9. Gang Starr - The Ownerz
I can't stress enough how many times I went through my CD collection, iTunes, and old tapes/CD-Rs to try and find what I feel is the best representation of amazing hip-hop from the past 10 years. My rough draft had about 30 albums on it, cutting out 20 albums that I feel are not only amazing, but had a strong impact on hip-hop, was far from easy.
We all know Gang Starr, the dynamic duo consisting of Guru and DJ Premier, and their everlasting impact on East Coast hip-hop. The only release Gang Starr put out this decade is the Ownerz, their final album before the two disbanded. Gang Starr stays consistent to their roots as The Ownerz brings classic Premier production filled with jazzy samples and piano riffs and the casual Guru smooth, free-flowing lyricism (check out song titled "The Ownerz" for example, a perfect summary of what the album has to offer). The album also features some New York heavyweights like M.O.P., Jadakiss, Freddie Foxxx, Fat Joe, Bean Town label-mate Big Shug and LBC's Snoop Dogg, although half of them do not compare to Guru's raw lyricism. This album is proof of Gang Starr's longevity in hip-hop - sucka free since '89.
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