Hip-Hop Classic #46: Gang Starr - You Know My Steez (Chosen by Tom Dark)

'You Know My Steez' is the lead single from Gang Starr's fifth studio album, 'Moment Of The Truth'. The album debuted at #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, going on to sell over 500,000 copies and was certified Gold by May 7, 1998. This song became Guru & Preemo's second Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1997, peaking at #76. It samples 'Flash It To the Beat' by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Joe Simon - 'Drowning In The Sea of Love' and 'Shadowboxing' by GZA.

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Hip-Hop Classic #32: Group Home - Tha Realness (Chosen by Ben Westbeech)

'Tha Realness' is a track taken from Group Home's (GangStarr affiliates) critically acclaimed debut album, Livin' Proof, which was released in 1995 on PayDay Records. The track was produced by DJ Premier and sampled 'Valley of the Shadows' by Bob James and Mobb Deep's 'Shook Ones (Part II)'.

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Hip-Hop Classic #3: Gang Starr - Rite Where You Stand (Feat. Jadakiss) (Chosen by Ed Sheeran)

'Rite Where U Stand' is the massive second single from Gang Starr's sixth (and last) studio album, The Ownerz, which was released in 2003 on Virgin/EMI Records. The album came at a time where they had become the last of the '80s Hip-Hop acts to show that they could still offer something fresh and relevant in a 21st century world of Rap. The Ownerz provides Gang Starr fans with all of the pure elements they have come to expect; flint-hard DJ Premier produced beats and aggressive, but thoughtful lyrics from Guru. This track inparticular, which samples 'Gonna Keep Tryin' Till I Win Your Love' by The Temptations, optimises everything that the duo stand for - as Preemo explains: "we utilize hip-hop like we own it and we don't misuse the art form". The biggest compliment I can pay Gang Starr is that their appeal grew with each successive release, which helped The Ownerz to rank alongside their earlier masterpieces. Timeless music.

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