Customer Reviews

Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

In my opinion, Gang Starr is the best rap act ever. Excellent production, great beats, unique MC sound, and deep lyrics. Their worst track is better than most hip-hop group's best track. I've followed them since Daily Operation rocked my universe in 1992. I've got all their CDs and all the Jazzmatazz projects. I even saw Guru live in Chicago in 1996, where he had an audience of all ethnic backgrounds bouncing from start to finish (how many shows do you see that at?). Aside from Jazzmatazz III (which was only good), everything these guys put out has been classic.

So hard as it is for me to talk smack about a Guru project, there's just no other way to say it: THIS CD SUCKS! Do not buy without listening to song samples! I gave it three stars only because Guru's rapping and lyrics will always command respect.

For me, the problem is there's no DJ behind Guru. He needs that kind of gritty hip-hop feel to match his delivery. Solar sounds like a producer, and his work is so slicked up and soft that I was just cringing on half the tracks. I listen to Guru and Gang Starr to get AWAY from this kind of weak-a**, watered-down, R&B s***.

Of course, replacing Guru or Premo is like replacing Jimmy Page in Zeppelin or Mick Jagger in the Stones - there's nowhere to go but down. Even so, DJs must have been lining up around the block to work with Guru, so the selection of this Solar guy left me screaming: why? Why? WHY???

If it's true Gang Starr is finished, then I'm in total mourning! As much as I like Guru, if he can't get a strong DJ to back him then I'd rather see him hang it up.

This has got to be one of the worst albums I have heard in 2005 if not one of the worst ive ever heard period. You are probably looking at this and thinking wow a new album from Guru Ive got to check it out because the title and cover are very decieving they actually make this piece of trash look really cool. After repeated listens I get the impression that this is not the Guru that we all remember the Guru that came with Priemo in the mid 90s and dropped so many classic albums in the rap game that it is unbelievable the Guru that delivered lyrics that were so powerful he will be remebered as one of the greatest MCs of all time. No this is nothing more than a corny middle aged man spitting tired lyrics over hillariously awful beats provided by a wack DJ whose name is SOLARR
beat wise those who are expecting to here some ill beats should look elsewhere. The beats are cheesy repetitive and suprisingly have a commercial feel to them. One example of the extreme lameness of SOLARRS beats is the song where he chooses to sample the BEATLES "Live and Let Die"
(note to solarr it is a really REALLY bad idea to sample beatles songs on Hiphop records) I found myself not only laughing out loud at this poor attempt at rap music but at the same time I was feeling sorry for Guru for being paired with this loser. This is probably the lowest point on the album next to the "Step in The Arena" remake Seriously if Priemo heard this he would probably cry the list goes on of mediocre songs on this album I found that there were about 5 songs that were decent and so lets see 5 songs out of 19 that are good that leaves 14 that suck and when you compare the five songs that are actually good to Gangstarrs previous material these songs dont even stand a chance. I think that through out the course of Hiphop there are several albums that stand as prime examples of what Hiphop music SHOULD NOT be and this is definetly one of them But I think that SOLARR has a bright future regardless of how much this album sucks only his future is in the food service industry or in the lawn and garden department at Sears. 0 STARS

I've been a Gang Starr fanatic since "Manifest". This album by GURU is downright disappointing. An embarrasment to a legendary figure in rap music. I mean damn... of all the peeps GURU's worked with over the years, I know he could have gotten someone better on the boards than Solar. Those beats are straight up weak. Not suited to GURU's style of flow at all. I'm only going to listen to it one more time to make sure I didn't miss anything and then to the used CD store. GURU was a hero for rap music on his crusade against wackness, but this album will sit in the pile of wackness that is rap music of this era. It's such a shame. DON'T GO OUT OUT LIKE THIS GURU! I'VE BEEN TO TOO MANY OF YOUR SHOWS AND BOUGHT TOO MANY OF YOU ALBUMS AND SINGLES TO THINK THIS IS HOW YOUR GOING TO REPRESENT. BURY YOUR DIFFERENCES AND MAKE MUSIC WITH PREMIER AND SHOW THE WORLD HOW IT'S SUPPOSED BE DONE CAUSE THIS AIN'T IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This album isn't weak because Guru suddenly changed into super thug. It's weak because Solar's beats are cheesey....because Guru is rehashing old lyrics......and because hip hop is beats AND rhymes...not one or the other. Don't bend it, accept it for what it is.

But y'all don't get it. Y'all just know what you heard from him back in '93 and still swing on his nuts because of it. Bottom line, the beats are weak and Guru ain't kickin' it the same.

P.S. - notice how the other reviewer only mentioned the dope rhymes? He failed to mention that those kinds of rhymes are few and far in between on this cd.

Peace

Those who know Guru's history and provenance will expect this to be a very musical, clever combination of old school and new R & B. It is not. While it has some fairly catchy tracks, particularly "No Time," "Step In The Arena 2," and "Cave In" (which samples "White Lines"), Guru fails to deliver brilliant hooks and breaks, ending up an effort in forced gangsta thuginess. As far as grooves, where Guru once excelled, "Cave In" stands at the top, and yet he has to use one of the most overused samples in hip hop. Those who long for more Gang Starr sophistication and meaning must be content with looking back.

This cd is sooooo awful. It's worse than the Baldhead Slick & the Click CD (which is terrible in its own right). I love the first five gang starr albums, and even the Full Clip collection's new tracks were true to the conscious style, but ever since the third jazzmatazz album came out, Guru's been gradually becoming the substance-less, gun-toting, and generally lazy lyricist I heard rapping on this album. The Ownerz and Jazzmatazz 3 had there moments, but other than that it's been garbage. Do yourself a favor and listen to the first two jazmatazz albums, No More Mr. Nice Guy, Step In The Arena, Daily Operation, and especially Hard to Earn and Moment Of Truth if you want to hear the best of Guru & Gang Starr. But stay away from this CD completely. It's so f*&^%ing awful, seriously.

Guru & Premier, these are two names that will always be associated together as a legendary duo up there Eric B. & Rakim and Krs One & Dj Scott La Roc yet it seems likely no-one will ever remember Guru & Solar. When I first heard there was a Solar on the boards I at first assumed it was the French Mc that appears in the Jazzmatazz series and has quite an underground following of his own, needless to say I was intrigued. Once I discovered this wasn't the case I was no less interested. However upon finishing the album I had to say I was very dissapointed this was not the Guru that had given us the Jazz series. The beats from Solar are average at best and often come across as underproduced or as K. West rip offs. There are some songs on this album that grab ones attention such as Power Money & Influence which feature a powerhouse line-up with Talib Kweli & Jean Grae or the smooth Talk to Me with J. Wright. The rest of the album although not absolutely terrible is very easliy forgetable something that was never the case with a Premo & Guru record.
**

One
Pj.

I just recently purchased Guru's 7.0 Street Scriptures and was immediately disappointed after having to sit thru this rushed half-a$$ed attempt. Don't get me wrong here, I'm a true head and a Hip-Hop fanatic....Gangstarr happens to be my favorite group of all time. But so what, why should I let that convolute my actual opinion of this album. Those of you who rated this album anything higher than 3 stars should really be ashamed of yourselves. Just because an album ISN"T commercial or mainstream does not automatically make it a good album. Please get that through your skulls, before you claim to be a true Hip-Hop or music fan for that matter. This isn't about giving someone a high biased rating based on their underground or mainstream affiliation. I swear you underground flag waivers are just as bad as the non-informed mainstream folks. You praise artists who have a lot to say but have no style what-so ever and grace when it actually comes to rhyming (ex. Aesop Rock and El-P). What's wrong with Hip-Hop is that there is a lack of balance. The qualities of the underground and the mainstream are not merged. The "Middleground" is what Hip Hop desperately needs. So many of these reviewers don't actually listen to the music and mislead others by allowing their love and allegiance to the artist and "underground" movement affect their ratings of the actual artist. If you can't put your loyalty aside, please don't critique it. I honestly hope that Guru is just fiddling around with another side project...to later return to Gangstarr, because rumors have foreshadowed to a possible breakup of Guru and Preem, which would be devastating.

With that being said, Guru recruits Solar to provide the production. Solar produces every single track too, so don't expect a gem or 2 from Primo on this one. First of all, why did Guru recruit Solar to handle the production??? He is clearly in-experienced and lacks the charisma to keep a listener interested for more than 5 seconds. What's so ironic here is that Guru is a better producer than Solar! Every track is extremely bland, with hardly any sample driven beats. Even though Guru comes across with his usual sense of street awareness and consciousness, his delivery is affected by the unimaginative soundscape that is provided by Solar. I'm only giving this album 2 stars for some of the potent rhymes kicked from Guru on "I'm Sayin", "Feed the Hungry", and "Don Status", which all still have weak production. Guest appearances from Talib, Stylez P, Jean Grey, and B. Real can't even uplift this one.

To sum this all up in a nutshell:
Guru desperately needs DJ Premier in the worst way. They both compliment each other unlike any remaining MC/DJ groups that are still floating around. In order for Guru's rhymes to carry their actual weight, he's going to need above average production to accompany him. That's the reason why his Jazmatazz series and Bald Head Slick and the Click albums seemed to be more sufficient to listeners. They were all average albums with some above average production here and there. That's not even the case here, because I've never heard Guru struggle over beats like this before. If you're not really even a Gangstarr fan and instead loved Guru's Jazzmatazz opuses...you will be saddened by this lackluster album. What has to be questioned here is...why the heck is Guru hirinig talent-less producers when he has worked with arguably the best his entire careeer(Primo)? Why not recruit someone like Diamond D, Buckwild, NO I.D., or Alchemist, someone who can compliment you? If all of the good producers are too expensive, then recruit some of the really talented up and comers like Nottz, 9th Wonder, or Krysis. I thought I'd never hand 2 stars over to one of my personal favorite MC's, but I've got to be completely honest and I would rather you folks out there to save your money for a hot date or something rather than forking it over for a waist of plastic that's going to be a coaster. Let's just hope the Gangstarr breakup rumors are completely false.

The title really says it all. Guru has yet to produce a quality album without Premier's assistance. There's a good reason. Guru is one of the most dull, deadpan rappers in the game. With the right beat,anybody can sound okay. But when Guru has to carry a track with his vocals he never manages to do the job.

I was given this cd by a mate who got it on promo as he did an interview with guru before his gig.. Ive been a huge fan of Gangstarr/Guru since the start and i must say this album was absolutely dissapointing as much as Baldhead Slick. I am so glad i didn't end up purchasing this album as its a waste of money. The only tune i like on this album was Surviving the Game and the only reason was its got the same instrumental that "Whitelines, GMF and Furious 5" sampled from. I don't know why Guru decided to go this way but he deffinitly took the wrong course. He should of stuck with Premier.....