Striking the perfect balance between street cred and sophisticated musicality, Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr emerged as hip-hop pioneers in the late 1980s with their sophisticated, jazz-influenced sound. They are among the select few who command respect from every corner of the rap spectrum, as evidenced by their track record of collaborations, including everyone from jazzman Branford Marsalis to Brooklyn gangster rap-dudes M.O.P.