Reviews (page 2 of 7)
No gimmicks. No fancy beats. Its all about the lyrics.
No notes
love this album
right down my alley! kannte nur Guru, aber Gang Starr ist ebenso toll mit diesem vollen sound und den beats! 5 sterne, das muss sein!
This is the real old school, this album paved what hip-hop was gonna sound like for the next two decades across many countries. Proper production, incredible lyrics, it really set a high standard for the guys that followed.
Step in the Arena de Gang Starr, c’est une pierre angulaire du rap des années 90, un album fondateur du boom bap new-yorkais, sorti à une époque où le hip-hop aller entrer dans son âge d’or. Ce qui le rend culte pour moi : Les prods de DJ Premier, à la fois minimalistes, rugueuses, ultra précises. À partir de là, Premier devient une légende. Son sample-chopping, ses scratches, son sens du rythme… c’est une masterclass. Guru : posé, réfléchi, calme mais tranchant. Il a ce flow lent, presque nonchalant, mais les lyrics sont pleins de messages, de fierté, de réflexion sociale. Il n’essaie jamais d’impressionner par la technique, mais il t'impose le respect. Des morceaux comme : Just to Get a Rep Who's Gonna Take the Weight? Check the Technique sont devenus des classiques instantanés. Tu ressens l’équilibre entre la rue et l’esprit, entre la philosophie et le quotidien brut de New York. C’est un album fondateur du son Gang Starr, plus abouti et cohérent que leur premier, et un tremplin vers Daily Operation et Moment of Truth.
Cool
This album was so cool.
ziek, nice bij sporten
## In-Depth Review: *Step In The Arena* by Gang Starr Released in 1991, *Step In The Arena* marks a pivotal moment in hip-hop history, solidifying Gang Starr-comprised of Guru (MC) and DJ Premier (producer/DJ)-as architects of the East Coast sound. This album is widely regarded as a classic, lauded for its lyrical depth, innovative production, thematic richness, and lasting influence on the genre. --- ## Lyrics **Guru’s Lyrical Approach** Guru’s lyricism on *Step In The Arena* is a blend of streetwise observation, intellectual reflection, and personal storytelling. His monotone delivery, far from being monotonous, imbues his words with gravitas and clarity, making each line resonate with intent and meaning[1][3]. Guru’s verses eschew empty bravado in favor of substance, exploring themes of personal struggle, social commentary, and introspection. - **Storytelling & Social Commentary:** Tracks like “Just to Get a Rep” offer gritty narratives about street life and its consequences, inspired by real-life experiences, including Guru’s own victimization[4]. The song serves as a cautionary tale about the karmic cycle of violence, delivered with a detached, almost journalistic tone that heightens its impact. - **Intellect & Self-Knowledge:** On “Form of Intellect” and “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight?,” Guru delves into themes of knowledge of self, responsibility, and the broader societal context, pondering issues like reparations and fate[3][5]. His lyrics often encourage listeners to think critically about their environment and choices. - **Diversity of Subject Matter:** Guru’s range is evident in tracks like “Lovesick” and “What Do You Want This Time?,” where he explores relationships with a humor and sensitivity rarely seen in early ’90s rap[6]. This versatility keeps the album engaging and avoids thematic stagnation. **Lyricism in Context** Guru’s lyrics reflect the cultural and social climate of early ’90s New York, capturing the essence of an era when hip-hop was becoming a powerful platform for social commentary[1][4]. His mature, introspective approach set Gang Starr apart from many contemporaries, favoring wisdom over posturing. --- ## Music & Production **DJ Premier’s Signature Sound** *Step In The Arena* is a showcase for DJ Premier’s emerging signature style: crisp drum programming, soulful jazz samples, deft scratching, and a minimalist yet hard-hitting approach[1][3][7]. Premier’s beats are both intricate and accessible, providing the perfect canvas for Guru’s vocals. - **Sampling & Innovation:** Premier’s production draws from a deep well of jazz, funk, and soul, but never feels derivative. He manipulates samples with precision, bending sax squeals, chopping drum breaks, and layering subtle melodic elements to create a sound both classic and forward-thinking[3]. The album’s title track, for example, features complex drum patterns and moody loops that set the tone for the entire record. - **Sequencing & Cohesion:** The album’s sequencing is masterful-each track flows seamlessly into the next, maintaining momentum and coherence throughout its 18 tracks[1]. There’s a notable absence of filler; every song serves a purpose, contributing to the album’s overarching narrative and mood. - **Scratching & DJ Techniques:** Premier’s turntablism is on full display, with sharp, purposeful scratches that punctuate choruses and transitions, adding a raw, authentic hip-hop feel[3][7]. --- ## Themes **Street Realism & Social Consciousness** Thematically, *Step In The Arena* balances street realism with intellectual and spiritual inquiry. - **Street Life:** Songs like “Just to Get a Rep” and “Execution of a Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2)” examine the harsh realities of urban existence, crime, and survival, offering neither glorification nor condemnation, but rather a nuanced perspective[1][4][6]. - **Empowerment & Knowledge:** Guru frequently addresses the importance of self-knowledge, responsibility, and community uplift, echoing the ethos of groups like Boogie Down Productions while maintaining a unique voice[5][7]. - **Personal Growth:** Tracks such as “Take a Rest” and “Beyond Comprehension” reflect on personal development, resilience, and the search for meaning, demonstrating Guru’s introspective side[1][3]. **Relationship Dynamics** With tracks like “Lovesick,” Guru explores romantic relationships with surprising vulnerability and wit, adding another layer of depth to the album’s thematic palette[6]. --- ## Influence *Step In The Arena* cast a long shadow over East Coast hip-hop, providing a blueprint for the genre’s evolution throughout the 1990s and beyond[5][7]. - **Blueprint for East Coast Sound:** The stripped-down, jazz-infused production and thoughtful lyricism influenced a generation of producers and MCs, from Da Beatminerz to Havoc of Mobb Deep[7]. - **Gang Starr’s Legacy:** This album marked the beginning of a string of classics for Gang Starr, cementing their status as one of hip-hop’s most important duos and setting the standard for future releases[2][5]. - **Critical Acclaim:** Universally recognized as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, *Step In The Arena* is often cited for its consistency, lack of filler, and enduring relevance[4]. --- ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Flawless synergy between Guru and DJ Premier[1][3] | Guru’s monotone delivery may not appeal to all listeners[1] | | Lyrically rich, covering a wide range of themes[1][4][6] | Some may find the album’s sound too consistent, lacking in sonic variety[2] | | Innovative, sample-driven production that set new standards[3][5][7] | Not as commercially accessible as some contemporaneous releases | | No filler or unnecessary skits; every track serves a purpose[2][4] | Jazz-rap label may have initially pigeonholed the duo[3] | | Influential blueprint for East Coast hip-hop[5][7] | Minimal guest features-album is very much a closed duo affair | | Thoughtful sequencing and album structure[1] | Some listeners may prefer more overt hooks or radio-friendly singles | --- ## Conclusion *Step In The Arena* is a masterclass in hip-hop artistry, balancing razor-sharp lyricism, innovative production, and meaningful themes. Guru’s introspective, socially conscious lyrics and DJ Premier’s groundbreaking beats forged a sound that would define East Coast hip-hop for years to come. The album’s enduring influence is a testament to its quality and vision, making it essential listening for any hip-hop enthusiast. While Guru’s monotone delivery and the album’s consistent sonic palette may not suit every taste, the strengths of *Step In The Arena*-its cohesion, depth, and innovation-far outweigh any minor drawbacks. It remains a towering achievement, both as a product of its time and as a timeless work of art.
Oh, I really vibed with this. The production, the beats - so smooth. The scratching, the samples - so tasteful. This album has great flow between tracks and is strong start to finish. It has a timeless refreshing quality, like ice cold lemonade on a hot summer day. DJ Premier and Guru made a gem of an East Coast hip-hop project with Step In The Arena.
Premier and Guru are kings
Hip Hop. 9/10 Who's Gonna Take the Weight Step In the Arena Just to Get a Rep
85/1089 - I liked this a lot. I wish there was more micro-variation in the actual beats and that "Say Your Prayers" didn't have a flexatone every 4 bars. These wishes are more my taste than fundamental problems with the music however which is very solid throughout.
1991!? I do like this old school NY rap. 5 stars
This album was super refreshing. Just a really solid 90s hip hop album.
Really liked it
Soooo Gooooood!
This album is simply fantastic all around. The flow and rhymes are smooth, consistently. No misses, it was an actively fun listen the whole time.
Absolute masterpiece. Step In The Arena, Just To Get A Rep and Who’s Gonna Take The Weight are absolute classics 5/5
This shit rules. To be truly great you need both amazing beats/production and a master rhymer/writer and Gang Starr has both. Quintessential OG NYC / east coast hip hop. Hard to Earn and Moment of Truth might technically be “better,” albums, and consequently more widely recognized/lauded, but Step in the Arena is more pure and could be my favorite of theirs. Check The Technique wasn’t a single but was a flag planted in the evolution of diss technology. While others may have been effectively executing more surface-level diss work at the time dueling with swords, Guru was out there with an anti aircraft turret. There are plenty of classic slights thrown at haters here, but the nuance with which Guru dares others to explore why his technical prowess simply leaves them in the dust is next-level. I imagine if the Kendrick vs. Drake beef was happening in the nineties Drake would have been most sad about being denounced by Guru, not as a function of his fame but because his music is cool in a way that isn’t forced and seems mythical to Drake. There are a few minor places where I personally think they could have used a tad bit more tightening in the edit but not enough to make me rate this less than a 5. Some of the roughness makes it endearing and lends to the nostalgia value of listening in 2025.
Kind of forgot how great this album is. I am a big fan and have all their CDs but haven’t revisited this one in years. DJ Premier is of course the god of 90’s hiphop beats but I definitely used to underrate Guru. He is a great and unique lyricist.
Good rythm and clean Lyrica worth digging into. A surprisingly good rap album
The best kind of rap. Great beats thoughtful rhymes. Guru and primo are an all-time pairing.
Step in the Arena by Gang Starr, released in 1991, is a cornerstone of golden-age hip-hop. A seamless blend of DJ Premier's innovative, jazz-infused production and Guru's laid-back yet socially conscious lyricism, the album set a benchmark for the genre. It was one of the earliest records to exemplify the marriage of jazz samples with intricate beats, a hallmark of East Coast hip-hop's evolution. Influences: The album draws heavily from jazz and funk records, with Premier sampling artists like Donald Byrd and Art Blakey. The lyrical focus reflects the social consciousness inspired by earlier hip-hop pioneers like Rakim and Public Enemy. Artists influenced: "Step in the Arena" left a lasting mark on the hip-hop world, inspiring East Coast legends like Nas and The Notorious B.I.G., as well as groups like Wu-Tang Clan. Its production style became a template for boom bap, influencing producers such as Pete Rock, J Dilla, and 9th Wonder. Its impact extends beyond hip-hop, resonating with contemporary jazz-hop and alternative hip-hop movements. Overall, Step in the Arena is widely celebrated for its role in shaping the sound and ethos of 1990s hip-hop.
Absolutely immaculate beats plus some pretty good raps make this a killer combo of a hip hop album. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. I just thought that was a damn good album; it’s definitely split into halves (Tracks 2-9 & Tracks 11-18), but it comes together as a pretty complete package. The biggest split in terms of the production here is how the instrumentals take more of a backseat to the lyricism in the first half, and how they find more of a balance in the second half. There’s some stellar beats here, and some stellar lyricism, and when this album finds that balance, it rolls really, really smoothly. The only reason I’m at a 4.5 instead of a flat 5 is because I do think this album suffers from what I’m describing as “Harvard rap”. I’m sure that’s not the most concise way to put it, but a lot of this album touches on how braggadocious Guru can be about his verbose vocabulary, finding the perfect rhyme, and disparaging the lack of “intellectualism” in rap music. They would fucking hate today’s rap, I’ll tell you that much, but for 1991, this does feel a little too early to criticize the genre as a whole, unless there were some really fucking dogshit rappers getting radio airplay in 1990 just because hiphop was the new hot thing. Really, the issue isn’t the criticisms, but it’s how often they get touched on in this album – there’s just a few too many tracks that involve him bragging about his wordplay and his skill, and it sort of bogs down the album, even for as much as I liked them. Regardless of that, DJ Premier is on fire for a lot of these beats, and too much of this album is too damn good to let a slight oversaturation ruin the whole thing. For as much as he bragged, Guru does back it up pretty damn well; there’s some great flow and lyricism throughout this album – the entirety of “Take A Rest” stands out as one of the prime examples to me, but there’s some gems thrown about here. This is a pretty cohesive album from front to back, and it’s worth paying attention to every line. Ultimately, this is a super dense album, but a breezy and captivating 50 minutes. It’s a really good listen that gets sort of bogged down in its own “intellectualism” at times, but not enough to ruin the overall package. It’s a 4.5 that easily gets bumped up to a 5, and it kinda makes me wonder how this got lost in the 90s rap canon; I guess all the other heavy hitters of the era have drowned this out over the years. It’s a damn good thing it’s on this list, then.
This was really good early-90s hip-hop. I thought it was excellent. Rating: 5
Musically interesting and creative! :)
This is an album that I knew and wished more people knew about, so I was happy to see this on the list. It’s a touchstone and influence on some of my favorite artists, and I’m happy to give it five stars.
This hit the spot when I was looking for some old school hip hop. Exactly what I'd hoped for.
Love the word play
Phenomenal album. The first jazz/hip hop fusion album. Was lucky to see Gang Starr in college before Guru passed. Gang Starr is really one of the best hip-hop duos of our time - and Guru -one of the most underrated rappers of all time - I stand by that. RIP Guru.
lyrical poetry
I know very little of rap music, however I am old enough(54) to know the difference between old school hip hop and the what is trending now. This album made me find and put on my old Boston Scully patched hat...and yes, I wore it backwards. Today's rap for the most part is missing the smooth lyrical finesse and the contagious jazz beats that "Gang Starr(Guru and Dj Premier)" created. I am definitely adding this album to my library. Makes me miss the music of "Arrested Development", "De La Soul" and some wierd way, "3rd Bass!"
Really liked how this sounds. Need to check lyrics I think but overall really enjoyed it. 4.5
This album feels both like a throwback to a hip hop era before Staight Outta Compton and a look forward to groups like Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets. Guru is an amazing lyricist. They invented Jazz Rap, whatever that genre means now. All due respect to A Tribe Called Quest, this might be the genre at it's peak. DJ Premier has worked with a lot of rappers but the partnership between him and Guru is a perfect match of a DJ and an MC. Different sounds but Gang Starr is the spiritual descendant of Eric B. & Rakim. A Tribe Called Quest's success is even more amazing considering that after this album it feels like everything was gangsta rap all of the sudden. Very jazzy. Guru sounds hard without telling stories about killing people and dealing drugs. Great album.
Loved it, this 1001 album thing has turned me into a hip hop lover!
One of the best yet
Very good. Gang Starr is the best.
9/10. Great combination of beats and rap style. Had some nostalgia with the iconic 90s style rap but with way better beats than what I knew to be the mainstream hip hop at the time.
Tja was a great hip hop record. Everything was perfect here.
I like 90's hip-hop and thoroughly enjoyed this album. While I cant point to a specific track or lyric that grabbed me, I found it all nostalgic and important to the genre.
Thankfully tiktok haven't made an ai GURU voiceover yet as I would hate for his voice to be ruined for me. Top duo. premier bringing the beautiful laid back beats, and GURu is just so smooth. I want him to read me stories each night before bed.
Honestly I think the rap and lyrics are a bit too old school for me, but the beats are absolutely crazy, and the combination is amazing. I never gave Gang Starr a fair chance when this album came out, but I absolutely should have.
A top notch hip hop banger from start to finish. Great samples and beats, and I love Guru's voice. Lovely.
These guys are real, real good.
Classic
This is probably my favorite of this 90's style hiphop. The range of sampling on display is just killer, and the flow just links up with it so well.
Favourite song - Step in the arena
Nice chill rap :)
Spoken word hip hop a classic something to take awah from every verse. Powerful
I already had Daily Operation in my rotation, but somehow I had totally missed this gem. It's just quality golden age hip-hop from start to finish. I love the beats, the lyrical delivery is laid back and it's just extremely well produced. It's also one of those rare albums that gets better towards the end. The last few tracks shine. An easy 5 stars.
Loved loved loved chill 90s rap / hiphop
Love it. So far I’ve been listening to hip hop playlists and getting into that way. Good to listen to a recognised album. Definitely the kind of stuff I like
Out of all the 90s hip hop albums I’ve gotten so far, I think this is my favorite with some close competition by Tribe Called Quest. Enjoyed the entire thing. Rating: 4.7
Yeeeeeeeessssssssss This is what hip hop should be. I wish it had never moved away from these principles. This, Tribe Called Quest, quite a lot of other stuff. California Soul sampling Check the Technique is epic. Just to Get a Rep I discover I've known for years without knowing it. Oh no wait this is that Moog record that Fatboy Slim also sampled. Yeah, check out E.V.A. by Jean-jacques Perrey for pure unadulterated Moog goodness. Spotify has the brass balls to co-credit Fatboy slim with the original song. Bro literally lifted the entire thing and put a beat behind it and now everyone thinks he wrote it. Oh ok it was literally a remix. Stuck that on after and literally it does not compare to the original. I'm learning a lot about a genre I've only skirted around the edges of on this journey. There are some ace hip hop albums in my arsenal but unfortunately the nature of Spotify means they get lost and I forget their names. This is why I need to get vinyl.
I am not a rap fan by nature, however I've always wanted to dive into the genre and never found a starting point. this is it now. deep lyrics, nice beats and overall very good music
Yep, this is really very good. 4.5
Very solid which I found very enjoyable throughout. The jazz and funk elements are great, creating a nice laid back feel and approach, but still holds a lot of urgency and potency in its themes.
Buttery smooth.
gangstarr for life
Leader, OG. 5/5
This has everything I love about 90s hip hop. The wordplay is great. I love the simple repeating drum breaks and samples. The bass hits when it shows up. Favorite song: Check the Technique Least favorite: N/A
One of the better rap albums I’ve heard. Something I’d actually revisit as a non-rap fan. Great beats, smooth vocal delivery and lyrical content many cuts above what you get today. Once they sampled the guitar line in “Up On Cripple Creek” by The Band, this went from 4 to 5 stars for me.
OK, this is one of the rare times I agree with this list - This is one of the 1001 essential albums of all time.
I cheered when I saw today's album, I love Gang Starr. Wonderful beats with jazz and soul samples, chill vibes and the rapper with the best voice (RIP Guru). Undeniable classic.
The flows and the beats are absolutely remarkable on this. Stand-out. Some great use of some classic samples. Why are these boys not better known?
Really excellent
The album sounds like a product of its time but the beats and rhymes are 5/5.
90s rap is just always pretty good
Love it when you come across a gem like this in this project. First listen - Heard of them but don’t recognize any of this LP but not just an LP that I’ll listen to again but this will be with me for the rest of my life. I hope. I can’t fault this. Intelligent, loose, upbeat hip hop. I’m not one for lyrics but these are brilliant. Vocal delivery, beats, turntable scratching melody, jazzy bits and oh my oh my the bass. This is quality, taking hip hop back to its routes. The sort of LP you learn all the lyrics to without even trying. It holds your attention on 1st listen all the way.
5 I absolutely did not expect this to be hip hop nor did I expect it to grab my attention right off the bat. The subject matter throughout reminds me of NWA and Eminem and subverts my expectations at seemingly every chance it gets. The beats and samples are so cool and distinct enough that I can easily tell the difference between songs but never so distinct as to betray the style of the album. Low-key and smooth, this has that pure 90s sound that would fit in perfectly on a Tony Hawk soundtrack (may have been on one, honestly). Front to back I loved this. This is exactly the type of album that made me want to do this challenge in the first place. My appreciation of hip hop is now a bit deeper.
One of the best Hip Hop albums ever released. Breaks, samples, lyrics all working together.
Always had a soft spot for these guys was shocked to hear Guru passed had no idea. At a time when hip was going going gangsta these guys did something different something jazzy. Hi class
Listens: 2 Enjoyed: fuck yeah Never really delved into Gang Starr but fuck this is a great album. I don't think there is a single skipable track
This is a band at the top of their game. Guru is greatly missed
This is why I downloaded the app
Awesome album
Never heard Gang Starr before but this is amazing. Great flow. Old school hip hop Reminds me of J5 or Abdominal...
step up
East Coast Hiphop,old school,smooth and tense,real Classic!
4.6⭐️
Base
90s Hip-hop are one of my favourite genres. So safe to say this went down very well.
I liked it. Reminds me of ATCQ
So many samples!
Incredibly important hip hop record smooth beats and dangerous rhymes a truly enjoyable listen, influenced many artists like the roots etc
90s rap classic to my ears 🤷
Immaculate flow with a classic sound and classic beats. A genuine time capsule.
Classic hip-hop that I had never heard before. I loved it though, and will definitely hunt out more of their stuff. Execution of a chump, and the meaning of the name were my favourites first time through, but I will revisit it to pick up the lyrics and flow of some of the denser tracks too
Wow c'est très bon. Je vais certainement réécouter l'album. 5
18th January 2022 Listened on the way to book club at the standard. 90s hip hop. Love it.
Very cool album! I’m really trying to discover more rap so this really helped.
Loved it
Okay więc jest bardzo dobrze. Mam wrażenie, że jeden z moich nowych ulubionych albumów hip hopowych. Nawet nie wiem co mówić bo wszystko mi się podobało. Ulubione kawałki: check this technique take rest say ur prayers just to get a rap step in the arena.
like
The prototype for 90s group gangster rap. Smoother than NWA but harder than west coast G funk, it's super awesome.
5/5 - Forever Dope
Ohhhh Shit, Gang Starr 4 Life!!!!
DJ Premier!!! Super smooth old skool hip hop, very very good
Wow, the lyricism and flow are amazing. I think Check the Technique or Lovesick was my favorite, but honestly I enjoyed every track. I will be purchasing this and adding it to my collection :)
Old school hip hop at its finest
Never listened to it all the way through, very good
A revelation - really enjoyable
GANG STARR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AWESOME. consistent and complete hip hop album
Incredible. End to end amazing vocals lyrics and production. Love it.
For lange sanger
Really enjoyed this album. Need to revisit it again!
Some of the most solid roots of all good hip hop
Old skool rap
Gangstarr is cool. Prefer the album Jazzamatazz.
Been a while since we had an actually good hip hop album Kinda surprised these guys never were more popular, there’s so much cool stuff going on. I think the architecture of their backing beats is much different than what was present in other early 90s east coast rap, but the jazzier more instrument driven beats work surprisingly well. While it doesn’t have that hypnotic feel that some other hip hop albums have it’s still really catchy and definitely something you can jam to. It definitely feels a bit more cerebral than someone like Biggie (who don’t get me wrong, I still like), with a lot less vulgarity and less violent subject matters, while still talking about important issues. I guess the biggest letdown for this one would probably have to be the lack of really clever wordplay that I expect in top tier hip hop. It’s not like the lyrics are slop or anything but comparing them to Wu-Tang or Kendrick and it falls a bit flat I don’t think this album was particularly special, but I thought it was really cool to see what almost feels like a different genre of hip hop at times. Even though it was on the long side I never got tired of it and absolutely makes me want to seek out more
killer vibes
Solid Gang Starr album, great beats from Premier
Execution of a Chump, Check The Technique, As I Read My S-A, and The Meaning of the Name stood out. Great flow and lyrics. 4/5
The New York vibe I’m sitting on a pipe watching the rain people walk by man and step into the arena is that vibe. All the tracks meaning of a name it’s clear premo and guru knows what they are doing. God premo is the greatest dj to ever live and to hear him this great so young and he only got better. He got so good it’s amazing he has the golden touch. Nothing but the best and I love it forever genuinely. Yet I will never fully seek it out. I’m sorry premo forever and always your could have been if I cared enough’s biggest fan Knicks in 5
Wow, did I enjoy this album. I did not pay attention to the lyrics so will do so on future listens. Four stars
Really good album even if it kinda drags on. By the back half of the album it’s getting a little samey and the lyrics and flow aren’t as effective. Highs are high, the rest is only mediocre. 3.5.
First listen was meh, but I like it. The samples are symple but are DJ’d well with some cool expressive moments
I didn’t know this one. Shame on me! The songs are smart and distinctive. I can understand how this influenced the hip-hop to come. I’ll come back to this.
Number: 154 Date: 06/06/26 Artist: Gang Starr Album: Step In The Arena Year: 1991 Style: Conscious Hip-hop Familiarity: None (4) Rating: 4 Before: ======= Ugh, rap. Not looking forward to this. Basically the opposite of Horsegirl which I'm chillin to right now. Well, let's try to have an open mind. Maybe it will at least be interesting. If nothing else, maybe it will get me into an appropriate mindset for visiting the hood today as it's my day to feed the community cats at a seriously f'd up apartment complex. We have 4 feeding stations there so it's quite a process. I think for now, I'm gonna keep listening to Horsegirl. During: ======= OK, here goes nothin. Alright, not too bad, I guess more hip-hop than rap. I like the beat. So the title track Step In The Arena is up first, seems to be rapping about how great they are at rapping. Boring. Third track, I like the music, but am turned off by the subject matter. Rapping abut how great they are rapping. I'm a gonna turn the volume down now and work on my usual Saturday morning chores: reviewing trail cams from community cats feeding stations; checking all my accounts; paying bills, etc. But first, I think I'll get the grits started. If I'm making them from scratch, I prefer Quaker Old Fashioned Grits, definately not Jim Dandy's. Quaker makes some pretty decent instant grits as well. Any of the cheese ones are good but they do have a lot of salt and I need to watch my sodium intake. Anyways, back to the grits, I melt 2 tbsp of unsalted butter in a sauce pan and add 1/4 cup grits. Once the grits have absorbed the butter, I'll start adding water very gradually, 1/4 cup at a time, and simmer until all the water is absorbed before adding the next 1/4 cup or so. The total water intake should be approximately 2 cups +/- depending on how firm I want them. A general rule of thumb is a 4/1 ratio, water to grits, and 2/1 grits to butter. Actually, I prefer using low sodium chicken broth instead of water but I don't have any on hand. Need to add that to my shopping list. Done. So back to the grits, once all the water has been added, I'll start with the flavorings. Today it's a little Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning and a little garlic powder, That should do it. Next step is to top with a little cheese and eat them right away or simmer a little longer depending on how creamy you like them. That'll make more than enough for 2 people, if you're having the grits as a side dish. After : ======= I like the music, the lyrics do nothing for me. It works great as background hip-hop, if that's what you're in the mood for. Apparently, this album is considered an excellent representation of hip-hop and very important by a lot of folks though, so Ill give it high marks for suitability and impact, based on what other people who I assume know what they are talking about, are saying. 3 my personal rating 5 suitability for this list 4 impact ----------------------------------------------- 4 composite rating
Step In The Arena - Gang Starr 1991 The album was a great, decent listen. Guru never fails to deliver with his smooth monotone voice, and DJ Premier’s production was absolutely top-tier. I especially liked the chopping of other notable rap songs for the hooks, which felt like a direct nod to what that generation was trying to achieve in hip-hop. The record holds up incredibly well across a deep tracklist, anchored by standout cuts like the title track 'Step In The Arena,' 'Form Of Intellect,' 'Who's Gonna Take The Weight?,' 'Check The Technique,' and 'Lovesick.' That momentum carries heavily into the second half with 'Take A Rest,' 'What You Want This Time?,' 'Street Ministry,' 'Precisely The Right Rhymes,' and 'The Meaning Of The Name.' While the LP wasn't quite strong enough all the way through to earn a perfect 5, it holds its ground firmly as a 4.
How have I managed to get 3 albums in a row that are all 50+ minutes from artists whose names start with G? What is even happening? Here we have Gang Starr's 1991 album Step in the Arena. It's good! Gang Starr aren't the most acclaimed hip-hop duo ever, but they're fairly acclaimed. They're important enough to be here. Now, unlike other hip-hop duos I've discussed like Outkast and... well, basically just Outkast, Gang Starr is not comprised of two rappers. Instead, we have a rapper/producer duo, which is also fairly common in hip-hop. On the mic, we have Guru, and he does a good job. His rapping style is pretty distinct. His voice is pretty relaxed and you can really feel each individual rhyme throughout the songs. I like his style. But behind the turntable, we have the one and only DJ Premier. This guy's a legend! He's worked with so many of the greatest rappers of all time. Nas, Kanye, Biggie, Jay-Z, the list goes on. Needless to say, his production on this album is great. It's got a nice blend of jazz rap and boom-bap. I enjoy it. The two members work very well together. The writing is fun and there really weren't any moments on the album that I feel have aged poorly. This is just a cool rap album. Apparently these guys have a few better albums, so I might want to check those out in the future, because this is still pretty good. It's not quite the peak of hip-hop, but it's a nice listen regardless. Light 4/5.
Decent rap shades of Tribe
Good rap beats
Excellent example of early 90s, socially-conscious hip hop. The lyrical style is till emblematic of the first generation of rap artists but you can hear the transitioning to the next generation in the way the messages are delivered. The beats are a little repetitive at times for me, which is my only knock against this.
Il y a dans ce projet fou des 1001 albums, des disques qui s'imposent comme des évidences, et Step In The Arena de Gang Starr fait indéniablement partie de cette catégorie. Sorti en 1991, année charnière où le hip-hop cherchait encore ses marques entre la fureur politique de la Côte Est et les prémices du raz-de-marée de l'Ouest. Step In The Arena est pour moi un gros 4 sur 5. Bon ce n'est pas le sans-faute absolu qui traverse les époques sans prendre une seule ride, mais bordel, quelle claque bien pensée ! On est face à un excellent album de rap, un vrai manifeste de rue qui refuse les concessions faciles et les jingles publicitaires. Le cœur de cette réussite, c'est cette alchimie unique entre DJ Premier et Guru, un binôme qui fonctionne avec la précision d'une horloge suisse de l'underground. Premier pose ici les fondations de ce qui va devenir le son new-yorkais par excellence, cette fameuse architecture boom-bap qui va hanter les ghettos pendant toute la décennie. Sa méthode est radicale : il puise dans le jazz et il découpe les cuivres au scalpel, il mutile les boucles de basse, il triture les samples poussiéreux pour en extraire une sève brute, lourde et incroyablement nerveuse. C'est une production minimaliste mais d'une intelligence rare, où chaque silence compte autant que le beat. Sur des morceaux phares comme "Who's Gonna Take The Weight" ou l'implacable "Just To Get A Rep", sa science du scratch et du découpage saute aux yeux et aux oreilles. C'est l'essence même du hip-hop : deux platines et un microphone. Mais si on veut être tout à fait honnête et objectif, c'est précisément à cause de la production que le disque ne décroche pas la note maximale. Car il faut bien l'avouer le son a, par moments, un peu vieilli. En le réécoutant avec le recul, certaines textures rythmiques sonnent un peu sèches, presque rigides, et la dynamique globale de l'enregistrement souffre parfois des limites technologiques de ce tout début des années 90. On sent la raideur des premiers échantillonneurs, ce manque de rondeur dans les basses et cette compression un peu primitive que Premier lui-même parviendra à transcender quelques années plus tard sur les albums suivants. Certains arrangements de claviers ou de petites boucles de transition portent la marque indélébile de leur époque, une patine vintage qui a son charme mais qui rappelle que le hip-hop a évolué à une vitesse folle juste après la sortie de cet opus. C'est le témoin d'un temps où l'on bricolait le futur avec les moyens du bord, ce qui donne au disque un côté parfois un peu rugueux et daté, mais qui n'enlève absolument rien à la superbe de sa structure globale. Heureusement, pour porter ces beats parfois un peu austères, il y a la présence monumentale de Guru. Ce mec possède une voix qui relève du miracle absolu, un flow monotone, presque clinique, mais doté d'une autorité naturelle tellement écrasante qu'il n'a jamais eu besoin de hurler ou de jouer les gros bras pour capter l'attention de l'auditeur. Sa diction est d'une clarté limpide, posée avec un calme olympien sur les cassures rythmiques de Premier. Lyricalement, c'est d'une maturité qui renvoie la majorité des rappeurs de l'époque à leurs cahiers de vacances. Guru évite avec brio le piège du prêchi-prêcha moralisateur tout en refusant de tomber dans la glorification stupide et stérile de la violence des gangs. Il observe la rue, il décrit la jungle urbaine, la perte des repères, les faux-semblants de l'industrie musicale et la quête obsessionnelle de respect avec une lucidité psychologique qui fait mouche à chaque ligne. C'est précisément pour ça que je parle d'une claque bien pensée : le contenu textuel est d'une intelligence rare, une chronique sociale fine et acérée qui refuse le spectaculaire pour privilégier le vrai. Ce contraste permanent entre la raideur passagère du son et l'intemporalité de l'interprétation, c'est toute la signature de Step In The Arena. Quand je traverse cet album aujourd'hui, je ne peux pas m'empêcher d'avoir un immense respect pour cette intégrité artistique totale. Gang Starr se foutait éperdument de plaire aux masses ou de passer en boucle sur les radios grand public ; ils faisaient de la musique pour les puristes, pour ceux qui ont le hip-hop tatoué sur l'âme. Et c'est cette rigueur morale et esthétique qui permet au disque de garder toute sa pertinence, malgré ses quelques rides sonores. C'est un album charnière, le chaînon manquant qui a prouvé que le rap de la Côte Est pouvait être à la fois sombre, jazzy, rigoureux et d'une efficacité redoutable pour faire bouger les têtes dans les clubs underground. Alors oui, la carrosserie sonore a pris quelques pocs, le mixage manque parfois de relief par rapport aux standards qui arriveront deux ou trois ans plus tard, mais le moteur sous le capot reste d'une puissance phénoménale. Un très gros 4 sur 5 pour cet album indispensable, une œuvre cérébrale et brute qui mérite amplement sa place dans notre Panthéon musical.
Such a clear and eloquent presentation. It sounds older than it is but there are no gimmicks, no smokes to hide lack of skill. The whole thing works because of their bravado and strong execution.
Guru has such a unique voice and a magical flow. This is what I grew up on and the hip-hop that I love.
#147/1001 🇺🇸 Gang Starr were the first hip hop artists i saw live at Reading (1994) amongst a largely guitar based line up although Cypress Hill headlined that night. They left a good impression but i never looked them up further. This is a great record without the trappings of misoginy, guns and ego's that much of rap music is dominated by. Much like A Tribe Called Quest that i got a couple of days ago this contains strong, smart lyrics with great beats and some choice samples. Best tracks: Form of Intellect, Execution of a Chump, Take a Rest.
I saw yet another hip hop album and prepared myself to be disappointed. I was very pleasantly surprised. This slaps. Some of the rhymes really tickled my brain. The backing tracks kept me interested, and I could always understand the lyrics (even if I wasn’t always listening closely). I can’t quite figure out why this one hit for me and others have been such duds. I want to revisit some of them later, especially where my score diverges from the consensus. 8/10 Most Excellent
Love 90s rap. I hadn’t listened to Gang Starr in 30 years.
YAHHA, but it aint bad, at all. 7/10
I'm surprised Dimery knows about this album. Solid choice--when Primo starts to really come into his own as one of the best producers of all time, and a defining producer of the New York sound to come in subsequent years. Despite that, both he and Guru haven't entirely hit their stride as I'd argue they do in Hard to Earn, but there are definitely strokes of genius here and in Daily Operation. Just to Get A Rep is probably the high point, as is the way too short Street Ministry. Check the Technique's samples and beat are nearly as good as Eric B's song of the same name in sheer funkiness. Even if I prefer Hard to Earn, Moment of Truth and even the Ownerz personally, I can definitely see why this album is kind of the lynch pin for Gang Starr's sound. It's also the taking off point for Premier, who went on to produce beats for basically everyone that mattered in East Coast hiphop scene (Biggie, Nas, Jay-Z, Fat Joe, Big L, Royce, AZ, Jeru, etc. etc. etc.). So maybe for me, compared to all Gang Starr albums, it's a 3/5 in terms of listenability. For overall impact though it's a 5/5, so I'll split the different at 4.
Really liked this one. Good beats, good flow. It’s very early 90s hip hop, but still feels fresh. On par with Arrested Development and Digable Planets. Precursor to trip hop, lounge and mushroom jazz. 4/5
This is solid hip hop with great beats and very interesting basslines. I didn't know this before, but I really enjoyed it. Liked Songs Added: Step In The Arena Execution Of A Chump Beyond Comprehension Lovesick Take A Rest Precisely The Right Rhymes
My favorite of the Monstars was Gang
smoothie stop
"Forming a poetic mass over pathetic trash / Other writers are outclassed / Surpassed by the words and the wit" - Guru's "oratory gift is abundant" and DJ Premier's beats are classic ****
cant believe it took til now for me to realise that the dj premier from gta4's hip hop radio station is the same dj premier that was half of gang starr.... this one's good, the beats are still great, but the lyrical content feels like it got power crept hard by other east coast rappers barely a few years later. there's a lot of clever stuff in there but bars like "contrary to what i had wished/it seems that i've been dissed" feel like, cute? at this point? which kinda takes me outta it a bit. "who's gonna take the weight" and "just to get a rep" still fuck despite this tho, and as i said the production stands up no problem, with some great sampling and scratching throughout. i guess what i mean is it's like, i'd listen again for sure, and i'd enjoy it, but i'd be more likely to reach for stakes is high or somethin, yknow? it's good, but there's better now.
great lyrics an beats amazing album
This is a group that I wasn't aware of at all. After reading some about them, I was more aware of them than I had realized. I really enjoyed this album. Lovestruck is great. I'll be listening to this in the future.
I'm so happy to find a Gang Starr album in the ranks. In my eyes, DJ Premier is a top 3 all time hip-hop producer. The quality and frequency of his output is second to none, he may only lack the impact of Dr. Dre, RZA or commercial appeal of Kanye and Pharrell, but he's just as good, equally recongnizable because of his scratching technique and always stands out whomever has the mic. RIP Guru, another top top rapper, always reminds me of Rakim but grittier. Strange that his was the album that was included in the list, but it's hard to pick which one would be the one to choose for a must listen, I'd say it's at least 2: Hard to Earn and Moment of Truth. But this album is just as good and shocking that they start their carrers with these high level songs. Execution of a Chump is one of my all time hip-hop favorite.
Pretty good stuff.
I liked this album more than I expected since Hip Hop can be a real hit or miss genre for me. There was some great flow to this album. Favorite Track - Lovesick Least Favorite Track - Beyond Comprehension ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bah oui, c'est très bien, on a l'impression d'être dans GTA. En voiture c'est encore mieux
Très honnête, j’aime beaucoup les samples et la voix - on a quelques chansons un peu longues, et globalement je pense que Moment Of Truth est meilleur, sauf qu'il n'est pas dans le classement, donc 4 quand même
This felt like very old school hip hop -- lots of scratching and rap. I'm not the biggest hip hop head so I never know how to rate these, but this I enjoyed. 4*
Gang Starr é tipo Ringo Starr? Não sei. Não importa. Produção angelical pelo DJ Premier. Tudo é apoteótico, os samples, os scratches, tudo fantástico e rico. E pra acompanhar, os versos e flows de Guru são ótimos, é um disco difícil de ouvir parado. Som que te move. Disco perfeito no quesito técnico dos confins do gênero. Disco transitório, final da década de 80, início da década de 90, período crucial na história do Rap. Tudo ou nada pro gênero. E vejo o início dos anos 90 como uma espécie de ponto ideal pro gênero, já maduro suficiente para escapar das breguices tontas da década de 80, mas ainda antes da formação do Gangsta Rap e das armadilhas clássicas dos anos 90, como interlúdios desnecessários. O único defeito mesmo é a duração do álbum. Acho que chegando no final ele acaba causando um pouco de monotonia. Poderia ter sido encurtado levemente. Mas não é algo crítico. Ainda assim é um tremendo disco, gostei muito. 4/5
Not the biggest hip hop fan but enough to be surprised I haven't heard of these guys. The album is good but I think you need to be more ilof a fan to understand why someone would describe it as one of the all time greats. The rhymes and beats are good but they don't sound better than lots of other stuff that came out at the same time. But really, what do I know
90s hip hop. Landmark album. Very clean flows and production. Political and thoughtful old school rap.
Hugely enjoyable hip hop. I almost didn’t want it to end. The shorter tracks feel like more than interludes. There’s a lo-fi quality to this that I really dig. Guru’s style is so relaxed and intelligent. Love the samples (California Soul by Marlena Shaw was a treat) and a superb variety of beats. Hoping for more Gang Starr soon.
fav songs: step in the arena who's gonna take the weight? what you want this time? jazzy, groove, conscious 70/100
This was pretty good! The rapping style makes it sounds older than it is, but that's not a bad thing. Very chill and easy to vibe to. "Step In the Arena" "Execution of a Chump" "Who's Gonna Take The Weight" and "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" were the standouts for me
Really enjoyed this
Not as good as they would be a few albums later but still great stuff here from Primo and Guru
This was a fun listen. The flowing so tight and the rhymes are insane. I’m starting to notice a trend, 90s rap and hip hop is king.
Shoutout the soundtrack of Skate 2, shoutout EA games for only doing one thing right and it’s licensing good music. I definitely had no grasp at the time on hip hop in the 90’s when I first played the game, but I didn’t need to know much to know this albums title track was really memorable. “Execution Of A Chump” is so full of swagger without coming off as trying too hard at all. Excellent, hypnotic beat. Methodical delivery of clever bar after clever bar. I think Gang Starr’s greatest quality here is how they so clearly don’t care about anything besides their craft. Nothing comes off as forced. MC Guru is locked in from front to back, DJ Premier manages to toe the line of making a beat thats punchy but never distracting (“Check The Technique” has a low end that blew my mind - no way this came out all the way back in 1991). “Take A Rest” is the only thing that sounds remotely dated and even that was base-level enjoyable. This project even manages to fly under the insanely high standard for misogyny that 90’s rap had. 4/5 it must’ve been frustrating trying to sound as smooth as these guys in the early/mid-90’s. A setting of the gold standard.
I like this
Enjoyed this quite a bit 4 stars
Poetic, groovy and fierce. The arrogance is a bit much though
Not sure I would enjoy this but I really did. Old school hip hop and not gangster rap
Get a Game Plan together and give this a listen. It might be Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, so Say Your Prayers that it sticks around.
Love the 90s beats. The same phrasing structure gets a bit old is all
The rhyming and vocals are superb! The music at times almost has a jazz feel to it! Loved it!
Gaaaannggg Starrrrrrrrr🔥🔥
I like that it's both socially concious and funny (most hip hop I've heard is one or the other at most, though it's admittedly not my usual genre). Great lyricism/rhyming, and not overloaded with skits and interludes like other hip hop albums on this list.
This is a classic that I had never sat and listened to start-to-finish before. Glad I was able to change that today.
Jazz influenced early 90s hip hop checks all of my boxes. Not sure why I’ve never heard of this duo before. Worth the listen!
I'm pleasantly surprised by how good this one was. I'm not always a bit fan of early 90s hip hop and I have to confess that I expected some toxic masculinity here. But it's a solid album with some great beats. Nothing much more to say but I really liked this one.
Det e kanskje ikke ofte æ høre på nokka som i så stor grad rope tidlig 90-tallshiphop og som likevel interessere mæ i så liten grad? Det føltes for flinkt, og det føles som en rar innvending mot rap. Sikkert gøy for dem med særlige interesser innafor feltet, og på ingen måte dårlig, men i overkant langtekkelig og ikke spesielt interessant for mæ.
This has all the ingredients, great lyrics, really smooth and chilled out flow to the rapping as well. The turntabling (can that be a verb?) is really cool as well
Great stuff. Feels ahead of it's time.
The album starts off with some of the best 90s hip-hop I've heard yet with interesting and engaging instrumentals. About a fourth in however, the quality dips and the tracks seem to drone on a little longer than necessary and can feel repetitive. Once you get to Lovesick though, the record sweeps back up and delivers some of the best lyricism and story telling from the decade I've ever heard. Slightly bumpy but great album with great talent.
I feel like this dragged a little. Technically they had great rhymes and beats, but I feel like they were missing a little something. A solid listen, however.
Pretty instantly this felt like one of those albums either you never heard of or you know everything about. The flow and rhyme here is great. This feels decently foundational for a lot of people to come after.
I have been a fan of DJ Premier's sound for a long time, just so good at that boom bap bounce. I enjoy the way Guru hits the syllables. The deliberate way the lyrics are delivered stimulate my synapses even if Im not fully processing the whole time. This is so close to a 5 for me. Guru's strengths are also his weakness on this album. His calm monotone flow, although hypnotic, hold the album back from stepping up to another level. That being said Check the Technique, is a great track. I really enjoy this, but through the lens of a great album, maybe there is a version that is a little shorter and tighter that would have done better. I might even regret not giving this a 5.
Good fucking rap
I really liked this one, bouncy, amazing beats, strong old school rapping. Obviously art forms evolve over time, but this was a really interesting early 90's east coast rap. It's like seeing a cadillac from the 60s. There's a reason it got wiped out by the Prius and F150 and all other sorts of newer cars, but it has a charm and soul to it. Obviously not in the heights of Life After Death or even Enter the Wu-Tang that east coast hip hop would reach, but a great foundational album with solid beats.
There's nothing overly showy about these songs and that's the whole point - solid raps, simple beats, quick wordplay. It won't get you hosting British Bakeoff 30 years down the line, but it'll do.
Classic old school hip-hop...
Really clean and confident beats. I think this preceded some of the latest jazz influenced beats, which take it up a notch. Still really good through. Conscious and intellectual lyrics, the delivery could do with a bit more range, but still a great example of a golden age in hip hop
Same damn fine 90s rap
this is such a baller pick for the list Would I listen again: yes Deserves to be on this list: yes 4.1
Good rapping, even better beats, great album. Higher side of 4
I knew Lovesick from this album but not anything else. The beats are solid and the lyrics have a real substance to them. It's a fun album
Day784 - early nineties hip-hop is the best hip-hop. step in the arena and here today gone tomorrow are classics
3-4? Als Hiphop noch besser war
Jazzy hip hop med et cool laidback flow. I like it
Really good.
God these old school hip hop albums are just so effortlessly cool and listenable. I don't know if I've found one that I haven't liked yet tbh. 7/20
I liked this. Good background beat with some sound variation
I like the overall sound! I looked at some of the lyrics and am impressed by the poetry. I feel like this is an album where you can discover something new with each listen.
Anything DJ Premier touches tends to be pretty golden. Guru is one that splits me. Days where I love his smooth mellow monotone, but sometimes I want a voice with greater range and energy. Guru's power is his lyricism and velvet delivery and backed by Preemo it's always strong. This one teeters on the edge between a 4 and a 5. I might just tap in between the stars in a blurry-eyed early morning review tomorrow and see what comes of it.
Gang Starr was one of those bands I knew existed, but hadn't actually listened to. I think, given their name and when they were active, I just presumed they were gangsta rap in the style of NWA. But (without knocking gangsta rap) this was a pleasant surprise.
Super solid pretty much front to back. Mostly spare samples and instrumentation topped by timeless rhymes - with the occasional big swing (like the 'California Soul' sample on "Check the Technique.") Feel like this should be up there with Low End Theory and The Score in terms of early to mid 90s hip hop classics - should definitely be better known.
Awesome album but not there best for me, Guru & Premier -> legend!
Killer early 90s hip hop. Every song slaps. Great beats, incredible flow. A total winner.
Not that I should really compare albums to each other, but I'm much more impressed with Step in the Arena than with Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle. While it doesn't have the catchy g-funk beats that I love on Doggystyle, it has much more thoughtful and meaningful lyrics, that actually evoke thought and bring issues to light rather than create more of them. And don't take the absence of g-funk sampling as a dig at this album, because it has very great sampling of its own. "Lovesick" and "Check the Technique" stood out the most to me on this album, I liked both of them, but especially "Lovesick", with its awesome sampling. Favorite Song: "Lovesick"
Some great, straightforward, simplistic but enjoyable rap here
Jazz-beats, cool samples, and (mostly) good rhymes (a notable exception: “I can excel real well like a gazelle”). The themes seem to be about getting respect, but also about working together to lift up your brother.
Truly timeless hip-hop
Good classic rap album
Really enjoyed the use of classic soul/jazz samples, some of the rapping was very stilted and stuck to a classic rhyming couplet pattern which I know is very of the time, but feels a bit formulaic and predictable over the course of a whole album. Glad I listened to it though
Great album
Good old school hip hop. Nothing Stock out to me in particular, but I dug it. Phat beats and dope rhymes. Or maybe it’s dope beats and phat rhymes. Either way, I can see going back to this one.
niezbyt czesta sytuacja zeby pojawilo sie cos lubianego i znanego, drugi krazek duetu guru i dj premier z 90/91 zalezy od tego ktore wydanie, a krazek niby drugi to jednak otwiera ich dyskografie dla szerszego odbiorcy, bo pierwszy krazek jest praktycznie niewykrywalny w presach czy nawet na strimingach, no i jakosciowo tez odstaje od poziomu znanego juz z step in the arena, ktory jest dobrym openingiem kariery duetu, ktory tak bardzo wplynal na brzmienie rapu na wschodnim wybrzezu, chociaz step in the arena jeszcze nie jest az tak hardkorowy w swoim brzmieniu, to slychac juz tutaj poczatki uniklanego stylu skreczowania premiera i ulicznie inteligentnej nawijki guru, nie brakuje tu takze bragowania, czy historyjek zyciowych, nie zabraklo nawet problemow milosnych, wiec pelny pakiet kontentowy, wiec o ile calosc slucha sie dobrze jak przystalo na gang starra, to poza tytulowym step in the arena i just to get a rep, nie kojarze z tytulow wiecej trakow, z tego odsluchu dodam na plejke jeszcze lovesicka i whos gonna take the weight, szkoda ze to jedyny albumik duetu na liscie, bo wybor zdecydowanie niesprawiedliwy, bo kolejne pozycje tylko podnosza jakosc i kultowosc juz tutaj klasycznych tekstow, ktore wielokrotnie byly samplowane czy parafrazowane, no i znany i lubiany album akurat na pozycje numer 666, jakby numerologia nawet chciala byc zabawna
Really loved the vibe on this album! Great beats from DJ Premier
For reasons that probably have everything to do with me being a white dude, I never really connected with rap music in any meaningful way. Yeah, I was exposed to a lot of it via friends because at the time if you were into skateboarding you kind of had to be into either hip hop or punk and I gravitated towards the latter. Which is a roundabout way of saying that up until now I was only familiar with Gang Starr from knowing other rappers DJ Premier worked with, like Jeru the Damaja, and I never explored very deeply in these directions. For me, DJ Premier’s production is the real highlight here. Though my teenaged interest in punk music quickly waned, it was a way into listening to things that were outside the mainstream, and DJ Premier’s sampling, his cut and paste techniques in forming beats, seem almost verging on experimental music in a way that I don’t hear in other rap music production. Maybe it’s just how I’m hearing it today, I don’t know. I like it though. Guru is a very good MC, I don’t really have the vocabulary to explain why. Good album though, among my favourites of the rap records I’ve heard on here so far.
Rating: 8/10 Short Review: Some really memorable bars and great beats, just overall very well-rounded record. A couple of things didn't age particularly well, but that just kind of how it goes with older albums.
For a rap album, I really enjoyed this, lots of funky rhythm in all the songs
Very nice I would listen again
8/10 Guru could've hit harder, DJ Premo slaps hard
Good stuff, MF Doom relative in some ways? Sounds like him a bit. I enjoyed!
Very clear delivery of lines, I can understand everything without needing to read the lyrics. Of course Rap has moved way past this, but it is almost 30 years old! 4/5
I think I’m learning I like hip hop more than I thought I did.
Very good, particularly form of intellect
Step In The Arena is a rather great hip-hop album. I'm not familiar with this group per se but i am definitely familiar with one of it's members, DJ Premier, primarily because he produced for some other albums on this list. And just like he does a great job on those albums, he does a great job here too with some rather catchy samples even if some of them are a bit hollow. The rapping is also cool with both Premier and Guru doing a pretty good job even if some of these lyrics are a bit dumb and cheesy. It does make sense as this was a hip-hop album from the early 90s and has all the cheesiness you would expect from that. I liked this one a bit more than i thought i would have. Best Song: Check The Technique Worst Song: Game Plan
This feels way ahead of its time. Clean jazz samples, flowing lines. A standout hip hop album that contrasts a lot of the gangsta stuff
I have a soft spot for late 80s/early 90s hip-hop I think. Pretty good overall
yess
1/3/26. 7/10
One of the best hip hop albums of the 90’s
i love 90s rap
Lethal
Fucking loved the album. Wouldn't be able to tell you much beyond since I'm no hip-hop listener, but the flow felt great. Amazing backing tracks which gave of a nice mellow beat. The lyrics felt authentic and powerful.
I had a fun time listening to this!
Wholesome gangsta rap
Everything I've ever heard from Gang Starr is, at worst, better than average. This album was no exception. Excellent flows over dope production. Favorite track: Step in the Arena
Abdolute gem. When rap mattered and was about reality snd social change outing inequality and injustice. Somehow they managed to fuck up the genre
good
While A Tribe Called Quest did this better, this is pretty solid. The early 90’s definitely was the golden age of hip hop.
This album's chief sin is filler: it's 18 tracks long and some of them feel very unnecessary. When you cut a bit of fat, however, there's plenty of absolute bangers left to enjoy, huge beats overdubbed with funky, jazzy samples and smart, emotive raps.
ohh a jeru the damaja connection. That was a pleasant surprise as was this. Was not familiar with guru, dj premier or their game and i must apologise. Real tight production.
R.I.P. Guru. Debut album of two hip hop icons. Masterful production by Premo. Lyrical flow matches the beats perfectly. Creative voice cuts in scratches.
This was so great I immediately went back and listened to their other albums after.
fantastisk NYC produktion, bra text. man kan verkligen höra new york DNA genom hela albumet
"The DJ's name is Premier, and I'm the Guru" With Gang Starr's sophomore release, the duo ups the ante of their debut with a solid collection of tracks. Each beat that DJ Premier produced for this record is superbly mellow and understated, which is beautifully juxtaposed by the focused lyricism of "The Guru," Keith Elam. His rapping is rather complex for the time, employing internal rhyme schemes that could easily be written off as Guru just showing off, but he manages to come off as a smooth and refined MC. While this project is not as polished as their later works, and a few of the tracks can be seen as dated by today's standards, Step in the Arena still stands as a solid hip-hop record that I would recommend to anyone looking to get into the genre. Standout Tracks: Step in the Arena, Execution of a Chump, Check the Technique, Love Sick, Just to Get a Rep Score: B
it was fun! i had fun!
Never gave Gang Starr enough attention before this. Immaculate samples (as expected by premier, even this early in his career) and Guru, while not immune to 90s corniness sometimes has such a well paced smooth flow. Loved this one
Simple funk and soul samples and no overproducing. That's, ladies and gentleman, it's some real dope rap. Not perfect, but really good.
Stone cold classic old school hip hop, but doesn't have any true standout tracks. Hella consistent, though.
Excited for this, they're propped up pretty high and I've never really listened to them at all. The lyrics on this are so good and so fun. So many lines where you get to go "OOOOUUUUU" when you hear it. Production is solid. The songs get a little sleepy and samey but if you're locked into the production and lyrics this thing is a treat. I'm between a high 3 and a low 4.
Pretty awesome early 90's hip hop album. I wasn't aware of the cultural importance but I can gather from reading reviews its prominent. I enjoyed the production and beats the most. Gang starr's flow is definitely iconic and the wordplay was quite groovy. Nothing beats a good 90s duo.
8/10
Early 90s hip-hop from Guru and DJ Premier, one of raps greatest duos. A very solid debut, and a great building block for future releases, most remarkably 1998's Moment of Truth. I'd give this a solid 7.6, rounded up
Classic 90s hip hop with some really good lyricism.
I was hesitant to start with, but this was really good, impressive and on point.
I only knew of Gang Starr from ttheir one song with Prince (which was a great track). Love this early 90s hip hop sound. And its.. easy? Nit as angry as Pubmic Enemy and certainly not as aggressive as NWA. Just a great groove. Love the sample of The Band on Beyond Comprehension!
it was obviously aged but i still enjoyed listening to it 8/10
Great album
Genius old school wins out here. One's more or less fully down with any record that samples Bacharach and Dark Shadows theme and obscure jazz. And shows if emcee's got the skills, the records don't need no frills (wait, that rhymes).
Great album, will revisit
Strong hip hop stuff. We liked it.
Used to love a bit of Jazzmatazz back in the day. I love their more laid back style. and that’s a good thing. Some nice samples and chill vibes. Decent interesting lyrics too. Definitely my kind of hip hop. 3.5
AAAAAAAAHHlmost perfect
Cool hiphop record!
Execution of a Chump Beyond Comprehension Check The Technique Here Today, Gone Tomorrow What You Want This Time? As I Read My S-A
East coast hip hop is where it's at for me, and I can't believe I slept on this one. Preem's beats are crazy good on this. Guru's flow feels so limitless. Could be a 5 in time.
Really great album. You can almost hear the start of the cross between the 80s style of hip hop and what would become peak 90s style. Great vocals and a sign of great things to come for Gang Starr. 8/10
Yea man. Early 90s hip hop. It’s good.
Ok, so a few of the rhymes feel a little old fashioned nowadays. But this rips
A lot of hip-hop from this era has lost its edge over time as it's been adopted and coopted by mainstream culture, but some works, like this one, stand out as timeless classics.
This album was very enjoyable all the way through. I can hear the type of samples and general vibe in albums that came after. The lyrics are also clever and very enjoyable. Imo the flows started to get a little boring by the end. It probably didn’t need to be as long as it was but it was all still good. Standout Tracks: Step In The Arena, Who’s Gonna Take The Weight, As I Read My S-A 4/5 deserves to be on this list
I know I've heard samples from this. 4.
I love this album. I immediately recognized the rappers voice and flow. I've listened to guru in the past. I love the jazz rap vibes
While I find most modern rap music unbearable, I sometimes do enjoy the older stuff. Step In the Arena has a nice, laidback sound that I like. Apparently, it has been called the best hip hop album of all time. I wouldn’t know, but will agree it’s a great album. 4/5
Going into this, I had never heard of the album or the group, but as a hip hop fan I was curious to see what it had to offer. This is a really strong record. The lyrics are sharp, funny, and surprisingly timeless—over 30 years later they still feel relevant. The rhymes flow effortlessly over beats that are catchy and well-produced, making this an easy and enjoyable listen. It’s definitely one I’ll come back to again. Favourite track: Who’s Gonna Take the Weight – brilliant lyrics matched with a killer beat. Least favourite track: Honestly, everything on here was worth a listen. Album artwork: A fairly standard hip hop cover, nothing groundbreaking but it fits.
открываю для себя то что мне нравится хип-хип/рэп (еще помню LL cool J)
It's interesting - like in alternative universe this would have been a hit. I have never heard of these guys at all, but enjoyed it quite a bit because it just captures the essence of 90's rap. 4/5
I had People’s Instinctive Travels by A Tribe Called Quest yesterday, and this feels like it could be the missing link between Native Tongues and the g-funk gangsta rap that was coming. I liked it a lot.
I’m not by nature a hip-hop fan, but some of it is undeniably very good. I guess Gang Starr (which I confess to never hearing about previously) would land in that group. Maybe I just like that old school east coast style of Hip-Hop, or the sampling of classic 70s sounds, or the way he rhythms so smoothly and effortlessly without screaming at me. I don’t know, maybe it was all that, but w know I liked it.
Jag var definitivt inte på hiphop-tåget när det här släpptes. Men man är inte sämre än att man kan ändra sig. Det här är hiphop som hiphop ska låta, tycker jag idag. Men symptomatiskt för genren är också att det trycks in lite för många låtar på ett album. Så även här. Mot slutet av skivan början det kännas som man hört det förut.
Ett riktigt bra hop hop. Finns beats, snygga samplingar bra flow. Gang starr kunde sin sak redan från start.
Always nice when we get some older rap music that holds up for 30+ years, especially with such a clean flow from an iconic duo. Probably need to give this one a listen when I’m not at work, but still enjoyed it a lot.
Classic, had a good flow throughout, reminiscent of some De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest or Common, definitely some East Coast feels.
Way more jazzy than I was expecting. Great flowz
It's kind of crazy that we have so much music nowadays that a group like Gang Starr can be missed. Classic 90's hip-hop and lyrical styling. Oddly enough - I have heard two of the tracks via Skate 2 and GTA IV.
Great beats, fantastic wordplay.
I thought these guys had some good samples and intelligent lyrics without things in the gutter for this rap style. I enjoyed it.
Surprised yet impressed at the same time
Really like the lyrics and writing on this one. A very pleasant surprise. Reminds me a bit of Tribe Called Quest. DJ Premier does a great job on this album. Really solid from top to bottom. Like most hip-hop/rap albums, it's just too long. It doesn't need to be pushing an hour. Just chill out guys.
dj premier so goated
Some great standouts and consistent otherwise. No real misogyny as I don't consider "my music is more important than chicks" to be that bad, at least for young twenty somethings. Sick synth at the end of Who's Gonna Take the Weight. As I Read my S-A a great late album standout
This is a great rap album! Did not know about them but do now!
Would not want to be that chump
Never heard of these guys but this shit is great. It's dated but still fresh. A pleasant surprise.
Smooth East Coast sound from the early years of rap. This is a great album. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Step In The Arena Who's Gonna Take The Weight? Lovesick Just To Get A Rep The Meaning Of The Name
Freddie’s son, Gang rose to fame after a chance meeting with Len Houmous (of Houmous & Chutney fame) following a Royal Variety Show! 3.7 8/18 Lovesick
nunca tinha ouvido falar disso na minha vida, muito bom
nunca tinha fragado também mas pedrada absoluta hein só beatzão e rimas boas e fortíssimas! pesadíssimo!!
I haven’t gone back to this one in while. Feel like I always go to Hard To Earn or Moment Of Truth. Glad 1001 got me to revisit this classic! Easy 4.5!
Important, influential, iconic. This is early 90's thought provoking hip-hop. Guru and DJ Premier kick open the door and put on a clinic with this debut. I absolutely love the music on this album. Premier is a beast. 4
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Who's Gonna Take The Weight?, Check The Technique DJ Premiere is a masterclass at producing beats and samples and Guru's monotone style elevates his rapping to top-tier. The lyrics are so dense it practically requires half a dozen listens to really hear it all. Most of the time I listen to Gang Starr, I listen to Hard To Earn; I have surprisingly never heard this album (though I have maybe heard some of the songs). This album is just as good as Hard To Earn, but I think I still like Hard To Earn more. That being said, this is being added to the rotation for sure. I also especially love the use of California Soul in Check The Technique
Decent rap album, nice beats, rap is a bit monotonous but you get used to it. 3.6 stars
What a smooth album! Aged really well.
Dj Premier’s beats and scratching are obviously the standout here and for good reason. The jazzy production style definitely influenced groups like Tribe or Us3. They would go on to make greater albums but this one is definitely important. Favorite songs were Step In The Arena, Who’s Gonna Take The Weight?, Check The Technique, Lovesick, and As I Read My S-A.
Should probably be Step Into the Arena. Love a group who know the value of a nice, warm jacket.