No More Mr. Nice Guy (Gang Starr album)

No More Mr. Nice Guy
Studio album by Gang Starr
Released	June 6, 1989 [1]
Recorded	1989
Genre	Hip hop jazz rap [2]
Length	53:30
Label	Wild Pitch EMI 0777 7 98709 2 9 E2-98709
Producer	DJ Premier Guru the 45 King
Gang Starr chronology
No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989) Step in the Arena (1991)

No More Mr. Nice Guy is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Gang Starr. ^{[3] [4]} The album was released on June 6, 1989. It peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song "Positivity" peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard rap chart.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]

The Los Angeles Times noted that some songs "are more concerned with educating and relating than with egos and bragging, using hot soul-flavored dance beats and infusions of jazz." ^[7] Trouser Press wrote that "DJ Premier provides samples, beats and rhythms that are perfectly adequate, if not up to his future level." ^[8]

Track listing

All songs are produced by DJ Premier & Guru, except for tracks 5 & 13, produced by the 45 King

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Premier & The Guru"	3:26
2.	"Jazz Music"	3:30
3.	"Gotch U"	3:08
4.	"Manifest"	4:56
5.	"Gusto"	3:15
6.	"DJ Premier in Deep Concentration"	3:13
7.	"Positivity (Remix)"	4:49
8.	"Words I Manifest (Remix)"	5:12
9.	"Conscience Be Free"	4:04
10.	"Cause and Effect"	3:22
11.	"2 Steps Ahead"	3:50
12.	"No More Mr. Nice Guy"	3:22
13.	"Knowledge" (featuring Damo D-Ski)	3:42
14.	"Positivity"	3:35
15.	"Here's the Proof" (2001 Re-issue Bonus Track)	4:35
16.	"The Lesson" (2001 Re-issue Bonus Track)	5:05
17.	"Dedication" (2001 Re-issue Bonus Track)	5:11
Total length:		53:30

The PRT Records cassette issue in the UK contains "Movin' On (Vocal)" and "Movin' On (Dub)" as bonus tracks B7 and B8.

Singles

Single information
"The Lesson" [Non-Album Single] Released: 1987 B-side: "The Lesson (Super Club Mix)"
"Believe Dat!" [Non-Album Single] Released: 1987 B-side: "Bust a Move Boy" & "To Be a Champion"
"Movin' On" [Non-Album Single] Released: 1988 B-side: "Gusto" & "Knowledge"
"Words I Manifest (Remix)" Released: 1989 B-side: "DJ Premier In Deep Concentration", "Here's the Proof"
"Positivity (Remix)" Released: 1989 B-side: "No More Mr. Nice Guy (Remix)"

Charts

Chart (1990)	Peak position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [9]	83

Singles

Year	Song	Hot Rap Singles
1990	"Positivity"	19

References

1. "Today in Hip-Hop: Gang Starr Drop 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' - XXL". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
2. Swihart, Stanton. "Review: No More Mr. Nice Guy – Gang Starr". AllMusic . Retrieved November 1, 2011.
3. Kot, Greg. "Guru of Gang Starr dead at 43". chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
4. Young, Rob, ed. (2009). The Wire Primers: A Guide to Modern Music. Verso Books. p. 106.
5. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 674.
6. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . Simon and Schuster. p.  322. ISBN   978-0-7432-0169-8.
7. Marlowe, Duff (April 2, 1989). "The Essential Guide to Contemporary Rap". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 81.
8. "Gang Starr". Trouser Press. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
9. "Gang Starr Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.