Daily Operation: Red Vinyl 2LP

On Step in the Arena, DJ Premier and Guru hit upon their mature sound, characterized by sparse, live jazz samples, Premiers cut-up scratching, and Gurus direct, unwavering streetwise monotone; but, with Daily Operation, the duo made their first masterpiece. From beginning to end, Gang Starrs third full-length album cuts with the force and precision of a machete and serves as an ode to and representation of New York and hip-hop underground culture. Gurus microphone skills are perfectly married to the best batch of tracks Premier had ever come up with.