It has been more than five years since Gang Starr’s Keith “Guru” Elam passed away. Today (July 17) would have been the MC’s 54th birthday. While DJ Premier continues to wave the Gang Starr flag in his recent work with affiliates such as Bumpy Knuckles, D.I.T.C., and Dilated Peoples, the Gang Starr Foundation is going strong right behind him.

Big Shug, who was a Gang Starr member prior to Guru’s relocation to New York City in the mid-1980s has teamed up with the most recognized member of the Foundation, Jeru The Damaja. With Jeru’s onetime Dirty Rotten Scoundrel protege Afu-Ra, the trio released “3 Evil Masters.”

Press Play On Jeru The Damaja’s 1991-1992 Guru-Produced Demo (Audio)

Produced by Notiks, the song scratches several Gang Starr records (along with a famed Inspectah Deck Wu-Tang Clan line)—with all three MCs making their combines ties widely known. Besides Rebel I.N.S., a memorable portion of an Ol’ Dirty Bastard lyric is also scratched by DJ Niko.

From Boston—to East New York, this bond makes hardcore Hip-Hop happy. Heads are still waiting for the proper Jeru and Preemo reunion, which is nearly 20 years of waiting—despite the two doing shows together.

Big Shug & DJ Premier Wave The Gang Starr Flag In This Dedication To The Craft (Video)

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