Full Clip: Decade of Gang Starr
A massive double disc packed with 33 tracks--a few new cuts, many old faves, and some rare B-sides--Full Clippresents a decent overview of the group's impressive 10-year sonic canon. Gang Starr standards spanning the likes of "Manifest" (from their 1989 debut,No More Mr. Nice Guy), to the anti stick-up kid rhetoric of "Just to Get a Rep" (off of 1991'sStep in the Arena), to "Soliloquy of Chaos," their rapturous criticism of violence at rap shows (culled from 1992'sDaily Operation), as well as "Code of the Streets" and "Mass Appeal" (both taken from 1994'sHard to Earn), are all represented in full. Additionally, there are plenty of tasty B-sides like "Credit Is Due" and "The ? Remains," tucked in alongside soundtrack contributions like the pioneering jazz/hip-hop jammie "Jazz Thing" from Spike Lee'sMo' Better Blues. And the new tracks, such as the lumbering, scratch-filled "Full Clip," prove that Gang Starr are still very capable of concocting relevant, head-bangin' hip-hop madness. If there are any complaints withFull Clip, it's that the compilation tends to lean more heavily toward the group's later efforts (only one joint offMr. Nice Guyis included while there are at least five represented from each of their '92, '94, and '98 efforts). Plus there are a few noticeable omissions, specifically "Love Sick," Guru's tasty lament fromStep in the Arena. But the gist of theFull Clipcompendium is to celebrate Gang Starr's noteworthy career by presenting a broad overview of the duo's work, and to that end, it delivers in spades.--Spence Abbott