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One of the Best Yet

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One of the Best Yet
Studio albumby
Gang Starr
ReleasedNovember 1, 2019(2019-11-01)
Recorded
  • 2005–09 (Guru's vocals)
  • 2011–19 (production, guest vocals & mi xing )
GenreHip hop
Length37:03
Label
ProducerDJ Premier(alsoexec.)
Gang Starrchronology
Mass Appeal: the Best of Gang Starr
(2006) 		One of the Best Yet
(2019)
SinglesfromOne of the Best Yet
  1. "Family & Loyalty"
    Released: September 20, 2019[1]
  2. "Bad Name"
    Released: October 18, 2019

One of the Best Yetis the seventh and final studio album by American hip hop duoGang Starr,released on November 1, 2019.[2]The album features previously unreleased and posthumous vocals fromGuru,who died nine years prior to the album's release.[3]The album features guest appearances fromJ. Cole,Royce da 5'9 ",Talib Kweli,M.O.P.,andQ-Tip,among others.[4]

Background

[edit]

RapperGurudied of cancer in April 2010, having not released an album withDJ Premieras Gang Starr since 2003'sThe Ownerz,seven years earlier. A note from Guru provided by former collaborator Solar had said that he disowned his former producer and DJ, and was released around the time of his death. However, many looked on it with suspicion. While Guru and Premier had not spoken since 2004,[5]Premier had wanted to release a final album, but had difficulty obtaining unreleased material from Guru, despite the rapper's prolific work ethic, because of a dispute with fellow producer Solar.[6]In 2014, a court case gave Guru's family control of his own unreleased music, and in 2016, Solar decided to sell the remaining music.[7]Despite the animosity between the two men, an agreement was reached (although Solar disputes this), and in early 2018, DJ Premier decided to put together a final album, creating new beats for the project over acappellas from Guru.[8]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
Consequence of SoundB−[10]
Exclaim!9/10[11]
The Guardian[12]
HipHopDX4.2/5[13]
NME[14]
Pitchfork6.3/10[15]
Rolling Stone[16]

One of the Best Yetreceived generally favorable reviews. AtMetacritic,which assigns anormalizedrating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received anaveragescore of 71, based on 12 reviews.[9]Writing forExclaim!,Riley Wallace praised the album as "a fluid, impeccably produced final goodbye" to Guru, and "a last curtain to a legacy group on its own terms."[11] Christopher R. Weingarten ofRolling Stonenoted that "there are moments where it feels like one of the most beloved rap groups in history are picking up right where they left off", hailing "Family and Loyalty" as the highlight of the album.[16]Will Lavin ofNMEcalled it "a special moment for hip-hop", however, he stated that "Sometimes, too, Guru's absence is a little too noticeable", noting that some tracks sound unfinished.[14]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks produced byDJ Premier.

No.TitleLength
1."The Sure Shot" (Intro)1:23
2."Lights Out" (featuringM.O.P.)3:36
3."Bad Name"2:21
4."Hit Man" (featuringQ-Tip)2:22
5."What's Real" (featuringGroup HomeandRoyce da 5'9 ")3:24
6."Keith Casim Elam" (Interlude)0:16
7."From a Distance" (featuringJeru the Damaja)2:30
8."Family and Loyalty" (featuringJ. Cole)4:34
9."Get Together" (featuringNe-YoandNitty Scott)3:28
10."NYGz / GS 183rd" (Interlude)1:10
11."So Many Rappers"2:11
12."Business or Art" (featuringTalib Kweli)2:59
13."Bring It Back Here"0:50
14."One of the Best Yet (Big Shug Interlude)"0:28
15."Take Flight (Militia, Pt. 4)" (featuringBig ShugandFreddie Foxxx)2:56
16."Bless the Mic"2:35
Total length:37:03

Charts

[edit]
Sales chart performance forOne of the Best Yet
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (UltratopFlanders)[17] 164
Canadian Albums(Billboard)[18] 65
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[19] 86
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] 46
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 20
USBillboard200[22] 82
USTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums(Billboard)[23] 42

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^AllMusic
  2. ^"One of the Best Yet by Gang Starr on Apple Music".Apple Music.November 1, 2019.RetrievedNovember 3,2019.
  3. ^Middleton, Ryan (November 1, 2019)."Review: Gang Starr Keeps Guru's Spirit Alive On Potent New Album 'One Of The Best'".Magnetic Magazine.RetrievedNovember 3,2019.
  4. ^Darville, Jordan (November 1, 2019)."Listen to Gang Starr's new album One of the Best Yet".The Fader.RetrievedNovember 3,2019.
  5. ^Sundaresan, Mano (November 1, 2019)."DJ Premier Revives The Legendary Gang Starr: 'Together We Bring The Best Dope'".NPR.
  6. ^Newman, Jason (November 1, 2019)."DJ Premier Has A Lot To Say About Gang Starr's First Album in 16 Years".Rolling Stone.
  7. ^Cantor, Paul (October 29, 2019)."Fans Were Surprised To Get More Gang Starr. They Almost Didn't".New York Times.
  8. ^Savage, Mark (November 24, 2019)."Gang Starr: The Bizarre Story Behind Their Final Album".BBC.
  9. ^ab"Reviews for One of the Best Yet by Gang Starr".Metacritic.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  10. ^"Gang Starr – One of the Best Yet".Consequence of Sound.8 November 2019.RetrievedNovember 9,2019.
  11. ^ab"Gang Starr – One of the Best Yet".Exclaim!.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  12. ^Petridis, Alexis (31 October 2019)."Gang Starr: One of the Best Yet review – rap duo stand tall beyond the grave".The Guardian.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  13. ^"Review: DJ Premier Raises Gang Starr's Stock With 'One Of The Best Yet'".HipHopDX.15 November 2019.RetrievedNovember 24,2019.
  14. ^ab"Gang Starr – 'One of the Best Yet' review: a celebration of life, love and legacy".NME.29 October 2019.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  15. ^Pearce, Sheldon (November 11, 2019)."Gang Starr: One of the Best Yet".Pitchfork.RetrievedNovember 25,2019.
  16. ^ab"Gang Starr's First Album in 16 Years is a Gift to Old-School Rap Fans".Rolling Stone.4 November 2019.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  17. ^"Ultratop.be – Gang Starr – One of the Best Yet"(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  18. ^"Gang Starr Chart History (Canadian Albums)".Billboard.Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  19. ^"Dutchcharts.nl – Gang Starr – One of the Best Yet"(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  20. ^"Offiziellecharts.de – Gang Starr – One of the Best Yet"(in German).GfK Entertainment Charts.Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  21. ^"Swisscharts – Gang Starr – One of the Best Yet".Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  22. ^"Gang Starr Chart History (Billboard200) ".Billboard.Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  23. ^"Gang Starr Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)".Billboard.Retrieved November 12, 2019.
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