Gangstarr is back with another street banger complete with the consistent beats of Premier and the forecasting of Guru. The Ownerz is a classic effort that will surely not get the credit that it deserves.

From the beginning Intro to Eulogy the group in the game for over a decade lets you know of their time spent and how much they’ve seen. Put Up Or Shut Up featuring the Krumbsnatchas the team sets you up with a tempo for the whole album. They tell those MC’s who talk big time to stop talking start doing. The Krumbsnatchas give help on the cut and sound like more than a throw in.

The album goes on like one piece of work with rare instances of stoppages where you would have time to recollect the craziness of the album. One moment that makes you realize how far you have come in with, Rite Where You Stand featuring Jadakiss comes on. All sides come to a collective climax on this song letting you know who some of the nicest MC’s are in the game of Hip Hop (not Rap).

This is followed by the first single of the album Skillz, a tribute to the old school when the DJ and the beat was the most important thing.

Deadly Traits is about the things we do we know is wrong but can’t necessarily stop.

Nice Girl, Wrong Place is about that great girl you see in the wrong place or hanging with the wrong crowd, with Boy Big singing the hook.

Who Got Gunz takes you the street with warriors M.O.P. and Fat Joe as they bring their urban slang to the table. M.O.P. in particular keeps you amazed that they are so slept on. Also the track produced by Premo makes you hope they don’t give up their heavy alliance with Gangstarr now that they are signed to Roc-A-Fella Records.

Capture brings back the members of the Militia and they sound like Iraq after the war as the super group and in particular Freddie Foxx destroys the climatic track. Foxx comes at all “soapbox” (read commercial) MC’s with fire and an undeniable prowess for punch lines. One time he even points to tennis as an inspiration in one verse: “Capture, duck tape rapture, smacked ya, served up my Venus and Serena’s, cock back, clapped ya! For Internet MC’s, I’m virus, I’m a warrior, niggas screaming: Bumpy shot ‘Ciris!

Riot act calls for people to get up and stand for what we believe in and be smart about it. Guru calls it like he sees it saying in the chorus: Riot act! Time to protect our communities Riot act! The real criminals get immunity!

Same Team, No Games, gathers the NYG’z, H. Stax and Gangstarr on the beat with a battles style beat, nothing too complex just right for a back and forth affair.

Snoop Dogg lends his spittage for In This Life, which also features Uncle Reo. D.O. Double G. talks about his life with a slow beat and wit. He even lets you know of his success in quitting his seemingly lifetime habit.

The title track is the epitome of Gangstarr’s sound and Eulogy gives tribute some people who we miss artistically as well a personal shout outs.

I’ll give the five globes. In the current state of Hip Hop where sensationalism is key, Will this album go platinum? Probably not but that doesn’t make a great album. Neither does conforming yourself to sell. The great thing about Gangstarr is the have grown since Step In To The Arena but they continues to give us what they have from the beginning hard beats, knowledgeable and witty lyrics, and talented collaborators great enough to leave you in awe. This is a Hip Hop album you must cop! Underappreciated, Never duplicated.

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