No More Mr. Nice Guy (Gang Starr album)

No More Mr. Nice Guy
Studio album by
Gang Starr
ReleasedJune 6, 1989[1]
Recorded1989
Genre
Length53:30
Label
Producer
Gang Starr chronology
No More Mr. Nice Guy
(1989) 		Step in the Arena
(1991)

No More Mr. Nice Guy is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Gang Starr.[3][4] The album was released on June 6, 1989. It peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song "Positivity" peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard rap chart.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[5]
Rolling Stone[6]

The Los Angeles Times noted that some songs "are more concerned with educating and relating than with egos and bragging, using hot soul-flavored dance beats and infusions of jazz."[7] Trouser Press wrote that "DJ Premier provides samples, beats and rhythms that are perfectly adequate, if not up to his future level."[8]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs are produced by DJ Premier & Guru, except for tracks 5 & 13, produced by the 45 King

No.TitleLength
1."Premier & The Guru"3:26
2."Jazz Music"3:30
3."Gotch U"3:08
4."Manifest"4:56
5."Gusto"3:15
6."DJ Premier in Deep Concentration"3:13
7."Positivity (Remix)"4:49
8."Words I Manifest (Remix)"5:12
9."Conscience Be Free"4:04
10."Cause and Effect"3:22
11."2 Steps Ahead"3:50
12."No More Mr. Nice Guy"3:22
13."Knowledge" (featuring Damo D-Ski)3:42
14."Positivity"3:35
15."Here's the Proof" (2001 Re-issue Bonus Track)4:35
16."The Lesson" (2001 Re-issue Bonus Track)5:05
17."Dedication" (2001 Re-issue Bonus Track)5:11
Total length:53:30

The PRT Records cassette issue in the UK contains "Movin' On (Vocal)" and "Movin' On (Dub)" as bonus tracks B7 and B8.

Singles

[edit]
Single information
"The Lesson" [Non-Album Single]
  • Released: 1987
  • B-side: "The Lesson (Super Club Mix)"
"Believe Dat!" [Non-Album Single]
  • Released: 1987
  • B-side: "Bust a Move Boy" & "To Be a Champion"
"Movin' On" [Non-Album Single]
  • Released: 1988
  • B-side: "Gusto" & "Knowledge"
"Words I Manifest (Remix)"
  • Released: 1989
  • B-side: "DJ Premier In Deep Concentration", "Here's the Proof"
"Positivity (Remix)"
  • Released: 1989
  • B-side: "No More Mr. Nice Guy (Remix)"

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1990) Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] 83

Singles

[edit]
Year Song Hot Rap Singles
1990 "Positivity" 19

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Today in Hip-Hop: Gang Starr Drop 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' - XXL". XXL Mag.
  2. ^ a b Swihart, Stanton. "Review: No More Mr. Nice Guy – Gang Starr". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  3. ^ Kot, Greg. "Guru of Gang Starr dead at 43". chicagotribune.com.
  4. ^ Young, Rob, ed. (2009). The Wire Primers: A Guide to Modern Music. Verso Books. p. 106.
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 674.
  6. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 322. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
  7. ^ Marlowe, Duff (2 Apr 1989). "The Essential Guide to Contemporary Rap". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 81.
  8. ^ "Gang Starr". Trouser Press. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Gang Starr Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
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