Gangstarr:
The Ownerz

Release Date: 23rd June 2003

Reviewed By: Matt Tomer

1. Intro (HQ, Goo, Panch)

2. Put Up Or Shut Up featuring Krumbsnatcha

3. Werdz From The Ghetto Child featuring Smiley

4. Sabotage

5. Rite Where U Stand featuring Jadakiss

6. Skills*

7. Deadly Habitz

8. Nice Girl, Wrong Place featuring Boy Big

9. Peace of Mine

10. Who Got Gunz featuring Fat Joe & M.O.P.

11. Capture (Militia Pt. 3) featuring Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx

12. PLAYTAWIN

13. Riot Akt

14. (Hiney)

15. Same Team, No Games featuring NYG'z & H. Stax

16. In This Life... featuring Snoop Dogg & Uncle Reo

17. The Ownerz

18. Zonin'

19. Eulogy

The Game - The Documentary
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Everytime the word of a Gang Starr album hits the streets, heads get to craving and wanting it in the worst of ways. The very thought of an album entirely produced by DJ Premier is enough to excite even casual heads, but it's only with partner Guru that he is truly at the top of his game. ‘The Ownerz’ is Gang Starr's sixth full length studio album, and their first since ‘Moment of Truth’, five long years ago. It's been a good wait, but hip hop's most prolific duo is back again.

‘The Ownerz’ is very much like anything Gang Starr has done in the last 10 to 12 years; fantastic beats, sucker-blasting rhymes, and the occasional guest spot from Gang Starr's extended family of cutthroat emcees. While some are sure to be fed up of this shtick by now, core fans who still dig Primo's knack for head-nodding production and Guru's delightfully monotone flow will be all over ‘The Ownerz’.

It should come as no surprise that Primo once again comes correct on the beats. ‘Skills’ will make any one sitting in the club get the f*ck up with its groovy swing, whereas ‘Deadly Habitz’ has a pounding bass drum and jazzy backdrop, and the only problem with the piano-laced ‘Werdz From the Ghetto’, is it's all-too short 1:11 length. Primo provides the hardcore street anthems like "Capture," but also goes the 70's, Curtis Mayfield route on ‘Nice Girl, Wrong Place’, with his wah-pedal guitar strokes and subtle bass line.

Guru is still fun to listen to, improving somewhat since ‘Moment of Truth’, but anyone who has been critical of his writings will not find his performance on ‘The Ownerz’ as much of a step forward. He does, however, narrate quite well on the aforementioned ‘Nice Girl’ track, and definitely maintains his aggressive demeanour on amped tracks like ‘PLAYTAWIN’ and ‘Peace of Mine’.

‘The Ownerz’ is another vintage Gang Starr release, complete with dirty beats and tight rhymes. Although this album won't necessarily change your mind about Gang Starr if you didn't already like them, it provides ample opportunity to check their steelo, as it hasn't really evolved in some time. Call it consistency or stagnancy, but that relies entirely on your point of view.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Top Tracks:

Peace of Mine

Deadly Habitz

The Ownerz

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