HipHopDX Exclusive. Gang Starr’s “Hard To Earn” turns 20 today. Check out a critical breakdown of one of the album’s most prominent and hard-hitting tracks.
31 thoughts on “Gang Starr – The Genius of “Mass Appeal” 20 Years Later”
There’s a lot of clowns on the net throwing the word “classic” around too easily when it comes to hip-hop tracks but “Mass Appeal” is definitely a true classic. “Code of the Streets” is another classic track on “Hard To Earn” album (my fav Gang Starr album by far).
I agree on this album’s classic status, and I know Mass Appeal by heart.
But giving props for the scratch hook by saying that “Sampling another Rap song wasnt common in 94” is really weird, because Hard To Earn was Gang Starr’s third album in a row where almost all hooks were scratched rap phrases. Yes, Premier pioneered this, but by ’94 a LOT of underground songs had learned the formula.
My fav rap group ever.
“Chart-topping rappers rhyming about a coke empire they never had,”
shout outs to Officer Ricky
if he ever topped any charts
“I’m a guru in the kitchen, whipping mass appeal” – Rick Ross “Keys To The Crib”
that’s almost offensive knowing he was talking about pancakes or some shit
Ill! Thanks 4 the heads up. I’ll listen to this again today. RIP
DJ Premier was in genius mode producing this album…one of the all-time great producers and albums!
Rip hiphop
Mas apeal goes out to todays socalled hip hop
GANG STARR BITCH!!! 10STARS
Well written article, glad ya’ll wrote about this album.
Timeless work from Guru & Preme.
My all time favourite track from Gangstarr “Kids be pretending their hardcore, never known the meaning of RAW”
And all the suckers get push back when i am kicking real fact, now that hip hip and yeah niggaz be selling the soul for the mass appeal
damn, its cray how some of these youngsters don’t & will never KNOW about this type of musical gem
RIP
Through darkness comes light and you will forever be known as the Guru
5*
fake rap, I cant dance on this. swag
Nevermind tho’.
I made a mistake. i realize Drake and Lil Wayne are fags. Im sorry but I turned into real hip hop now. I will never spam again.
Look my name
Top 10 song of all time…. Maybe top 5
Fuck Snoop, always working with the corniest popstars and going for that mass appeal
There’s a lot of clowns on the net throwing the word “classic” around too easily when it comes to hip-hop tracks but “Mass Appeal” is definitely a true classic. “Code of the Streets” is another classic track on “Hard To Earn” album (my fav Gang Starr album by far).
i gotta say Moment of Truth
fuck this weirdo .. This guy has no loyalty and is a flat out compulsive liar!
he’s dead fool
5 stars!!!
I agree one of the Top 10 Songs ever in Hip Hop
RIP Guru
RIP guru.. always kept it real as a true MC. and this was some of primos best work and reason he is a legend today. classic track and album
I agree on this album’s classic status, and I know Mass Appeal by heart.
But giving props for the scratch hook by saying that “Sampling another Rap song wasnt common in 94” is really weird, because Hard To Earn was Gang Starr’s third album in a row where almost all hooks were scratched rap phrases. Yes, Premier pioneered this, but by ’94 a LOT of underground songs had learned the formula.
I don’t think it’s weird…you even said it yourself with “underground songs,” as in, not mainstream, or not common!