Gang Starr: Hard To Earn (1994). Operation Mass Appeal
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03/04/24 • 25 min
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B. Cox reviews Gang Starr's classic fourth album Hard To Earn as it turns 30. After the critical success of 1992's Daily Operation, Guru and DJ Premier took a brief hiatus to pursue individual projects. Guru launched his Jazzmatazz series and Premier became one of the most sought after producers in industry, working with the likes Jeru the Damaja, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas and KRS-One. Coming back to record their fourth, the group wanted to prove that they were versatile and wanted to show that they could stray from their jazz-sampled sensibilities on their previous album and could rock with a different sound.
Heavily involved with the project was the Gang Starr Foundation, a collective that was aligned with the duo that included the likes of Jeru, the hip-hop duo Group Home, Big Shug, Freddie Foxx (Bumpy Knuckles), Afu-Ra among others. The project featured Jeru, both Lil Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker and Big Shug. Unlike Daily Operation, the album was produced under a wider variety of musical influences.
The album featured two classic singles: "DWYCK" with hip-hop duo Nice & Smooth (which was supposed to be originally on Daily Operation and "Mass Appeal". The album was critically acclaimed upon release and reestablished Gang Starr as a force within hip-hop. It also served as a forerunner to a number of different albums over the next 18 months that were credited as being pivotal to the New York hip-hop scene being a power center once again in the hip-hop landscape.
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Show Notes
UDiscoverMusic: "Hard To Earn": Gang Starr's Statement of Purpose
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/gang-starr-hard-to-earn-feature/
Albumism: Gang Starr's 'Hard To Earn' Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective
https://albumism.com/features/gang-starr-hard-to-earn-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective
Billboard: DJ Premier talks about Gang Starr's 'Hard To Earn' 25 Years Later: "That Album, I Had A Chip On My Shoulder"
https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/gang-starr-moment-of-truth-dj-premiere-interview-8501991/
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B. Cox reviews Gang Starr's classic fourth album Hard To Earn as it turns 30. After the critical success of 1992's Daily Operation, Guru and DJ Premier took a brief hiatus to pursue individual projects. Guru launched his Jazzmatazz series and Premier became one of the most sought after producers in industry, working with the likes Jeru the Damaja, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas and KRS-One. Coming back to record their fourth, the group wanted to prove that they were versatile and wanted to show that they could stray from their jazz-sampled sensibilities on their previous album and could rock with a different sound.
Heavily involved with the project was the Gang Starr Foundation, a collective that was aligned with the duo that included the likes of Jeru, the hip-hop duo Group Home, Big Shug, Freddie Foxx (Bumpy Knuckles), Afu-Ra among others. The project featured Jeru, both Lil Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker and Big Shug. Unlike Daily Operation, the album was produced under a wider variety of musical influences.
The album featured two classic singles: "DWYCK" with hip-hop duo Nice & Smooth (which was supposed to be originally on Daily Operation and "Mass Appeal". The album was critically acclaimed upon release and reestablished Gang Starr as a force within hip-hop. It also served as a forerunner to a number of different albums over the next 18 months that were credited as being pivotal to the New York hip-hop scene being a power center once again in the hip-hop landscape.
Visit The Vault Classic Music Reviews Online
Buy Exclusive The Vault Podcast Merchandise!
Support The Vault Classic Music Reviews on Buy Me A Coffee
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/vaultclassicpod
Build Your Own Amazing Podcast Website In Less Than 5 Minutes!
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Show Notes
UDiscoverMusic: "Hard To Earn": Gang Starr's Statement of Purpose
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/gang-starr-hard-to-earn-feature/
Albumism: Gang Starr's 'Hard To Earn' Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective
https://albumism.com/features/gang-starr-hard-to-earn-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective
Billboard: DJ Premier talks about Gang Starr's 'Hard To Earn' 25 Years Later: "That Album, I Had A Chip On My Shoulder"
https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/gang-starr-moment-of-truth-dj-premiere-interview-8501991/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vault-classic-music-reviews-podcast/donations
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Previous Episode
Eminem: The Slim Shady LP (1999). The Age of Slim Shady Begins
B. Cox and Domo review Eminem's sophomore album The Slim Shady LP as it turns 25. The now legendary emcee was just a little know upstart white rapper from Detroit when he blew up the underground scene by tearing through the '97 Rap Olympics. Despite losing in the finals, the word was out. After recording The Slim Shady EP, the tape made its way around the circuits and found its way on the desk of Dr. Dre, who promptly signed him and to Aftermath Records. The two clicked and got to work on his album.
Overseen by Dre, who also produced a couple of tracks on the album, it served the world's introduction to Eminem and what would become his famous alter-ego -- Slim Shady. In this character and slipping in between his actual persona of Marshall Mathers, he juxtaposed his rhyming with clever wordplay and "rhyme bending" to create adequate rhyme scenes. Inside of those lyrics were rife with shocking one-liners, verses and songs: topics on everything from depression, dark humor, drug use, addiction, disdain for his daughter's mother and outlandish and controversial sayings that would become the hallmark of his early career. His rhyme style made him among the elite; his topics and subject matter made him vulnerable, controversial and hated all at the same time.
The album was backed by three main singles -- the two most popular being "My Name Is..." and the Dr. Dre duet "Guilty Conscience". The album was a huge success, selling almost 7 million records and would be the beginning of him being the biggest music star in the game just four years later and the greatest selling rap artist of all time.
Visit The Vault Classic Music Reviews Online
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Show Notes
"The Slim Shady LP" Eminem's Warning Shot at Hip-Hop
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/the-slim-shady-lp-eminem-album/
The Ringer: Eminem has been America's Nightmare for 20 Years
https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/2/20/18232748/eminem-slim-shady-lp-20th-anniversary
Albumism: Eminem's 'The Slim Shady LP' Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective
https://albumism.com/features/eminem-the-slim-shady-lp-turns-20-anniversary-retrospective
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Next Episode
Usher: Confessions (2004). Lightning In a Bottle
B. Cox and Domo review Usher's Confessions as it turns 20. After his successful third album 8701, Usher underwent a number of changes in his life including his breakup from his girlfriend Chili from TLC and he was soon to become a father. In crafting his follow up, he wished to craft an album that was a well rounded album that touched man influences: from traditional classic R&B, throwback R&B, jazz and hip-hop.
He worked with all star cast of producers and writers. Among them were Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Dre & Vidal, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Lil'Jon, Just Blaze, Robin Thicke, Sean Garrett among others. He also has high profile features from the likes of Ludacris and Alicia Keys.
Noted for its powerful punch, consistency and star power, the album was a monumental success. It was powered by five singles: "Yeah!" with Lil Jon and Ludacris, "Burn", "Confessions Pt. II", "My Boo" with Alicia Keys and "Caught Up". The former 4 were all #1 hits on the Billboard Top 100. The album was also boosted by fan favorite album cuts such as "Superstar", "Bad Girl", "Can You Handle It" and "Seduction" (from the expanded version.
Since being released, it's been RIAA certified 14x platinum and is the best selling album by a black artist in the 21st century and is routinely discussed among fans and critics alike as both Usher's magnum opus and one of the best R&B albums of all-time.
Visit The Vault Classic Music Reviews Online
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Support The Vault Classic Music Reviews on Buy Me A Coffee
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Show Notes
Shatter The Standards: Reflecting On 20 Years of Usher's "Confessions"
https://www.shatterthestandards.com/p/reflecting-on-20-years-of-ushers
Metro UK: Usher's "Confessions" Is The Greatest R&B Album Of All Time
https://metro.co.uk/2024/02/11/ushers-confessions-greatest-r-b-album-time-20248757/
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