When Gang Starr Played the Game and WON

[@MetalSonic420]

Mass Appeal is an absolute classic, and Hard to Earn is such a fire album.

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

I’m going to look it up

[@johndoe6189]

It's like the Teen Spirit of hiphop.

[@jaydiltz]

HELLS YEAH!

[@simoneambrosini4404]

Man I think we need a video about T.R.O.Y. by Pete rock and Cl Smooth the story behind the beat is simply crazy

[@wakawoo12]

I second this

[@OfficialDuhmage]

Yes please

[@moe3235]

Agreed, would be an amazing episode

[@moepathutse]

Please please please

[@lairdhercules4553]

Legendary sax line on this one.

[@CarbonComs]

Preemo is one of the GOATs of hip hop man, and he’s still doing it at just as high a level as always. That hip hop 50 EP has the hottest beats I’ve heard this year.

[@gaffle-411]

What is the name of the EP and who are the artist that created it? I’m going to look it up.

[@CarbonComs]

@@gaffle-411 look for Hip Hop 50: Vol 1 by DJ Premier. Got features from Joey badass, remy ma, slick Rick, lil Wayne, nas, and run the jewels. Only 5 songs but they’re all good. There was another preemo song I thought was on that EP but actually isn’t. It’s called Runway ft. Westside Gunn and Rome Streetz, another great beat there.

[@TheRealDJSigma]

@@gaffle-411 "Hip Hop 50: Vol 1" by DJ Premier. It features Joey Bada$$, Remy Ma, Rapsody, Nas, Run The Jewels, Slick Rick and Lil Wayne.

[@CurtisBond]

To all those people that argue hip hop isn’t art (there are still quite a few of them), this man (Preemo) literally found a two second snippet of an obscure jazz song off an obscure record and literally made one of the best and most recognizable beats in hip hop history from it. Not only that, but he knew exactly *which* two seconds were the *right* two seconds. That is the work of an extremely talented “artist”.

[@fappe908]

Rest in power guru, gifted unlimited rhymes universal known as baldhead slick the king of monotone.

[@Think1stAct2nd]

So dope, to see someone that knows the man's FULL name and aliases! So sad imo, how he doesn't get acknowledged more and revered more (openly) by his peers.

[@fappe908]

@Think1stAct2nd Aint that the truth. “You got hip-hop, then you got hip-pop” binary star

[@Think1stAct2nd]

@@fappe908 u ain't never lie fam!

[@cwrichardson3]

Ok... but he is talking about both. Don't forget Premier.

[@fappe908]

@@cwrichardson3 I never forget preemo my fav producer, check out unorthodox w Joey badass and I’ve committed m*rder with Mos def. I commented about guru since he’s the one that is not with out. Hopefully preem doesn’t leave for a loong time

[@jloiben12]

Ahh yes. John Williams. Mr. “if you want your movie at the Oscars just let me cook”

[@diggingthegreats]

💯💯

[@joequincy5574]

​@@diggingthegreatshello, I've loved your channel for a long time now, yada yada... I keep adding to my "movies I want to watch" list based on ones you call out in your videos, like Sabrina here or The Thing With Two Heads (not even a good bad movie, good call not watching). Would you consider putting up a movie focused episode? Or even a list somewhere?

[@jbroadway12]

The OG Hans Zimmer Grandfather of Ludwig göransson

[@hayatefaith4273]

​@@joequincy5574if you haven't seen The Holy Mountain watch that soon

[@gen0565]

Fact: In 1994, DJ Premier and Guru had dropped this project in March then a month later in April, Nas dropped Illmatic, in which, Preemo helped produced, both changing the rap game forever #LivinLegends

[@hegemonycricket2182]

"...i represent, set up sh*t like a tent boy, you're paranoid 'cuz you're a son like Elroy..." RIP Guru

[@markfelixm]

The way you break down these hiphop gems is masterful and entertaining. The production and format are on point too. Fantastic channel

[@joshandrox]

I waited on Premiere's table at a restaurant in LA early 2000s. Gangstarr is just incredible. Premiere or GURU seperate or together make incredible music. Premo was super cool... After his meal he signed my Mass Appeal 12"s. I have them framed on my wall to this day!

[@grinchoi1]

You had the Mass Appeal 12 inch on you the night you happened to wait Premier’s table?

[@questionyourself718]

​@@grinchoi1thats what i was thinking 😂

[@MsYewsed]

Like what

[@TEAMGETHELP]

Lmfao huh

[@CurtisBond]

First GangStarr song I ever heard. It represents one of my earliest memories with Hip Hop. R.I.P. Guru.

[@diggingthegreats]

R.I.P. Guru

[@benkendall5562]

Mass Appeal singlehandly got me into boom bap hip hop. Played it on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 repeatedly as a kid. I had never heard something so catchy and funky, timeless classic 🔥

[@megahyperdeathAIDS]

I was waiting for a Pro Skater 4 comment, was 5 when that game came out and it got me into Gang Starr as well as System Of A Down 😅

[@wilmars9146]

Boom Bap is the original sound of Rap Music just so you know. And it was " SUCKER MC'S " by RUN-DMC that solidified the Boom Bap sound on wax.

[@marvaff6878]

@@megahyperdeathAIDSsome all-time great tunes on THPS4!

[@StevenQBeatz]

I'd love to see you do a video on 90s Memphis Rap! So much history and influence, and so many dope samples!

[@Andrew_On_Keys]

Sample snitching reminds me of the Magician’s Alliance from Arrested Development protecting their secrets 😂

[@diggingthegreats]

😂

[@dacrookedi]

Gang Starr is my ALL TIME favorite Group. I can't name Any Hip Hop group that progresses after each album. Some may Explode on the first album then Bomb (BOOOoooo) on the next. Some have lengthy careers, but track record is not consistent. Gang Starr wasn't just consistent, their album's got better & BETTER, harder & HARDER each step of the way. THANKS FOR THE UPLOAD BRO!!!

[@papajgates968]

I think this album got me tuned to jazz and I thank them for that.

[@iancraig8543]

yes, and hip hop got me into old soul/funk records as well which im also thankful

[@dakritic]

Lol… I’ve always felt John Williams was the DJ Premier of film scores and Premo the John Williams of HipHop. To hear you say it, gave me chills and I appreciate you recognizing the legend/maestro in this realm. I’ve always wished they would have collaborated to some degree, an age old dream of mine. I see him perform at Tanglewood’s Film night every summer. A perfect cap to the season. Much success with the channel.

[@diggingthegreats]

Can you imagine a full movie soundtrack by DJ Premier? 🤯

[@dakritic]

@@diggingthegreats: That would be amazing.

[@Megaphone77]

​@diggingthegreats it's sort of been done. Not so much scored but Preemo did the soundtrack for The Breaks telemovie and series. My neck was sore watching it. So many headnodders.

[@CalBeau5]

Awww man, this is dope! I was just binging a bunch of his “So Wassup?” videos a few hours ago. Great vid as always!

[@diggingthegreats]

Love his series - so many stories! I could listen to him talk all day

[@daveday6728]

We lost Guru on the same day I lost my old man. Much love from the UK

[@diggingthegreats]

Ahh man that's a rough day, I'm sorry. Much love from the US 🙏

[@xavierlafontaine121]

Speaking of elevator music: You should check out the song Ho Happy Jackie on AZ 1995 debut album Doe or Die. The beat is literally what I imagine would play at the elevator at the mall in the 80s or maybe even in a waiting room, yet it works so fucking well! AZ first appeared as the only feature on Nas' debut, Illmatic. Something about that opening verse on Life's a Bitch hit so hard that I just had to do a deep dive into his entire discography. It is worth doing yourself if you like old school hip hop. AZ has the flow, lyrics, voice and knows what beats are worth rapping over! Please Mr. Digging, make a video about one of AZ's tracks... Perhaps Life Goes On Feat: Common and Allure??

[@xavierlafontaine121]

Also 1993's Midnight Maurauders by A Tribe Called Quest (If you haven't listened to this back to front, you are doing yourself a disservice lol) might scratch more of your unquenched elevator beat thirst

[@jadasheekstyles2000]

I mean, an I wrong for loving The Full Clip album as an album? Not just a greatest hits record, this album was a journey. Mass Appeal enlightened my mind and broadened my horizons of what hip hop could be.

[@kaysha]

Superb. Loved growing up in the Gangstarr era

[@djkellykel3383]

You’re my favorite channel on KZbin. I like how you pay homage to the greats of hip hop. Gangstarr has to be one of the greatest groups of music. Primo and Guru created the soundtrack to our lives. Appreciate your channel and all of your content. Peace!

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

"Hard To Earn" set the tone for "Moment Of Truth" to go gold. That RIAA certification was long overdue and well deserved.

[@Myscentsei]

My favorite of all time! Gives me goosebumps

[@BacchusAurelius-yj4mb]

Awesome comparison between Preemo and John Williams, who frequently references classical compositions in his film scores. Fun fact, Williams son is the lead singer of the band Toto, of "Africa" fame

[@AidanTemplin]

This one hits home!! I'm a huge Gang Starr / Preemo / Guru fan, and am SO stoked you finally dropped a video about them! Hope to see more in the future! Also, I had to pause the video to cop that squiggle slip mat, shit is so cold!! Keep it Bshawwwwww

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏🙏

[@neonvandal8770]

Fantastic that you made a comparison with John Williams and Premiere. Ive always loved John Williams and because he originally started as a Jazz musician, i can only imagine what symphonic boom bap head nodders they could create. Just imagine..Mindblowing! 🎧🖤

[@Ojace_mecca]

Everything about 94” hip hop records/album is apex...

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

What’s your top three albums

[@Ojace_mecca]

@@baconeggcheesepodcast9390 tbh is hard to pick 3 albums as my favorite of time without cheating on other great albums but from Gang Starr “Moments of Truth” and “Owners” are my favorite I mean both albums are the ones I really played till my tape popped. Simple reason is this at certain age your environment and radio influence your playlist so let’s say I wasn’t old enough to buy an album in 94... but I am mos def a student of Nas in the Loop of the modern hip hop fiasco.

[@prlysis]

This channel made me fall in love with hip-hop again. Thank you for the excellent content.

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Yeah it’s good content

[@wg85]

Your content is why KZbin exists. Appreciate your work!

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏

[@simdane5898]

Class A entertainer, this guy. Watching your videos doesn't really feel like youtube, it feels more like reading a book. Super dope content.

[@diggingthegreats]

One of the best compliments I've received, thank you 🙏

[@teleologicalanalysis5291]

Mass Appeal is my favorite Gangstarr song. And that's saying a lot! RIP GURU.

[@diggingthegreats]

R.I.P. Guru

[@rapfreak7797]

Jeru’s The Sun Rises In The East is Preemo at his best IMHO

[@angyslandamo946]

Classic Album 💿🎙🙏🏾🙏🏿❤️👑

[@dothex]

When you started scratching in the youngsta "Moneys growing like grass with the mass appeal" I got the fuck up out my seat and had to salute. Bro you have not missed yet! And I look forward to you breaking down each and everyone of my personal classics.

[@SpaceHCowboy]

You dude, love your stuff. When can we get another live set.??

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏 Ideally, I'd love to do it regularly, it's just a matter of balancing time with creating these videos. At minimum - I've been doing livestreams at every 100k marker, so that's coming soon-ish. Those are one of my favorite parts of this channel though - interacting with everybody LIVE - nothing like it 🔥

[@SpaceHCowboy]

​@@diggingthegreatsYes'sir. If you keep producing this here quality work I have no doubt you hit the numbers. Stay safe, respect. Much love from Scotland. PPS.. Keep me a set of those slip mats by til I get paid on Monday 28th. 🙏🏼

[@q-dawwg626]

Gamgstarr is so dope 🔥 and I still bump it to this day

[@s.m1nd]

I thoroughly enjoy your channel. Probably the only channel I don’t speed up to watch! 🔥🔥🔥

[@jaygranttaylor]

Loved this video. Comparing Premier to John Williams is so on point - both absolute masters of their craft that do it like nobody else and are instantly identifiable. Keep up the great work, your videos are really inspiring!

[@jewell980]

Great job in analyzing this hip-hop. Legend, producer, productions.

[@TheRealPeterChavez]

John Williams is the DJ Premier of movie scores

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Who is that

[@handsomeguy3486]

In my opinion Gang Starr's best song, also one of the most iconic beats in hip hop history

[@ficus3929]

I love this beat in spite of how simple it is. The first time I heard it I was scratching my head. How can this be so simple and so dope at the same time?

[@patrickhannon8126]

Great video. Love hearing the story behind these classics. My favourites from Hard to Earn were Code of the Streets and Blowin’ Up the Spot. Nigh on 30 years have flown by since I bought this one on cassette 😅

[@MRblazedBEANS]

I love you channel. Not only is it entertaining as hell, i learn soemthint new ever time. Being a hip hop head that not often a video will teach me something. Plus you remind me of songs i forgot about long ago.

[@drstrange629]

The face I made when you matched the sample with the drums. 😣😝🔥🎶

[@ernestochefujara2709]

oh yeah! I was so waiting for you to cover some Gang Starr. Gonna be a blast, I'm sure of it.

[@jeffreed2160]

I laughed at how at the end of each of your videos, you say, buy you have to peep this video to get the brilliance of my knowledge! So super dope, your like poetry in motion! Keep bringing your brilliance brother!

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏

[@aiedyn]

I remember trying to remake this beat when I was like 15 and the snares/kicks being the way they were absolutely confused me to no end. He's a damn genius!!!

[@1andonlydasilent1]

Bruh ... Mass Appeal is one of many tracks in Hip Hop that has influenced my approach on sample flips! Much respect to Premier and Rest Easy King Keith "Guru" Elam 👑👑

[@MAARTN]

Glad you did a video on Gang Starr!

[@yodabe882]

This channel is by far the best thing on KZbin.

[@magneticlarry]

And don’t forget the Armand Van Helden track Hot Butter that flips this beat with Q-tip’s “hot butter on what say what the popcorn” lyric, thus extending the joke

[@Positive_Tea]

Such a perfect breakdown of this song. Keep Diggin!!

[@Gl6619]

Love Hard to Earn…”Speak ya Clout” is sonically on another level…particularly the music for Lil Daps verse

[@djbigredaz3515]

Just ordered the slipmats, and sticker pack! Gonna use em out here in AZ!

[@diggingthegreats]

🔥🔥🔥

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Yeah they are 🔥🔥🔥

[@steve.santiago]

Great video as always. Hard to Earn will always have a special place in my heart as the first CD I ever bought

[@pygmyhippomusic]

Great video! Always look forward to your new uploads man!

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏🙏

[@justinbarber2599]

Missed this one when it dropped by 🔥🔥🔥 keep dropping!

[@blackice3395]

One of the greatest producers of all times... And don't forget he's from the south!

[@xAntoIRL]

Guru is one of our most underappreciated legends

[@unc1589]

3 in the morning bumping through the Bronx when the streets was quiet. It was a dark strange sound. The Doppler effect as the car drives by with that piano chirping sounded crazy.

[@daveamigo7075]

i’m so happy i found this youtube account i could watch these for hours

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏

[@daveamigo7075]

@@diggingthegreats thank u for keeping the history of hiphop alive

[@crowfoot7355]

Another awesome episode. Would love to see you put out something on Dj Premier and PE State of the union.

[@baconeggcheesepodcast9390]

Yeah that would be 🔥🔥🔥

[@bybd]

“Radio” hit is kinda strong. I don’t know this song from the radio, tho’ it was big for a Gangstarr record. Great content

[@dreamsinthree]

That was dope. I love your channel, man!

[@lorenzogregorio2204]

I think a video on the various Jazzmatazz could be really good

[@nicolesherman8974]

He’s back with another fire video 🔥🔥. I love the song Mass Appeal.

[@diggingthegreats]

🔥🔥

[@lowlowseesee]

Yo you even did some cuts!!!! Lol I’m dead. Love it!!

[@TYBO-xl1xz]

He caught that piece very well

[@SoSoMillie]

First, it took years to find the original sample of "Mass Appeal" and it was a real cheesy fusion LP. The sample itself is an extremely short little riff. Premier's ear is impeccable in finding the tiniest sound to sample. Second, the fact that Premier thought this is what mainstream hip-hop sounded like in '93/'94 is hilarious cause there are many mainstream hip-hop songs from that era that are classics today.

[@kaydevious]

Premo and Pete Rock forever. The two goats that made me want to begin making beats

[@MockeryManor]

Facts 🔥🔥👏🏾

[@GrapLuvaMr7]

Salute to my brother Premier! I was wondering...will you ever be doing a video on one of Pete Rock's productions? You mentioned him in several of your videos but you haven't done a video on him yet...I would love to see that!👍🏾🎶🔥👑💯

[@visionsofpromise]

"We made it as a joke" Fans: Jokes on you, we love it 👍

[@DopeBoyzMusiQ]

in my Record colection since it came out!

[@kjw111]

Really enjoyed your production 🔥

[@Jacqueal]

"Mass Appeal" has the kind of beat that's repetitive but you don't want to stop listening to it.

[@HUYI1]

hence the words, of the song, it click even when you think about it now lol

[@philiptoner8719]

When this came out, it seemed like the natural progression of beats and rhymes from the dynamic duo of hip hop

[@big_t_dynasty]

I was just listening to this yesterday.

[@purpleabstract_]

I need to get into more Gang Starr tbh, I'd love to see a video about Nujabes at some point

[@terrancewoods3463]

Mass Appeal is one of my top 5 favorite Hip Hop tracks of all time. Raekwon's Ice Cream & Above The Law Black Superman is in that top 5 as well.😎

[@aDavv]

Always One of the best yet! oh and ive got to get me those slipmats.

[@marvaff6878]

To this day Mass Appeal is such a cold beat🥶🔥

[@Maulleygxxx]

We used to make this beat riding back from sports events back in high school… like 4-5 beat boxing. The good old days

[@ttewb12]

You should make a video about nujabes

[@Wrekkshoppe]

Mass Appeal was one of the illest jokes I've ever heard then. Now, I have one of the hardest questions in hip hop: which was the better GANGSTARR album - Hard to Earn or Moment of Truth?!

[@asshoIe94]

tuesdays were always my favorite day. if you know, you know.

[@F80_Roach]

Not sure if Gang Starr and "Sabrina" have ever been mentioned in the same context, but both are DOPE... I'm all for it!

[@diggingthegreats]

😎😎

[@krolkoolmarek7074]

Yo Big up from France Paris ✌️ Gangstarr ft MC Solar Haha that was dope!

[@rushmatic]

Wow, I had no idea! I had the song play my entire sophomore year of college as if it was my theme song.

[@BiggieDeaf]

8:46 Incredible summary.

[@bmuhamad]

Another stroke of genius....

[@OuchMashups]

I've been A Gangstarr fan since "Positivity" 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@xavierlafontaine121]

LETS GOOO! I WANT MORE GANG STARR VIDEOS!!

[@diggingthegreats]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@mannytracks]

just ordered my slipmat.. tracksthinkin.. geeeah!!

[@jjpc225]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with “sample snitching” at all! I love finding the original samples and opening myself to a whole new genre of good music.

[@roaringsun4743]

"What's the deal with all you break-record cats, SNITCHING, and put us on the back of records saying we used staff. That's violating, straight up and down."

[@natesims1680]

GangStarr and Black Star are my two favorite groups of all time.

[@diggingthegreats]

Something about a duo with ⭐️ in the name 🤔

[@mistergoodcitizen9914]

To me his is the greatest producer in hip hop history. His catalog of hits is huge.