Guru – and it became a Jazzmatazz thing
We all know Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal aka (or probable better known as) Guru. He’s the Gang Starr rapper, the man who performed on many popular tracks such as “Full Clip”, “JFK To LAX” or “You Know My Steez”. But Guru also has kind of another musical talent: It’s not only the hardcore hip hop but also the “Mixture of Jazz, R’n’B, Soul, Funk and Hip Hop” that Guru’s interested in, and the fusion of all these different but kind of related styles are fused on one record: It’s the Jazzmatazz thing. Guru has already released two Jazzmatazz records, and now here’s the third one, “Guru’s Jazzmatazz – Street Soul”. And no words say more about the record than its title!

There’s really not much to say about this record, it’s just a smooth one, the record that may satisfy your girlfriend even though she’s not into this type of sound. A very emotional, nice album that won’t bump clubs, but it needn’t, because bumpin’ clubs is not its purpose.

We start with the Intro: Guru, the Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal (and that, in fact, he is!) explains the content of the record and the sort of typical style the album has. Then we come to the single that has already been released for some time, “Keep Your Worries” featuring Angie Stone. A slow beat produced by DJ Scratch, the hook is (naturally) sung by Angie Stone and Guru’s rhymes, well, word up!!! “Hustlin’ Daze” featuring Donell Jones is the obligate Premier-produced one, the Gangstarr duo is reunited one more time, but not as hardcore as normally. This can’t disappoint us due to the fact that this is a Jazzmatazz-record, understood? Superstar Macy Gray appears on the next one named “All I Said” produced by The Neptunes that represents something along the jiggy-jiggy lines. I mean, we don’t hate this style, and if there’s not too much of this stuff… “Certified” featuring Bilal is one of the coolest tracks on the record: finally a beat that makes our head nod, and we remind ourselves of the fact that we’re still homeboys. “Lift Your Fist” featuring The Roots represents their style (they also are responsible for the production), a slower track that’s got an experimental touch and sounds like live-performance. No need to describe all the rest, they are all Jazzmatazz-tracks. My favourite track is “Where’s My Ladies” featuring Big Shug, but the other ones aren’t worse either.

No need for discussion, this one’s tight, it’s not a hardcore hip hop but a smooth Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B, Funk, Soul-album that represents in some way the streets, even though (or just because) it’s not as hard as the usual stuff we hear daily. Just listen to it, and feel the spirit, ‘cause that’s the thing that record really has. It won’t burn, but it will satisfy! (Emm)