Gang Starr has endured for decades now, the presence of Guru and DJ Premier remaining stalwart in the thoughts of hip-hop historians. And while the game may have suffered a loss when Guru passed away on April 19th, 2010, his contributions to music remain for us to enjoy long after the fact. Today marks the seventeenth anniversary of The Ownerz, the final Gang Starr album to be released while Guru was alive.
To commemorate the project, which featured guest appearances from Fat Joe, M.O.P, Snoop Dogg, and more -- it feels appropriate to highlight one of its key singles, the Jadakiss-assisted "Rite Where You Stand." A relic of the golden era, even at the time of its release in the early millennium (when the sonic landscape was dominated by names like Dr. Dre, Timbaland, The Neptunes, and a rising Scott Storch), DJ Premier's brilliant production captures the essence of New York hip-hop culture. The perfect backdrop for Guru and Jada to deliver effortless verses, their punchlines evoking battle rap dominance. Be sure to check out this classic cut right now, and show some love to Gang Starr's The Ownerz.
QUOTABLE LYRICS
You wanna know why I invest
All my money into haze and into dope?
Cause right now, I'm currently a slave for Interscope
Respect first then money, basic shit
If you got n***s under pressure, you could take they shit
Listen, I'ma leave you right where you stand
Have the ambulance pass your Timberlands off right to your man