Gangstarr's The Daily Operation - There's No Shame in Guru and Primo's Game

There are many legendary acts and duos in Hip Hop music. From Run-DMC to Outkast to Mobb Deep, each group has been very influential in hip hop. One of my personal favorites is the duo of the legendary DJ Premier (legendary seems to be the word always used now) and emcee Guru formed Gangstarr. Gangstarr has released an amazing array of trueschool hip hop albums from 1989 all the way until the turn of the century and beyond. While No More Mr. Nice Guy was a nice introduction to the duo, and Step In The Arena took it a step further (no pun intended), a lot of heads consider Daily Operation to be the album that put them on the map.

Daily Operation is an interesting album to listen to. It's clear the more you listen that Guru's monotone style is lacking of charisma and can easily turn off the ears of those accustomed to overtly charismatic wordsmiths like Jay-Z or Notorious B.I.G., but it's really not as hard to get into as you'd think. What one really takes from the album is a hungry DJ Premier's experimental chopping of jazz samples mixed with dirty drums, a style that Pete Rock brought to the forefront on Main Source's Breaking Atoms, but Primo provides much dirtier, almost intimate compositions, a style that he would dabble into more and more and improve on more and more as the years passed. You can tell Preme had fun putting these songs together.

As a lyricist, Guru might not be the most inventive, but the topical nature of a lot of the songs showcase that he was a versatile storyteller and had the ability to bounce everywhere. It seems like the best Premier beats always match up with the most creative form Guru. Interestingly enough, the two big singles from the album were both about the opposite sex. The lead single, "Take It Personal" finds Gifted Unlimited trying to resolve a failing relationship because he's been pre-occupied with life's ills. But the highlight of the track is Primo's wacky, psychotic key arrangements and scratch-sampling. I'm not sure if this is a jazz sample (I'm too lazy to look it up right now), but it certainly vibes. "Ex Girl To Next Girl" was an even hotter single about a former pimp who gives up the cane and cash when he falls in love. The thumping bass and light instrumentation show that drum-focused bounce that Primo would call his own in future classics. In addition, Gangstarr touches on some of hip-hop's most overtaxed cliches. You've got your obligatory "big up to my borough" song with "Place Where We Dwell" and of course, weed on "Take Two and Pass", because every album has to have a song dedicated to the sticky icky.

Some songs on the album lack the necessary depth needed to make Guru an interesting-enough emcee, but manage to be bangers due to an on-point performance by both DJ and rapper. "Soliloquy of Chaos" is street poetry storytelling at it's finest and a testament to the early 90s hip hop sound. The brag ttrack "I'm The Man" stands out because it was the major on wax debut of Jeru the Damaja and Lil Dap from Group Home. Premier would go on to produce Group Home and Jeru's albums, including the classic The Sun Rises in the East from Jeru, which some fans consider the best produced album in hip hop.

"No Shame in My Game" is the most bumpable brag-track on Daily Operation, where Guru's witty rhymes and Premier's ability to take obscure vinyl cuts and chop them up and create something that sounds nothing like the original. But regardless, nothing can touch his production on "Conspiracy", one of the best Premier beats to ever appear on a Gangstarr record (many feel his best beats were NOT with Guru). It's atmospheric and intense, bass-heavy with piano keys and an awesome sax sample. Guru sounds as dope as ever talking about discrimination and racism that has affected his life. This is an example of both artists apexing and one of the major highlights not only of Daily Operation, but of the entire Gangstarr discography.

As expected, Premier outshines Guru, but when does he not? Songs like "Hardcore Composer", "B.Y.S.", and "Much Too Much" are great musical pieces, and Guru is a fine braggadocio emcee, but again, his lack of charisma is overshadowed by Primo. You could really leave these songs off the album because they offer nothing exceptional on the lyrical side and are just showcases of Primo's skills.

Daily Operation is a fun blend of clean and dirty, jazzy and soulful, good and great. Guru, while nowhere near the top of anybody's emcees list, is on-point throughout and Premier etches even closer to finding his trademark sound. We are also introduced to Gangstarr Foundation members Lil Dap and Jeru the Damaja, so this is a fine starting point. Daily Operation is early 90s gritty New York street-hop at it's best.

Track List & Rating

1. Daily Operation (NOT RATED)
2. Place Where We Dwell (****)
3. Flip the Script (****)
4. Ex Girl to Next Girl (*****)
5. Soliloquy of Chaos (*****)
6. I'm the Man f/ Jeru the Damaja & Lil Dap (*****)
7. 92 Interlude
8. Take It Personal (*****)
9. 2 Deep (****)
10. 24-7/365 (NOT RATED)
11. No Shame in My Game f/ Jeru The Damaja (*****)
12. Conspiracy (*****)
13. Illest Brother (****)
14. Hardcore Composer (*****)
15. B.Y.S. (****)
16. Much Too Much (Mack A Mill) (****)
17. Take Two and Pass (*****)
18. Stay Tuned (****)

4.5 Stars