DJ Premier has blown the lid off the new Gang Starr album. Titled One Of The Best Yet, the historic project is a 16-track trip down memory lane with the late Guru’s unmistakable voice peppering every track.
The album, which has been years in the making, boasts a healthy amount of notable guest features, including Q-Tip, Royce Da 5’9, J. Cole, Talib Kweli and M.O.P.
“This album means everything to me,” Preemo said in a press release. “It’s a continuation of what I never wanted to end. It’s a very foreign place for me and very emotional. I get happy, sad, excited; my feelings are kind of all over the place. But predominantly, just very happy to be making music with Guru again.”
Check out Gang Starr’s One Of The Best Yet stream, cover art and tracklist below.
[This post has been updated. The following was originally published on October 17, 2019.]
When DJ Premier first teased a new Gang Starr album on Instagram last month, everyone was in disbelief. With Guru gone, it didn’t seem possible. But behind the scenes, this was years in the making.
In September 2017, Preemo embarked on a journey with Guru’s aura and presence occupying the studio with him — not only in spiritual form but also in physical form. Throughout the process, the urn with Guru’s ashes sat on his production console as he began work on the first new Gang Starr album in 16 years — One Of The Best Yet.
“This album means everything to me,” Preemo said. “It’s a continuation of what I never wanted to end. It’s a very foreign place for me and very emotional. I get happy, sad, excited; my feelings are kind of all over the place. But predominantly, just very happy to be making music with Guru again.”
Along with the next single, “Bad Name,” Preemo has also unveiled the tracklist for the 16-track project.
Notable artists such as J. Cole, M.O.P., A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, Royce Da 5’9, Talib Kweli, Ne-Yo and Jeru The Damaja are among the many guests on the album.
One Of The Best Yet is expected to arrive on November 1. Pre-order the project here.
In the meantime, check out the cover art and tracklist below.
- The Sure Shot (Intro)
- Lights Out f. M.O.P.
- Bad Name
- Hit Man f. Q-Tip
- What’s Real f. Group Home & Royce Da 5’9
- Keith Casim Elam (Interlude)
- From A Distance f. Jeru The Damaja
- Family and Loyalty f. J. Cole
- Get Together f. Ne-Yo & Nitty Scott
- NYGz/GS 183rd (Interlude)
- So Many Rappers
- Business Or Art f. Talib Kweli
- Bring It Back Here
- One Of The Best Yet (Big Shug Interlude)
- Take Flight (Militia Pt. 4) f. Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx
- Bless The Mic
Couldn’t be more excited!
HO LEE SHIT !!
Hell yeaaaaaah !!!!
And Royce is on it too. Gang Star meets Prhyme!!! ??
This is wonderful but no Nas feature? Wtf
The lineup looks dope, most people from the foundation is on. Group Home, Big Shug, Freddie Foxx. Still missing Afu Ra and Bahamadia but this still looks amazing.
So a bunch of people Guru didn’t know or want to work with on any of his what 8 solo albums since he left Gangstarr and cut Premo out of his life.
I love Gangstarr and Premo is a beast but have some damn respect Guru didn’t want anything to do with Premo or even speak to him for over 10 years before his death, show some respect and honour the mans dying wishes, you had a decade to make things right and didn’t.
Won’t even stream this for free out of respect for Guru who did his best work away from Preme. Jazzmattazz is still ahead of its time.
Did his best work away from Premier?
This guy is superproducer Solar 100%
Is this Solar?
Who cares about morals when money is involved? Didnt you see what happened with pop, kerr and queen james this week?
Guru did his best work away from Premier? Have you lost your mind? Did you skip all the Gangstarr albums and go straight to Jazzmataz?
Did you know Guru personally to confidently post this nonsense? I didn’t think so. Just enjoy the music that’s to come and stop acting like this is The View or some shit.
Found Solar. What’s up POS?
Whatever you say, Solar.
JAZZMATTAZZ>>>>>>>>Gangstarr.
Probably would have come several years sooner if Solar wasn’t a scumbag
Bad name the production is Terrible..c’mon son could have done better than put your mans rhymes on a throwaway track…I love Gang Starr but that jawn ain’t it..
Clown classic beat
TAKE NOTES!!!
Gangster is phenomenal! One raps finest duos
Another crazy production from Premo. Really looking forward to the whole album, both new singles have been hot. I’m glad the Gang Starr saga lives on and gets the proper sendoff it deserves. Respect!
My favorite group of all time. I’m hyped!
REAL MF’IN RAP!!!! Guru would be fucking ashamed of the state of rap these days. We keep having to rely on the old heads to bring the heat. Kendrick keeps rapping dense verses that no one wants to listen to more than once, and Big Sean is carrying the mantle instead. The game needs Gang Starr in 2019, WOW!!!
Random kendrick hate…okay?
No, it’s not hate. I love K Dot, but sometimes I do struggle to put him on repeat mode. I have to be in that K Dot vibe to go back and listen to him.
Did you really say Big Sean is carrying the mantle? Over Kendrick? Mr. Ass Ass Ass? Yes, that was years ago, but I still can’t take him seriously after making one of the corniest songs of the decade.
I’m ready for this can’t wait its all type of shit dropping hopefully we getting the wwcd album soon too also dat black moon dropped today
I almost shed a tear seeing Group Home and Royce together on the same song….Livin Proof has some of my favorite songs and Royce killed that Supastar demo beat….I can’t wait to hear this
Gangstar pound 4 pound one of the best. Jeru da damaja is finally back with premo. I want a new album from them. This is a serious cop. i can’t stand j.cole. He might destroy a classic.
I thought Cole did an excellent job on the family and loyalty track, and he is a serious MC, not some mumbling rapper.
Gangs starr can find someone better than j.cole. He’s not a beast on the mic. I want a killah on the track.
So Drake, Wayne and Offset are beasts on the mic but J Cole isn’t? I’ll give you Wayne since he does go in when he wants to. But the other two? C’mon.
All of them are trash! None of them rep hip hop. Commercial dick riders. Hot music that isn’t hot.
This isn’t the early 90s anymore. The underground has been taken over by the nerds.
Pump you breaks fool! J Cole is not that bad! I will take Cole over any of these commercial clowns today. Sit back and enjoy the music.
He’s not that bad compare to what. This is hip hop baby. Hip hop stands for greatness. I don’t listen to no that bad mcs. Drake, lil wayne, offset are not that bad mcs.
Fuck you and fuck Solar
Don’t nobody want to hear nothing from Solar! Fuck him and fuck you! Real Gangstarr fas know what’s up! I wouldn’t be surprised if this was punk ass solar who wrote this comment! smh!
Y U hatin? Guru and I sold MILLIONS OF RECORDS and I’ve continued the GURU/GANG STARR legacy with my hit single LIVEST on YouTube! Go listen with an open mind and leave a commet !!!
Dude your a fraud mehn …you know it and so does the whole world, bless.
It is safe to say that Gang Starr’s surprise album will be the most important project to come out this year. I didn’t think Gang Starr would make another album together. Long Live Guru!
Solar is a fraud, even he knows and so does the whole world smh
@ice cold phenomenon original comment meant for you…mixed up some how my bad
i Cant wait for this to come !
It’s amazing that almost a decade after his passing guru’s lyrics feel as fresh and relevant as ever. I’m not sure he ever got his due credit, but guru was an elite lyricist. Truly one who elevated the game.
Its lit
Preemo’s production is fire as always. So nice to hear Guru back with a GOAT producer instead of slummin’ it with that fake fraud Solar.
I can’t wait for this album!
Just a few more days. I trust in Preemo to do Guru right with this. It’s going to be great.
I wonder how Kanye is feeling that Gangstarr dropped a better album than he did from beyond the grave?
This isnt Hate for Kanye. I liked his album, just sayin”
Guru LIVES!!!!
Album is even better that expected, holy s***.
Fuck Solar, and glad Guru’s family ruined him in court so he was forced to sell off Guru’s remaining vocal tracks.
Doggie Diamonds had that interview of some dude from Gang Starr Foundation i think and he was saying that preemo is a crack head and thats why Guru left dude. The video was removed for some reason a couple years ago i can’t find it on YT now
It’s sooooo damn great to hear Guru (first and foremost) Lil Dap and Melachi, Jeru, M.O.P. over Premier tracks like it’s the mid/late 90’s again! Good stuff!!! Gangstarr Forever!!!
It’s so damn great to hear Guru (First and foremost) Lil Dap, Melachi, Jeru, M.O.P. rockin over Premier beats like its the mid/late 90’s. Good stuff! Gangstarr forever!!!
Album is fire. Jeru is in top form – no idea why this guy isnt drop any album for ages
No Nas or Mos? Damn wth?!
SMH, Stupid criticism, reactiing to who isn’t on the album. Especially Mos Def??? I could imagine that he would have had a nice verse but, my man, other than Mathematics (Premier) and I’ve Committed Murder (Guru), they don’t have previous work together. How about you listen to the album before reacting to some false construct that you imagined.
LMAO why you mad son? You’re logic is stupid first of all because who cares if Mos only did one song with Preemo. How many did JCole do with him before this album? ZERO. And I’d take Mos over Jcole ANY DAY….specially if it’s on the same track with Talib. And yeah the album might be dope but my point is that it could’ve been better with Nas and Mos on there.
Ridiculous comment, especially with the Mos Def part. Mos Def has one song with Premier (Mathematics) and Guru (I’ve Committed Murder). “Damn WTH?” Listen to the album and accept the art that is being put forward.
Fuck yeah Preemo! You bodied this project.. RIP GURU and long live the Gang Starr Foundation!! Salute!!!!
Jeru over Premes beats. Gangstarr foundation in effect. Stop the presses!
The album’s kind of flat. Disappointing
How are all these verses unreleased? I’m only 2 tracks in including the Cole track and his verses are as good if not better than his previously released shit. Album of the year. Can’t wait to get to the Royce and Jeru songs. Feel like it’s Xmas morning.
apparently he recorded them with wack ass solar.. thanks to a settlement, Preem and Guru’s estate got a hold of them, and even though they prolly had solar’s wack ass beats on them, of course the rhymes were still on point and Preem was able to give them the proper beats as they should have!
This is so dope
To QaS
That is a ridiculous comment. Instead of digesting the album for what it is, you make a “Damn WTF?” comment because two artist weren’t on it. Keep things constructive and positive. Mos Def only recorded one song with DJ Premier (Mathematics) and only one song with Guru (I’ve Committed Murder). The expectation that he should be on this album is not there.
Dope album!!!
Thank you Preemo. It’s magnificent.
Amazing! They pulled it off. Has me reminiscing. Gangstarr forever, 30 plus years and counting…
I have herpes.
Welcome back DJ Premier and Guru! The album is banging!
I sharted my pants listening to this 😀
AOTY IMO
Son, listen to me, son: THIS IS THE FIRST HIP HOP ALBUM THAT I’VE LISTENED TO FROM START TO FINISH IN YEARS. Better than Nas, better than Hov, better than Drake, better than Kendrick, better than Migos. Albeit, I’m biased because I been rocking with Gang Start since I was an urban urchin. But yo, no doubt! Easily 5 mics. I was mad when The Source gave Moment of Truth 4 1/2 mics! Guru 4eva!!!!
Mentioning a handful of great artists and then throwing in Migos & Drake like they belong in the same sentence LMAO good one. This a great album tho you right about that. This a breath of fresh air. Hip hop needed this badly. It also brought out the best out of the guest features. Damn somehow J.Cole even managed to not bore me to death that’s how much respect he got for Gang Starr. 5 stars.
This album is hot. Preemo still putting out the bangaz. I want a new preemo and jeru album. We need another classic. Why can’t the radio play hip hop and that commercial trash at the same time. Let people decide not the corporations. They love to kill good music for bullshit. Why??????? Cop the new ghostface, black moon, apollo brown without MM, comptons most wanted and killarmy new albums and where is the new WUTANG ALBUM.
I was a huge Gang Starr fan growing up, but the recent Premier beats just ain’t it…this album included. Ownerz was much better album production wise. Still good to hear Guru again.
Is that you Solar?
I swear, people on the internet are ridiculous these days. So since I expressed my opinion and pointed out a thing I don’t like about the album, that makes me Solar? Or at least a hater, right? FOH.
it’s called sarcasm, don’t take everything you read on the internet serious.
I see where you’re coming from, but I honestly thought the production here was pretty good here. I would take these ones over the ones in his PRhyme projects anyday. The Ownerz was some fire though. His production around the mid-2000s (2002-2008) were my favorite.
I wanted to love it, but some of those beats were off. True gangstarr fans know guru assisted in production on all the albums… but of course he couldn’t with this one. Great to hear Ru… Rest In Peace… but the production is off…not a bad album, but not great. The gangs… 2, 3, 4 and 5 are solid A’s… 1,6, and 7 are just ok… but hey I love Gangstarr so I’m still listening
I hate to admit it but your assessment is spot on NW!! I always listen to all my new music while working out—been doing it like this for years–I played track 2 over and over–2-3-4 and were dope but after that the rest was just ok—I will give it another listen later
For me its a solid 3.2—just saying_Phil
There’s not a single weak beat – you need to listen some more
Only listened to 10 songs so far. Album is fire. Production wise its definitely one the best albums I’ve listened to this year. Need to finish the rest. Fire album. Only Skyzoo and Pete rocks album is better at the moment.
That albums good too, I prefer this….think it’s very good! Better than most albums out at the moment.
Killah beatz preemo! Jeru and preemo next. Hip hop will live forever. FUCK THE RADIO!
GANGSTAAAR ONE OF THE BEEEEST YET JUST HAD TO REMIIIIIIND YOU WE STILL ARE HEEEEY! Big shug had me rolling ?
Question mark was supposed to be exclamation point
Shits fire
I have been a loyal fan of Gangstarr since I was a kid and saw the words I manifest video for the first time.You just knew you were witnessing greatness.That being said,being one of Preemos biggest fans, the beats on this album were disappointing.I get he didnt have a lot of leeway because with Guru no longer in the physical form he cant switch tempos flows etc but these beats were very dull and simple. The bar was set high with code of the streets, take it personal, the militia above the clouds mass appeal etc..I just wanted one song to grab me that way..No hate..I love that they are building on Gangstarr’s legacy but how dope would it have been to have the definitive dedication to Guru with some classic Preem bap..
I can’t understand that perspective. This is classic Preem. I’d rate the “Family and Loyalty” and “So Many Rappers” beats with his best work.
Terrible! 100% trash from a washed has been. Probably spent his advance on crack and porn.
Great great album. Hip hop at its finest.
Nuff respect to gang start RIP GURU. No disrespect but the beats are mad outdated and pretty much sound the same with all the scratching and mixing and vocal samples
Gang Starr has got to be the sure shot!! I feel like I got sent back to 1998 with this album and that’s why I love it!! Good stuff!!