POSTS TAGGED : Gang Starr

Gang Starr – ‘Bad Name’

Back in September, we got the first new track from Gang Starr in 16 years, ‘Family And Loyalty’. A few weeks ago, this was followed a whole new Gang Starr album called One Of The Best Yet. DJ Premier started working on the record in September 2017, and comes almost a decade after Guru’s death in 2010.

While the circumstances of the album’s creation remain a point of contention, it is a little strange but very good to hear the duo back together again – a rather unexpected surprise. The album, while not to the level of say Daily Operation and Hard to Earn (two of my all time favourite records), is a nice tribute to, and reminder of, how great Gang Starr were. IMO there is never a bad time to share anything Gang Starr related, with that in mind, we have latest single ‘Bad Name’. Backed by Premier’s trademark production and iconic scratch choruses, without missing a beat, Guru bemoans the lack or real hip hop talents, as he spits: “Word to God, if Big and ‘Pac were still here/ Some of these weirdos wouldn’t act so cavalier”.

It is undeniably great to hear the two artists together again, check out ‘Bad Name’ below:

Sliab Cuinciu – ‘No Way, You’ll Never’

Sliab Cuinciu

Last year Wicklow native Sliab Cuinciu added his name to a growing list of talented homegrown electronic producers with the release of his 8-track collection, ####.

Mr. Cuinciu, aka Ross McDonald, is back with his latest musical offering, ‘No Way, You’ll Never’, ahead of a forthcoming, as yet untitled EP. Like his previous work ‘No Way, You’ll Never’ remains heavily indebted to raft of sounds and styles, influenced by hip hop, synth pop, disco and a wealth of electronic music. Saying that, it offers a slightly different side to his talent, in his own words, it’s “a distinctive mix of paranoia, self loathing, synthesizers and hip hop.” Add to that a persuasive array of  head nodding beats, sustained smooth-as-fuck groove and warped, twisted vocals, including some borrowed from Gang Starr’s ‘Mass Appeal’. It is as shadowy and eerie as we’ve heard Sliab Cuinciu but importantly it comes together ever so well and it works.

Not fixed date for Sliab Cuinciu’s next release but for now, there’s ‘No Way, You’ll Never’. You can stream and download it for free below.