer”:i want to know, how is Guru “sucking all the fun out of the music”?what in god’s name is wrong with your grammar?you’re not a professional! you’re inane!…”senile”?c’mon now.surely you don’t claim to be objective.and what’s with the misquoting and straight manufacturing of lyrics?regardless,you making up lyrics and mishearing words and quoting out of context, is a little different than hearing Guru say something with his voice and his flow in context.and what’s with these people who claim that in any great group the mc is better than the dj or vice versa? that’s sacrilegious to hip hop itself;you’re all twisted up inside.get help for yourselves…that has got to be one of the worst attempts at “reviewing”i have ever read.bottom of the barrel tc.you didn’t get paid for that, did you? awful writing;so disingenuous;take the time to actually listen next time;and do a spell and grammar check, you hack!…
Hell-looooo Guru fan.
review > whatanasininereview Says
@ whatanasininereview aka bluespark
what vested interest do you have in this album? You’ve been defending this album since before it came out. Before you ask… no I didn’t listen to this album. I grew tired Guru after Jazzmatazz 4. Street Soul was his last “listenable” album for me & I’ve been lambasted here for saying that was dope. So don’t come up here every time you see a Guru post and play like his publicist. If we (crew & commenters) don’t like it, than we don’t like it. You don’t see us calling you a fool for liking Guru still (well maybe a little), but to say we’re trying to sabotage his sales is ridiculous. He’s doing that him self. So go on and listen to your Solar beat tapes and have a warm glass of milk.
Why don’t they have this battle tournament, where you got groups of four or five. The winners of each battle session wins a cash pot and also progresses to the next round. The cash pot they win could then be donated to worthy causes, you know like building water wells in in locations where they need it, healthcare, food aid, helping endangered species and so forth.
It would all be for a just cause and in addition to this we would find out who got the most raw skills and presence in the arena.
On a different note sounds like somebody caught a slight case of G-PAIN like they were rocking T-PAIN’s big ass chain and a pair of those nasty Nike’s from yesterday with the eye bleed inducing colour schemes.
@ Baby Paw
Not a bad idea… not bad at all my friend.
And…
@ whatanasininereview
“first of all, i ‘d like to say those comments where you all go off the subject are boring as hell.hell no i didn’t read all that.”
First, I do not believe anyone cares that you did not read them (but someone is lying).
*Embellishing* Glad to know you did not do read… something you did not wish to do.
*Wink*
In addition, I would like to say commenting about not reading comments is kind of well… [insert ridiculous action here].
Feel me? (Run DMC)
*SMH*
mostly what i’m talking about right now is not Guru’s music.it’s the fact that tc can’t write his way out of a paper bag. that’s whats at issue here.no one is disputing that are they?i didn’t think so.tc is a horrific writer, to read his garbage;i wouldn’t wish that on anyone.it’s not relevant to the music at hand in any detectable way. and mz you didn’t even listen to this music by your own admission.my vested interest is i like good music,and i did hear this music.i heard the album and i heard the ep too.i’m glad there is still free speech here so i can give my opinion.ok ,i answered your question.now you answer mine: why do you trash music before,during,and after it comes out without having even listened to it ,on every blog you can get your hands on?don’t compare apples and oranges here.i didn’t comment before i heard it.you’re telling me your motives are above board?doesn’t sound like it buddy…
Fools are hating on the legendary Guru because he doesn’t wanna take that corny ass “old school” route and is doing something new and fly! His lyrics are blaze on all his new shit and the Autotune works cuz they use it differently and Solar’s production is fire! K Born Highpower and Doo Wop all sound hot and Solar spit is crazy! Keep hating but yall fools need Geritol LOL
well i agree.. how can u judge the album or even say anything negative about guru and his music without hearing it?? everybody on this site sounds like a bunch of haters! i have the album and i think its good! the tracks are different from primo’s but they are hot. and guru’s lyrics are on point too! he sounds as he always does to me… classic guru. you guys CANT be Gangstarr fans because guru is gangstarr to me regardless to what beats he rhyming on. Stop the hate…guru keep banin out that real hip hop minus auto-tune ! Lmao