No More Mr Nice Guy

Explicit Version. 2008 reissue the debut album by alternative Hip Hop duo Gang Starr, originally released in 1989. Although a critical success upon its first release, amid the first wave of alternative Hip Hop acts like De La Soul, No More Mr. Nice Guy remains somewhat overshadowed by massively influential albums like 3 Feet High and Rising. This album does not tackle social or political issues: it consists of quite a few love songs and boasting tracks. No More Mr. Nice Guy peaked at #83 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. "Positivity" peaked at #19 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart.

While Public Enemy and the Ultramagnetic MCs were bringing the noise, the duo of Guru and DJ Premier were enrolling for jazz classes under the name Gang Starr. No More Mr. Nice Guy, their debut, is ironically the closest Gang Starr ever came to perfecting their style. They use the requisite James Brown samples (on "Gotch U" and "Manifest") but add jazz piano and upright bass over smooth rap lyrics. It works because the jazz style creates a unique, organic texture that never loses its flavor. It also works because DJ Premier is a force to be reckoned with (the classic DJ cut "DJ Premier in Deep Concentration" name-checks hip-hop contemporaries like Rakim, scratched out over the sweet piano of Kool and the Gang's "Summertime"). Definitely a new-school classic. --Todd Levin