This is the Hip Hop ABCs, where we collectively decide which emcee or group is the best in the game as driven by the letters of the alphabet. No stated criteria for the hip hop artists being voted on was given, nor were specific credentials for the voters. All you have to do is have an opinion on the artist you think most deserves to represent rap for a given letter. This week we are tackling the Letter H, but before we get to that, let’s talk about the winner of the Letter G.
My math teachers will cringe, but sometimes one plus one equals one. Gang Starr was one emcee and one DJ/producer who teamed up in 1989 to form one of the most respected duos in hip hop history. Guru, a Boston native, and DJ Premier, from Houston, joined forces in New York City and ended up giving the hip hop world one shining example of the sustained success you can have when your vision is strong and your product is of high enough quality.
Gang Starr delivered six critically-acclaimed albums deep over a span of roughly three decades. I unfortunately have to use past tense because Guru died in 2010. Before his premature passing, he and Premier popularized jazz-infused hip hop and helped define East Coast hip hop. In inception-like fashion, they even helped name an emcee/contributing hip hop columnist you might know. Gang Starr is the winner of the Letter G in our alphabetical rap battle known as the Hip Hop ABCs. Who gets your vote for the letter H?
Infinite Skillz is a Hip Hop fan and emcee. Click here to find out more about his music.
This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2015.