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As one half of Gang Starr, Guru’s ‘don status’ in the hip hop Hall of Fame is assured but as a solo artist, the jury is out.

Even if Version 7.0 - The Street Scriptures is a bit cheesy at times, it’s still got more great tracks than bad though. With producer partner, Solar, the new team have (re)found critical acclaim with this their first album off their own label.

Not surprisingly, some of the tracks are quite commercial such as ‘Hood Dreamin’, which employs the I Monster beat as recently used on a TV advert and again on ‘Daydreamin’ by Lupe Fiasco and Jill Scott.

‘Surviving The Game’ adds a helium voiced ‘Live And Let Die’ 007 soundtrack theme. ‘To Dark See’ repeats the formula with Dylan’s ‘Knockin’ On Heavens Door’. 2-Pac imitator you may say, but the season of goodwill is coming so give the guy a break.

Old skool ‘Cave In’ is a fast rap rant and, at the opposite extreme, is the sultry Jaguar Wright on ‘Talk To Me’. She dominates on this R&B smoocher from the casbah, definitely the most Fly track on the album. Closely followed by the introspective brag of ‘Power, Money And Influence’ with Jean Grae and Talib Kweli — a trio of rap with funky vibe beats.

There are no fewer than 19 tracks here and others to listen out for include ‘False Prophets’ (big choral thing with strings), the other collaboration, ‘Real Life’, with Cypress Hill’s B. Real and the conscious ‘Feed The Hungry’ with another excellent cameo by Ms. Wright.

Solar could never replace DJ Premier but he’s brought a new freshness to Guru who is sounding as good as always.

Hectic Mix Nominations: ‘Talk To Me’, ‘Hood Dreamin’, ‘Power, Money And Influence’, ‘Hall Of Fame’ and ‘False Prophets’.

Reviewed: Guru - Version 7.0 - The Street Scriptures(7 Grand Records) Cat No. 02SVG5 Release date: 27th November 2006 (UK/Europe)

1. No Time
2. False Prophets
3. Step In The Arena
4. Don Status
5. Hood Dreamin’
6. Cave In
7. Surviving The Game
8. Hall Of Fame
9. Talk To Me feat. Jaguar Wright
10. Too Dark See
11. Power, Money And Influence
12. Kingpin
13. Fa Keeps
14. Real Life
15. Feed The Hungry
16. Talkin’ Loud And Frontin’
17. Open House
18. I Gotta
19. What’s My Life Like?

Links:
www.guru7grand.com
www.gurugangstarr.com
http://gangstarr.ga.ohost.de
www.jean-grae.com
www.talibkweli.com
www.cypresshill.com