Released: June 24, 2003

Songwriter: Guru DJ Premier

Producer: DJ Premier Guru

[Scratching by Premier]
"Y'all cats know we always play to win" -] Guru
"Players get your pay up"

[Verse One: Guru]
For my respect, I just might have to shut you down
Hang your punk ass from a limb, they'll have to cut you down
See I'm tired of you faggots kickin' dirt on my name
While you rap clone phonies only hurtin' the game
I'm too persistent, plus I flow too vicious
'Bout to expose you hoes, this shit is too twisted
Rappers be actin' like they rich or somethin'
When they get robbed like a herb, that's what they get for frontin'
I'm in the top ten, one of the best of all time
Been known to drop men - who CARES if the rest of y'all rhyme?
You're mediocre son, you're barely average kid
Your style's Chi-Chi, wanna see me crack yo' cabbage kid?
From the hood to the corporate, give up your goods and forfeit
This is George Foreman style, watch me cook this raw shit
More chips, watch us rake 'em in
And y'all cats know we always play to win

[Scratching by Premier]
"Y'all cats know we always play to win" -] Guru
"Real.. rough rhymes"
"Y'all cats know we always play to win" -] Guru
"Players get your pay up"

[Verse Two: Guru]
I'm hot so they're feelin' me, you're not so you're killin' me
You're hatin' on the low, tried to block my soliloquy
While you spread rumors, I'mma dead you junior
Have your mind blown, poundin' your dome like head tumors
Family tradition when I'm randomly spittin'
And girls love my voice, they say it's handsomely different
I never won awards, no Grammys and things
Back in the days did sticks, made niggas hand me they rings
What goes around comes around, they tried me later
But I survived all the thugged out, grimey capers
My concepts caused more panic than bomb threats
Don't take me for granted because I'm calm and shit
Cause when I FLIP, I'mma take over the ship
Controllin' this grip with one hand holdin my dick
And you try to counter but you're way too late again
See y'all cats know we always play to win

[Scratching by Premier]
"Y'all cats know we always play to win" -] Guru
"Real.. rough rhymes"
"Y'all cats know we always play to win" -] Guru
"Players.. players.. players get your pay up"

[Verse Three: Guru]
It's the God Universal, Ruler Universal
I'm still goin' strong in this game, and you should learn to
R-E-S, P-E-C-T
Or you get fucked up, be-lieve you me
And I ain't the one to be, startin' the violence
I'm just the one to be, sparki'n in silence
For years I ran with some of the greatest men
And y'all cats know we always play to win

[Scratching by Premier]
"Y'all cats know we always play to win" -] Guru
"Real.. rough rhymes"
"Y'all cats know we always play to win" -] Guru
"Y'all cats know we always play to win"

Gang Starr

Gang Starr is the formidable hip-hop duo of MC Guru and producer DJ Premier.

The group was originally founded by two childhood friends, Big Shug and Guru, in Atlanta; coming up with the logo design and name of the group. Big Shug and Guru got separated when Shug got imprisoned and Guru moved to New York where he met Dj Premier.

While DJ Premier is from Texas and the monotone Guru is from Boston, they came together in Brooklyn, New York, and helped define the sound of East Coast hip-hop in the 1990s with their jazzy production on singles such as “Words I Manifest” and “Jazz Thing,” as well as their harder boom bap singles like “Just to Get a Rep” and “Take it Personal.”