Sauce

7/10

During the 90s, Gangstarr made a huge impact on indie-ground hip hop, with culture-moulding tracks like Full Clip and Check the Technique. But after their 2003 release The Ownerz, DJ Premier and Guru branched off from Gangstarr, more towards their solo projects. For Guru this was the start of ‘Jazz Matazz’.

I haven’t heard the first three volumes but volume four still bares all that old school, traditional Guru style, as well as collaborations with an all-star cast including Blackalicious, Common, Damian Marley, Slum Village and a heap more.

With so much good hip hop around these days, it’s not enough for an artist to rely solely on the success of their previous releases to pull sales on their new albums. There needs to be some sort of progression, which unfortunately is something this album lacks.

I might get shot down for this, but I’ve heard Guru claim that he’s “versatile” on so many tracks/occasions, and I’m still yet to be convinced of this. His monotone voice and simple rhyme structures never seem to go any further than just that.

That said, I enjoyed this release, although most of the beats are based around over-done funk and jazz melodies. The beats (all produced by Solar) are well constructed and creative, and match Guru’s style well.

RYAN FARRINGTON