Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Guru had an iconic rap voice - probably the most iconic for me and epitomised old school hip hop. He just seemed to have a natural ability to deliver lyrics in a very relaxed but super cool rap manner. Musical arrangements scratching and samples on this album by his sidekick DJ Premier are very good, ground-breaking and very inspirational for this musical genre and other forms of where it went over the next 4 decades. Not on the album, but if you haven't heard Gang Starr's track "Jazz Thing" you'd do good to pay it a visit, some of the best sampling ever, using old Jazz clips and fused with early 90's hip hop. RIP Guru.
This is a great record, solid followup to their debut, not their best but you can see what they are capable of and what they'll become. Great beats per usual and Guru has always been a favorite of mine on the mic.
This album was new to me - but I actually really ended up enjoying it. Rap is rarely my thing - but I would definitely relisten to this
Did not listen to the whole thing but a good start.
If nothing else, this project has considerably widened my appreciation for hip-hop
Preemo and Guru perfectly compliment each other on this record, the beats are amazing and Guru just flows so smooth over them. Guru and Gang Starr as a whole are a very underrated force in rap, nothing but some of the cleanest beats and the cleanest rhymes you'll ever hear. Step in the Arena may not be their very best or most experimental album, but you can hear them finding their way as a group with something to say.
first listen awesome jazz rap beats
I enjoyed it. Might take a second listen soon.
Hip hop vom Feinsten
Classic
I had never heard an entire Gang Starr album, so this is a first for me. I really enjoyed this one and it came out just before I really started to listen to rap, plus as a teen I was less into intellectual rap and more into the gangsta rap part of the genre. There is a lot to like here and the presence of DJ Premier really helps that case. He is all in this book with songs from Christina Aguilera, Nas and Jay-Z. He's pretty good at producing. I'm adding this one to my collection, because there isn't anything complicated here, but it's all quality to my ears. Songs I enjoyed most are: Step in the Arena Execution of a Chump Form of Intellect Lovesick Check the Technique Who's Gonna Take the Weight Just to Get a Rep What You Want This Time Say Your Prayers
Early hiphop was better
Really nice beats, and the lyrics were very poignant.
Surprisingly vibrant rap in development
Great album. Really catchy beats, some clever lyrics, fun rhythms and rhyme schemes, this is just a really really solid hip hop record.
Classic hip-hop sound and from what I can read, a very pivotal album in the timeline of the hip-hop too. I do enjoy it and has a good groove and lyrics to it, but also something pretty similar and un-surprising as I go through the songs. Like one song is very solid, and then they are just similar throughout. However, lyrics are really something when I give that my full attention, rather than just listening as music. Yeh, okay, I’m getting this more as I get into it. Solid, clean, important.
I enjoyed the smooth, old school beats. It reminds me of a Tribe Called Quest.
A decent album, I wish I had more time to listen to it but life got in the way. The songs certainly groove well, but I couldn't listen in to the lyrics the way I would want for a hip hop or rap album
3.5
3.5
Good hiphop with jazzy beats. 4 stars
Really liked this, chilled out hip hop, some nice base, bit of sax. Would put this on when I'm working and need to focus.
Very good. Will need another listen but old school funky soul rap
My kind of hip hop, clerly influential on other things i love.
Never heard of these guys before and I listen to a lot of a rap. Similar artists would be the roots and De-La-Soul. Will listen to this again for sure.
It can’t top Jazzamatazz but this is great.
Sehr cool
Step in the Arena exudes understated confidence — Guru's relaxed, deliberate flow paired with DJ Premier's jazz-infused beats. This record refuses to shout, opting instead to glide and slide right into my rotation.
Really enjoy this by Gang Starr. One of the most interesting hip hop duos, with a heavy jazz influence. Premier and Guru work so well together. This is an important album, but they have better ones later in their career. 4/5 Will definitely listen again
One of the great albums by one of the most iconic duos of hip hop! Still, I prefer later works like 'Moment of Truth'. This album has too many songs that sound too similar.
I'm not a huge hip-hop fan but these guys are kind of in my sweet spot. This isn't my favorite but it's still damn good.
8/10
A blast from the past with two legendary MCs
I found myself enjoying this album much more than I expected to. I’ve said it before, but a lot of hip hop doesn’t tend to resonate much with me, but thankfully this was one of the exceptions. The beats sounded so nice, and the flow with the vocals was smooth like butter. There’s nothing over-complicated here, and I enjoyed this in a similar manner to how I enjoy the Sugarhill Gang (who, incidentally, are sampled here).
Effortlessly smooth, groovy and funky, the sounds easing their way into your mind and soul from Premier, the words coming out of Guru's mouth like honey. Lovely. Damn he's missed.
This might make me sound like a boomer, but man 90s hip hop is so much better than most of the crap that passes for hip hop nowadays.
Very good
While not quite prime Gang Starr, it's still a very solid early entry for the duo. DJ Permier's production, at this point, hadn't quite adopted that very shiny and explosive East Coast quality. I'd say he'd find that sound in the mid-'90s (on Illmatic and Gang Starr's finest hour, 'Moment of Truth'). His production here is still very much rooted in that '80s/'90s jazz rap style, though it does hold a bit more variety than other East Coast contemporaries like ATCQ, a bit closer to a group like De La (TBH Guru sounds a lot like Posdnuos). I'll never complain about this style, and it's executed very well here at the end of the day. 'Who's Gonna Take the Weight' has this chunky horn sample and that high-pitched PE-style noise that gives it a distinctly '80s edge. The fat bass driving the song 'Take a Rest' on the other hand, hammers home that gritty New York sound. I think 'As I Read My S-A' sounds the most like modern-day DJ Premier in its sample choices and iconic scratching. The best production here has to be 'Check the Technique', it has this really mystical sounding orchestral sample that's sort of grainy, and distant, yet it perfectly complements and eggs on Guru's no BS bars. Guru himself is such a unique-sounding MC, there's something just off about the way he raps. I'd say his biggest defining quality is his adamant disregard for the bar line, he is constantly crossing that shit. He is a forward-thinking MC in that sense, by not sticking to any sort of rhyme scheme. And he's just such a profound lyricist - just listen to songs like 'Who's Gonna Take the Weight' and the observational 'Just To Get a Rep' and 'Say Your Prayers'. Songs that are perfectly balanced with those battle rap instances, like on the fierce aforementioned 'Check the Technique' (can't stress enough how good that song is) Really good jazz rap - a little long, and, at times, run-of-the-mill for the duo, but well-executed nevertheless.
I enjoyed it more than I expected to. Rap and hip hop are not my usual, but I've learned to appreciate it more over the years. This is definitely worth another listen. 3.5/5 Album 36/1001
Nice smooth gangsta rap
Pretty sweet. A missing link between the rhyme time 80s rap and the 90s gangster rap. It's pretty chill which I appreciate. The sampling and DJing is classic.
This album was way ahead of it's time - Premier really captured what would become the beat style of the rest of the 90's really well on this album. It's the natural evolution of the pure sample based beats of the 80's going forward to the fully realized electronically created beats of the late 90's in to the 2000's. For me this was the era of some of the greatest turntablists in hip hop, and Premier is definitely one of them. Guru isn't the greatest rapper of all time but he holds his own and suits the beats really well. He has a couple of great lines and none of it feels forced or off rhyme/rhythm at all. "Check the Technique" is a classic, but I also really enjoyed "Beyond Comprehension" and "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" a lot. There's a lot of filler in this album, especially toward the end, that I think would be cut nowadays or be on a mixtape more than a full fledged EP. I do wonder if it was just the record labels sort of dumping everything they could on these since tapes and bootlegs were still very much underground and not something artists would promote like they do today. One note, which I can't help myself from doing, whatever sample the beat in "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" uses is the same sample as "Battle Flag" by Lo Fidelity All Stars (which in turn is a remix of another song), which is a great song. It's great and I actually wonder if Battle Flag took it from here or from the original. Overall this only really suffers from length. You could cut the entire rest of the album after "What You Want This Time" and not end up missing too much other than the good rapping on "Just To Get A Rep".
Excellent production and sampling. This could grow on me over time. 3.5/5
Positive and intelligent hip-hop. Great samples as well, which I'm sure were used on subsequent songs from the Lo-Fi Allstars and Adam Freeland.
I had never heard this one before. Solid sound, especially for the era.
This album is super old school. I love early 90s rap cause there’s this intense nostalgia for it. Even in the case such as this where I’ve never heard this album before but it still somehow reminds me of THPS soundtracks and Sonic adventure soundtracks. That being said this album is not faultless. When I say it’s old school I mean OLD school. When you compare this to modern rap music, the biggest difference is just the tempo and speed. This album almost feels like crawling it’s so slow. While I enjoy the slower pace I could see how younger people could see this as just “boring”. Honestly that’s really the biggest takeaway, if you like old school simpler rap music then this album is for you. If you prefer modern huge production rap, sadly I don’t think this album is for you.
Surprisingly good Would listen to again
A bridge between the golden age and the worlds beyond. I’m biased towards jazz rap, but it’s hard to be critical when both members are bringing their A game to producing and rapping. 8/10
i hate rap music. and i listened to this album in full once and then again during workout. i think that says something
I will give this album a lot of credit for popularizing that signature 90s rap cadence. As far as how popular the album is itself, its not very big. It did however pave the way for a lot of big 90s rap groups like Mobb Deep (my favorite) with this sort of style. This was one of the first to do it so it gets its flowers for it. I liked their flow, but the beat selection was a bit too 90s for me. There were some really good songs on this album, and I am personally a fan of the simple, yet effective cadence. Solid 3.75 for me. Favorite Songs: Step in the Arena, Execution Of A Chump, Beyond Comprehension, Take A Rest Least Favorite: What You Want This Time?
I liked it more than I would have predicted.
It’s like classical hip-hop. It’s so straightforward and breezy. No overthinking or complexity. As such it can be a little less exciting, but the skills of DJ Premier and Guru make up for that. Really fun and classic. Must-listen #76.
Nice hip-hop, always here for some hip-hop. Nice sampling in there as well.
Gear: Meze 109 PRO Artwork: 🟧🏙️🚆 Production: 🧈😊👌 Music: 🌆🕶️😌 Rating: ✴️✴️✴️✴️/5
I like Gang Starr heard this one in entirely. It's not quite to the levels of their later stuff, but very impressive for the era. I particularly like Check the Technique
Thought this album was solid, top to bottom. Check the technique is an amazing song. The album definitely could have benefited from some features, just to give it a little more variety.
I like it when it is jazzy. I especially enjoyed the laid back vibe of Lovesick. Sometimes you are just down in the dumps.
I expected the worst based on the name, but what a great old school hip hop record! Textbook example of how to use scratching to create a specific atmosphere.
Cool beats, great scratching and an impeccable flow is really the cornerstone of every good East Coast hip hop album. Gang Starr tick off every box.
I enjoyed this album a fair bit, it's one of the best hip-hop albums I've heard on this list so far. It's cool and witty, a very enjoyable listen.
Solid old hip hop album here
Luck of the draw that I missed this cassette in the '90s, I would have memorized this album hard. There were even enough clean lyrics I could have sung them around my mom. I kept listening to Gang Starr after this and enjoyed their later stuff even more but this album does slap.
Solid
This is a really easy album to listen to. Flows together seamlessly with seamless flows. Some lines can be a little janky, but overall, more good than bad. Solid range. Samples are used interestingly, but not distractingly. Production is satisfying. I really enjoyed this. Solid. 4/5
I really loved the beats on this, the flows weren’t anything special, but I can respect what it was at the time in regards to a more socially conscious sound in hip hop.
I was not expecting to see a Gang Starr album on here. What a sight for sore eyes. Weird that they picked this over their much more acclaimed album 'Moment of Truth'. This album is a weirdly intoxicating combination of A Tribe Called Quest and Rakim in the best way. Although some of the beats show their age by way of repetitiveness, the smooth vocals of Guru really do mellow things out. The main gripe with this album is its length. If you take a break after "Take a Rest" (haha) it seems to make this album pace well, but I would dread having to slog through all this one go. Enjoyable album, but I really do thing this was a big miss by including this instead of Moment of Truth, which is where they really made a name for themselves.
Really cool laid back style, it kinda hindered my listening on both go arounds because I just let it sorta roll in the background and while I could appreciate that there were plenty of different elements scattered through the album, it was all a bit of a long 40-50 minute haze
Gang Starr is a fantastic and unique sound in the 90’s hip hop scene even compared to oddities like ATCQ. It’s a shame they’re so less well known in the mainstream compared to the much more successful pedophiles of the NY scene like Gay-Z and Diddly. Jazz rap is the grooviest of subgenres and is fantastically underrated. Please pour one out for my man Dave Mirra for introducing me to Gang Starr via the medium of extremely compressed PS2 BMX game soundtracks.
Definitely not background music and I'm too dumb to appreciate some of what's going on 8/10 Fav tracks - Execution of a Chump, Check the Technique, Take a rest, As I read my S-A
Good production, decent lyrics, great vocals. This album was a pleasant surprise. I'm not a big fan of hip hop as I've established in previous reviews and I haven't been particularly impressed with early hip hop, thinking that it generally doesn't hold up some thirty years later. I don't think the same is true here, Guru's production, mixing and sampling here sounds old school but has a unique flair that makes it very fun to listen to especially on Just To Get A Rep (probably the best example of what I'm talking about, and as a microcosm is a good example of what makes this a great album). Some filler on here and album bloat holds this back from being truly great but this is a very pleasant surprise for me! Highlights: Step In The Arena, Beyond Comprehension, Street Ministry, Just To Get A Rep
Never heard of this but really enjoyed it
Entirely listenable to. I'm not sure if that's the aim of hip-hop, but there you go. I enjoyed it. I'd listen to it again.
Awesome……..
one of the mount rushmore groups in hip hop imo ... i think these guys are just timeless and sooo cool... I unfortunately have had the pleasure of having listened to all their later albums so this ends up feeling like a precursor to me... not only would they go onto make some of the best hip hop albums of all time but Moment Of Truth is just one of the best albums of all time period... anyways i should stop hating and just say that the production is really clean and guru's vocals kick ass ... these guys are just the absolute best
Idk I haven’t been this enthusiastic about turntablism/scratching, or even paid much heed to it, since DJ Shadow and the Avalanches (both years ago on the generator at this point). Unlike the Heroes of Hiphopricy, I’ve heard a little about Gang Starr, but this is still the first time I’ve seriously listened to them. Cool stuff 😎
"The DJ's name is Premier, and I'm the Guru..." This is intricate, smart and tightly produced hip hop. From the immaculate flow of Guru to Premier's subtle, funky beats, it's a great early 90s rap record. No interludes and a runtime well under an hour? I'm tempted to add a point just for that. Best tracks: Step In The Arena, Check The Technique, Take A Rest, Just To Get A Rep
Moment of Truth is better, but still pretty great. 3.5/5
Dj Premier the goat and can’t discredit this album at all, but there have been a few better albums in the 90s. Many on this list too. Still I had fun 🙏
This is not really my genre, but I appreciated it nonetheless. Flows and rhymes were a little stilted in places but really clever and smooth in others. The beats were consistently good and varied, which kept the album fun to listen to and not repetitive. Four stars.
Enjoyable old school rap.
Классика ист-коста. Чувствуется зарождение классического ганста-рэпа. Биты и речетатив - топ! стиль!
Legendarisk mc/producer duo, fiks lyrik, boom beats, grundsten for meget andet
The wikipedia page said this was (at some point) named the greatest rap album of all time. I was skeptical, but after hearing it I'd be willing to say that it's ONE OF the greatest HIP HOP albums of all time. Very well executed. Clearly influential on the genre.
Sweet beats even if the rapping is a little primitive, extremely good time though and I'm curious to see where they go from here
DJ Premier's got the chill, funky beats. Guru's got the smooth flow... And yeah. That's about the size of it — or at least as much as I can see. I'unno, it was just a really nice album to come to and put on after a long day out and about. It might be my favorite East coast album I've heard so far, and it didn't even hafta do much. I'm perfectly happy giving this thing a 4. I'm sure on a worse day I woulda harder on this album for not being engaging, but yeah. Not bad from an MC I'd never heard of before.
sulaa kun voi ! ja voi voi sanon minä! yhtä sulava ainakin... astu areenaan, näytä mihin pystyt!! jeejee heh... kuunneltavaa kamaa, jokainen biisi on kinnostava! mietin mitä hittsiä? sitten selvitän asian.. tutkin.. aha joo... hmm ok... niin.. niin tosiaan... jaa toki toki... no ohoh... huhhuh siinäpä vasta melkoinen.. ai... aijjaha... ainiin... niinkövai... sillälailla.. nonnija... aivan... ai.. no ei sitä.. sitten seuraava biisi ja yhtä hukassa taas, melkoinen kokemus.. homopornoveljekset... uskomattomat pläjäykset ja mälläykset.. kerrassaan loistavaa työtä (Hidden rowing technique tricks - bridging the gap at the catch) execution of a chump
Very smooth, I’m a big fan of the continuous flow and lyricism
Not my usual genre, but I have to respect the talent. Enjoyed the beats and flow.
Rap is not typically my jam but I really like this album!
The flow in this album is great especially for early rap. Another win from the list!
Massively important and influential. Rap has come a long way in terms of flow, so I can see how people might bounce of it. In terms of production, though, the big beats and funky lines really carry this album.
While hip hop isn’t usually my genre, I really appreciate this album. This duo brought a unique smoothness to the scene, with Guru's vocal cadence and their clever use of samples. It's a standout example of golden age hip hop. Step in the Arena, Form of Intellect and Beyond Comprehension are brilliant tracks. A few duds like Lovesick holds it back from being 5 stars.
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
After being exposed to a lot of slick and shiny hip-hop recently, I was so happy to listen to something this warm and earnest. Music is meant to be about people and this album is obviously very personal even if it’s about two guys tryin to be cool. It’s well made and it’s sounds great. Some of the rhymes read kinda clunky today (Execution of a… chump? Wow. Don’t go too hard on him) but I enjoyed it all. I would never have listened to it outside of this project and I’m glad I did. I just feel so much affection for it.
Impeccable sampling, great rapping, just wish there were two or three less songs on here and a bit of tempo variance
Considering my natural aversion to hip hop so far, I am giving this one a higher rating because of how much I enjoyed it, and how well it encapsulates what people call the golden age of Hip Hop. You usually hear people saying how hip hop used to have more meaningful lyrics and better samples, and this is now my go-to example for it.
A hip hop album that isn't mumble rap, unfunny skits or trash beats. Colour me surprised
great, it's so good to hear some early rap stuff
3.6
Lots of golden age hip-hop on here and this is a great listen, if not containing their best ever track Jazz Thing. Like TTQuest their beats are relaxed, but here with a slightly fiercer and less playful rap style. But it's a very convincing listen.
4- Another 90's hip hop album that almost sounded like all the others. This had me more than others though and wasn't just waiting for the album to finish
I'm not even into hip-hop that much but there are some classic hip-hop albums which are so good and this is one of them - I like the beats, the rhythms, it's fun.
4/5
Love it
(3.5 rounded up) feel weird giving this a star rating as idk that much abt hip hop but i generally enjoyed myself ! highlights: step in the arena, what you want this time?, as i read my s-a (aug 8 2024)
This is a solid album. On target, beginning to end.
I actually really enjoyed this album. Never heard of Gang Starr but they had some interesting lyrics, kick ass beats, and great flow.
Pretty solid album. I had only heard the name prior. I liked it, I can't give it a 5 but it's a solid 4 for sure.
Yeah, it's great. Never took the time to do Gang Starr when I was younger, but dense rhymes and exquisite samples make this a good one.
I personally believe Gang Starr is one of the most important and criminally underrated rap duos of the 90s. Maybe even of all time. For as acclaimed as they are by many, it’s crazy how Guru and Premier continue to be undermined even after over 30 years. But they absolutely should be regarded as an essential part of any hip-hop fans’ library. The 90s was such an electric time for rap music. And in terms of duos, I’m aware it’s kind of hard to compete in the same decade that OutKast came up in. But they absolutely proved themselves to be a worthy competitor. Probably the closest any other duo has come to rivaling the success of Dré and Big Boi. This album comes after their debut. And based on what I see other people saying, it seems to only go up from here for them. At least in the 90s. Their run during that decade was very strong. And like all of their records, the marriage of both the MC’s strengths makes for a powerful dynamic. Guru is one of the smoothest and lyrically engaging rappers ever. He has all of the same qualities that make Q-Tip so good. And DJ Premier is what anyone could ask for as a producer. He is a hip-hop producer’s producer. His instrumental work is still solid here. But something feels missing. I guess I misremembered, and thought their sound was a lot more rooted in hardcore. But these beats are more adjacent to the sample heavy jazz rap, boom bap style of this era. The bass sounds better here than on any other album I’ve heard from them. But the drums also feel flatter and less punchy. Even if what Guru is actually saying still hits, the beats just don’t as much. I’m also not a huge fan of the way this is paced. The songs are shorter on average. But even with a decently long track list, it still only comes out to 50 minutes. It’s weird. This is a steady foundation for a sophomore album, but I can see the places where improvements needed to be, and were eventually, made. Even still, if you release 4 albums over the course of 7 years, and this is the worst thing that came out of it, you obviously have something going for yourself. Rating: 7/10
Surprisingly not misogynistic. The forceful early 90's spitting doesn't feel as strange and the beats are great. Amazing hip-hop. I do miss melody, but this transcends
Solid Standout songs: Form of Intellect Execution of a Chump Take a rest
I’m not a hip hop officianado but this clearly has shaped hip hop to some degree given the time it came out. It’s bold, it’s loud, it’s edgy, it’s lyrical, and it’s fun. I enjoyed it albeit not having the base knowledge of hip hop & rap to fully appreciate it
Rare old-school hip-hop that still works to this day.
Heel erg laidback hiphop album. De beats van DJ Premier zijn super nice, met veel scratches en fijne instrumentals. Dat gecombineerd met Guru zn laidback flow zorgt voor een heel chill album om weg te luisteren. Teksten zijn ijzersterk, beats zijn eigenlijk niet zo erg verouderd als je zou denken. tweede helft van het album kakt wel hard in en met 50 minuten vind ik dit album net te lang om mn aandacht er de hele tijd bij te houden. Maar grootste deel van dit album was keihard, de Preemo beats zijn naar mijn mening nog even vet als toen ze uitkwamen, dus is dit gewoon een zeer goed album. FAVO: Step in the arena, Execution of a chump, who's gonna take the weight, Check the technique, Take a rest
Another great album this week. I like the lyricism throughout this record. The production isn't as great as other hip-hop albums. "Beyond Comprehension" is my favourite track. Keep the albums rolling, 1001 Albums. 4 stars for "Step in the Arena".
Makes me almost wistful. I wish I had heard it when it came out. I would have loved it in a different way.
This is pretty solid early ‘90s hip hop.
Another bit of hip-hop history that had passed me by. Good solid jams, but nothing that really grabbed me…maybe that is why it missed me the first time…
This grew on me as it went on. Nice early 90s hip-hop that was new to me.
Is it a surprise I have never heard of Gang Starr? They seem like the kind of 90s rap that would have somewhere along the way entered my consciousness. Perhaps I’ve forgotten them. Today I enjoyed this little time capsule of rap of another era. It’s quite good and definitely more in line with the style and themes I can enjoy. Pretty good stuff.
Gurus a goat. Rhymes never quit
Gangstarr is top 5
Pretty good, was not what I expected for a 1990 rap album. It's hard to choose between 3 and 4 stars as I don't have much experience with earlier rap albums, but I'd say this is fairly modern for the time period it came out in.
This was quite good.
lot of people reviewing this album on this website are too closed-minded to give any rap record a fair shake.
I like Guru's flow and the production on this album is good, but overall it feels like people taking their first steps and by the time you get to Jazzmatazz we're at full speed. A lot of the tracks loop too much without going anywhere, and the run time of the album feels too ambitious.
Delicious old school beats and eloquent rhymes. I got a bit bored by the end though.
Step in the Arena Your rap’s crazy whack I’m Familiar with a couple of the tracks on here, Check the Technique, which I’d guess is their most famous song, and Who’s Gonna Take the Weight, but haven’t ever listened to one of their albums. I thought this was great! I like his down tempo delivery style, but musically this really shines. Excellent samples (Up On Cripple Creek!), a lot piano led with a great jazzy-soul vibe to it, particularly with the double bass. And each track is really well constructed and arranged with great sounding beats. Lyrically, despite the default of bragging about his rap abilities, there is some nice variety, from the ‘romantic’ Lovesick to the social observation of Just to Get a Rep. It’s probably 4 or 5 tracks too long, but this is a great early 90s bit of East Coast Hip Hop, kind of straddling the older school 80s and the 90s West Coast gangster styles. This will definitely go into rotation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I liked it
Obviamente la gente q solo gusta de los géneros de su juventud lo puntúa mal 😝 Nunca había escuchado a Gang Starr pero entiendo su lugar fundacional en el hip hop con, a diferencia de otros iconos, un buen sonido y rimas. Quizá un poco desfasado pero es un álbum de hace 30+ años, lo que hace el resto de elementos bastante sorprendentes y agradable
Straight to the point, no frills hip-hop executed flawlessly. Sometimes that's all you need. I love the prevalence of jazz samples here, and Guru's rapping is so effortless and smooth.
A stellar album from two stellar artists, but maybe a bit lost or wasted on me, I'm afraid. As dope as this is, the musical content of the 1 sample & 1 beat (add some sprinkles) recipe of old hip hop gets tiring after a while.
Thoughts before listening: I know these guys are a big deal in the hip hop world but I've never listened to them. I'm sure this will be good. Review: Yep...this is the type of hip hop I like. Jazzy beats with cool guitar licks sampled in and laid back vocals...and no skits. These guys were stars of the 90s underground rap scene which is one that I mostly missed at the time but has grown to be my favorite sound in the genre. This was an enjoyable listen this morning. 4-stars.
These guys were awesome - never heard before. Tribe Called Quest with some Kool Moe Dee and Public Enemy.
Really enjoyed this. Took me back to THPS days weirdly. Not something I'd usually listen to, but it was super cool. Really good album Some really great lyrics and they are very playful with words.
Nice
For the genre it’s very good.
dope!
Never heard of this before… pretty good. 3.5 Standouts: Take a Rest, Step in the Arena, Just to Get a Rep, Execution of a Chump, Who’s Going to take the Weight,
I really enjoyed his cadence. It’s just hard for me when the music is the exact same the entirety of the song. It’s great that many of the songs are on the shorter side.
This is a classic and does not get the attention that it so rightly deserves.
Masters at work...
I liked this a lot. Almost more like a spoken word album than other early 90s rap. Has that old school cool.
Amazing jazzy beats with some quirks. Combined with decent rapping, it's a truly compelling 50-minute listen.
Not my first Gang Starr experience, but this is my first full Gang Starr album. So smooth.
glad for at have Gang Starr på listen! man kan sagtens høre slægtsskabet til A Tribe Called Quest osv., men meget mere klassisk. Bundsolide beats og Guru er en fantastisk rapper
Solid album. DJ Premier is one of the all time great producers and Guru (RIP) is really good rapping on here.
An easy 4 stars. Only thing holding this album back is there refusal to break cadence. I'd love to hear a verse or two that breaks free from that 'perfect pocket' they seem to find.
I really enjoy this era of rap. It reminds me of the exciting 1990's NYC / east coast scene and some really listenable acts from that time and place like Nas and Big L. The sound to me feels like there's no rush. There's no pretentious vocals, the lyrics aren't over the top, and everything approachable. I really love the laid back beats. It just feels real and authentic. Yesterday my wife took off from work randomly and we decided to spend a day at the beach, just hopping around a few restaurants and bars in the middle of February on a misty and cold day. It was probably the only time that I had been at Asbury Park and saw less than 50 people on the beach / boardwalk, and our last stop was a bar that was playing some early 1990's rap. I was listening and thought to myself a few times "this has to be Big L". I mentioned it to my wife, then I looked up the lyrics and the artist was "Gang Starr", which I didn't recognize! Funny now to wake up and see this is the 1001 album of the day.
Primo’s smooth beats and signature chorus scratch and Guru’s mellow flow make for sophisticated, relaxed, enjoyable hip hop. Never afraid to rap about relationships or social observations, Gang Starr avoided the trap of creating a fictional street life for themselves and, in return, earned plaudits and respect from the hip hop community. The sound felt fresh, preferring jazz sounds for samples, which added to the novelty and sophistication. RIP Guru, you left us too soon.
Loved it way more than I thought I would,proper old school
After listening to "Step in the Arena," I looked up other hip-hop albums released in 1991, and I'm amazed at what all was coming out in the genre at that time. It really was so transformative with things that still hold up today. My biggest issue with "Step in the Arena" is the same as many other hip-hop albums at the time, which is that they felt like a compilation of songs, rather than having a flow through the album. However, the individual tracks are so strong, and both the music and the lyrics still stand up to today's standards in most ways. Styles may have changed, but I can still trace any hip-hop I like back to groups like Gang Starr.
This album certainly grew on me more with the second listen and I feel like it deserves a few more if not at least a deeper listen. Fave track for now Step In The Arena
This sounds pretty fresh for 1990! Their flows are a notch up from most other old school hip-hop of the time. Some excellent scratching on display, too. Fave tracks - "Who's Gonna Take the Weight" and "Check the Technique" stood out. Loved the Jean-Jacques Perrey sample in "Just to Get a Rep", too!
good vibe. classic early rap.
Great vibe and flow from the early days of rap. Recognized a few songs but didn’t get introduced to rap till much later and hadn’t heard most of this album. Easy to listen to, smooth flow and enjoyable.
Solid rap on every front, beats lyrics flow. Felt like the best schoolyard rapper with battle punch lines got top-notch, mellow beats. The name means master mind. feels a bit hypnotic which can make it hard to follow the lyrics.
I liked it.
Oon aina diggailu DJ Premieren suoraviivaista samplaamista, vaikka itse Gang Starrin kuuntelu on vähemmälle jäänyt. Samaten Gurun Jazzmatazz on aika tuttu. Hyväähän tämäkin oli! Tipahtaa mun korvissa ihan sinne klassikkoysärin osastolle. Ei valittamista vaan hyvä platta 4/5
You need at least *one* album by Gang Starr in such a list. The union of DJ Premier's legendary boom-bap prodution chops and Guru's "conscious" lyrics, uttered in a deep, precise voice with a high-class flow rarely matched in the hip hop world, is too good to go unnoticed. Trouble is, if only *one* Gang Starr album could be selected in such a list--because of a lack of "room"--which one would it be? Let's cut the suspense, here, sophomore album *Step In The Arena* is indeed one of the strongest contenders. Even its less "noticeable" cuts (less noticeable during a first, superficial listen, that is) are admirably well crafted, thought out and performed. And the highlights are simply stellar, enough said: there's the title track "Step In the Arena", but also "Check the Technique", "Take A Rest", "Just To Get A Rep". The last three tracks ("As I Read My S.A.", "Precisely The Right Rhyme" , and "The Meaning Of The Name") are even one of the most beautiful strings of songs ever ending a hip hop album. Creating a good build-up in a rap record, up until the very last minutes, is not so easy to pull off. DJ Premier and Guru make it sound as if it's only a child's game for them. Being very fond of Gang Starr's next album *Daily Operation* (where Premier sprinkles even jazzier moods than in *Step In The Arena*--still very much indebted to seventies funk and classic rock samples instead), I could be tempted to select that other LP and leave *Step In The Arena* aside. But no, I won't. Worst case scenario, I would personally select *both* records and leave it at that. Boom (bap)! Problem solved. 4/5 for the purposes of this list. Which translates to a 9/10 grade for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 311 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 308 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 168 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 225
Haven't listened to a lot of rap but would like to learn more, really enjoyed this and will be exploring east coast rap more for sure
Who's Gonna Take The Weight? 💯😤✊ First listen of this album and truthfully I think the first I've heard of Gang Starr 🫣 but 🫶
Untouchable samples, masterful flow, clear lyrics. This album is terrific!
Never heard of this group before! Right up my alley as far as hip hop styles. That late 80’s / early 90’s smooth flow jazzy stuff. Like Tribe or De La Soul. Not sure how I’ve missed this one! Definitely in solid new-discovery 4 territory. Drums on Check The Technique are big!
This is great old-school Brooklyn-style rap. It would never be my go-to music, but I can appreciate it for what it is.
Honestly, one of my favorite rap albums so far. Idk why, but this style really gets to me and I really enjoyed it.
Smooth as baby's bottom. Could listen to it all day.
Call the Poll Ice
step up, step out
Early rap with understandable lyrics and musical samples.
Perfect Duo! I love what Guru and Premier also did on their own and for their first album they showed what theyre capable of! Great Fking Album Real Rap
I never like 90s hip hop as much as I think I should… I guess the old head life just isn’t for me. This’ll probably grow on me if I listen to it more, though
Nice
Excellent lyricism, relatable message, great beats
Mér finnst þetta næs, sömplin vinna oftast vel með lögunum og eru vel valin, það sem ég heyri svo af textunum er flott. Já, barasta svolítið fínt hip-hop fyrir minn smekk.
Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool
Love this era of hip hop. Smooth flow, conscious lyrics, and solid beats. This gave way to some truly great albums in the 90's
While this isn’t my favourite Gang Starr album, it’s still a fantastic record from one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time Favourite tracks: Step In the Arena, Who’s Gonna Take the Weight, Love Sick, Game Plan, Just To Get a Rep
Ganske bra, ingen spesifikke bangers men elsker lyden deres
Great beats with crafty intricate lyrics on top. A good rap cake
East Coast Jazz and Soul inflected beats are probably my favorite flavor of Hip Hop, and Premier is undoubtedly a master chef. Guru's flow may sound dated now, but there is depth and wisdom in his words.
Had only heard of this group before, glad to finally get to check them out. This is a great hip hop record, very smooth and thoughtful lyrics. There are a couple instances of the "gold digger" trope, but I'll forgive them since they are kept to a minimum and are not particularly offensive. Overall, this album kinda feels like a more chilled out Public Enemy.
- "Just to get a rep" samples "EVA" by Jaqcues Perrey wonderfully.
I really liked it. Wasn’t paying too much attention so need to give it a second listen, but will definitely be adding it to my library
Pretty good. Totally had the early 90's hip hop sound..
It's a really solid album. You can hear the transition from 80s to 90s hip-hop styles.
It might have been the freshness factor (for me, since this was first time hearing the album), but I'll take this over Run DMC anyday. Just a ton of fun, if a bit too long.
On it's own, it's a good album. And then it's got its history and influence.
my favorite track on first listen was check the technique. I liked how chill this was and it's always funny hearing old slang in rap. loved
I enjoyed this! Was not familiar with Gang Starr. Some great samples utilized by DJ Premier that he cut really cleanly. For 1991 I'm surprised the sound wasn't more dated-feeling. Don't get wrong it reeks of the 90s but it didn't feel that stale - maybe a bit formulaic by the end, but it's an especially tricky genre to stay relevant in, and yet both the overall production and Guru's lyrics were easy to get on board with. Guessing groups like the Roots and Jurassic Five are inspired by their sound.
This was dope. Solid bars all around. Check the Technique was the highlight. Doesn’t quite have the oomph for a 5 but close.
I really liked the jazzy samples Gang Starr used in Mo Better Blues a lot, but for some reason I had not listened to Step In The Arena in 30 years. My bad on that one, as this is excellent hip-hop. I especially like DJ Premier's production. One star off for Guru's somewhat monotone rapping.
The sample of “Up on Cripple Creek” on “Beyond Comprehension” was astounding. Just totally unexpected and great. “Love Sick” was a great listen too. No matter how you slice it, there just aren’t a ton of love songs in rap, especially by male artists. It was probably a bigger deal to include that song on the album than I can understand.
Classic.
The rap albums on this list have been pretty consistently good (aside from my hated Kid Rock), and this is more of the same. While I enjoyed it, it was admittedly not very distinguished from other rap at the time, at least listening with modern ears. The songs were, of course, still good, however, the highlight being ‘Just To Get A Rep’, which highlights the pointlessness of gang violence. I don’t know how to end this review. Nice beats I guess.
Is it possible to sound more old school than that?
Not a bad sound. Standouts include Step In The Arena, Execution Of A Chump, and Check The Technique.
It’s solid, I’m not gonna act like it’s my kinda thing and I think it drags a bit but it’s certainly an enjoyable listen.4/5
The rhymes feel like they’re battling the bears and that the group are meditating through their flow. This is a fantastic album. Featuring bar after bar of the type of storytelling often missing in the modern rap game.
Great 90s rap album, great beats and lyrics, just a good listen from a group I’ve never heard of but will definitely check out more.
its a tad long but both guru and premier are going all out and you can tell
I kinda liked this one. Easy to to listen to and groove to. I feel the need to give 4/5s to some hip hop even though it’s not my go to genre, and this meets the cut.
7/10.
Lit lit lit
great lyrics, easy to listen to
Haven’t finished it all yet but really enjoyed it. Slick beats bro
"Step in the Arena" is the second album by hip hop duo Gang Starr who are Houston-born record producer DJ Premier and Boston rapper Guru and, of course, they're based out of Brooklyn. DJ Premier is all over the place for a number of the hip hop albums I've done in this challenge. The genre is East Coast hip hop. Many accolades for the album including IGN naming it the best hip hop album of all time in 2007. Five singles were released from the album and the first one we come across is "Step in the Arena." It's a rap battle. Guru is a very smooth rapper; he kind of reminds me of a laid back Chuck D. The production of DJ Premier shines on "Who's Gonna Take Back Weight." The groove. Weird noises. Horns. Sound effects. And used in GTA IV. "Check the Technique" uses great sampling of Marlena Shaw's "California Soul" laying down the groove. Scratching. Great rhyming. My favorite song on the album. The third single "Lovesick" is a love song. We're off the rap battles and strutting for awhile. It's a little slower. The pace picks up in "Take a Rest." Guru is more forceful. Just a killer beat with the sampling of The Meteor's Funky Miracle." Every other rapper sucks. "Just to Get a Rep" tells a story of gang life and the need to shoot and kill and get a rep. More weird noises and scratching. This sounded a lot like Cypress Hill. This was a really smooth and good album. Great rhymes, samples and high production. Initially, these guys were thrown in the jazz rap category from a song they did for a Spike Lee movie. And, they do sound a little like De La Soul but they're their own. A solid recommendation.
Listened Before? N I had fun with this one. I really like this early-90s rap vibe. It is super refreshing after most of today's rap. I may listen to this one over and over. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Check the Technique
Very good, clearly a cornerstone in this style and format of rap. A duo I'd heard about quite a bit but hadn't listened to at length before.
The Goats aber noch nicht Strong 7/10
Not an act I had heard of. Not sure how I missed them. Classic hip,hop.
A throwback to hip-hop’s underground roots. Great beats with tongue-twisting lyrics.
Great flow and sick beats. If Guru was a little more charismatic, I’d give it 5 stars.
So much of my taste in hip-hop comes from NYC-based 80s & 90s crews. You can hear Gang Starr’s style’s influence in later stuff too… I forgot how much I liked these guys when this was new. It was great to be reminded!
Great hip hop album with jazzy beats and solid rapping.
Classic East coast flow. Pretty laid back. 4.5
Not bad
Shit, I was fully prepared to hate this. I’m a dick for pre-judging it.
Wry good Hip Hop Album
This was good 90's hip-hop. I don't listen to a ton of this stuff anymore. I went through a phase where I wanted to learn all about it, but my interest fizzled. It is pretty dang good for what it is. 4 out of 5 stars (not because I love it, but because it is really good at what it does)
Good stuff, I want to listen to this one again!
Good flow and beats. Enjoyed it.
great album classic hip hop what can u say
Smooth, smooth, smooth as silk. I'm not the biggest hip hop fan, but this was cool and fun.
Groovy. I'd forgotten about these guys - I love the chill and rhythmic rhyming; Guru's clear voice and style are definitely up my alley in terms of hip-hop. The music is very derivative (in a good way) of 70s soul/jazz/funk - it's a great combination with Guru's rapping. I definitely prefer and miss this style of hip-hop and need to remember to listen to this more often - a keeper. 7/10 4 stars.
Hef10
Amazing lyrically. The beats have this ability to sound old school and influenced by blues bars from the 60s whole also being ingenious and unlike anything you've heard before. Song 2 is where it all kicks off. Lovesick also slaps
Good early 90’s hip hop, good rhymes and tracks. Enjoyed the listen
It's really cool how much was going on in the world of hip-hop as the 80s ended and the 90s began. So many of the ground-breaking hip-hop albums on this list came out between 88-92. This is one that gets talked about less than some of the others, though I know it's highly regarded in the hip-hop world. The rap style is a little old fashioned, but the music is great and definitely part of the sea change that occurred during this era 4/5
Yeah, this one hit the spot. Cool beats with plenty of musicality or just plain groove; lots to say, and said in a way that makes me want to listen, rather than tune out. Didn't have time to listen to the whole album, but heard the first half and skimmed through the rest; I'll come back to it for sure. 4 stars at least.
Well this definitely lived up to the hype. After a slow start, it really kicked into gear with Who’s Gonna Take The Weight?, and just got better and better ( Just To Get A Rep, for instance), peaking with the sublime As I Read My S-A, one of the finest hip-hop tracks I’ve ever heard. The disc finished with Precisely The Right Rhymes & The Meaning Of the Name, which also knocked me out. I was totally unfamiliar with this album. What a find.
Liked this one
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Step in the Arena (2) 2 - Form of Intellect (3) 3 - Check the Technique (7)
This is right in my lane. Great record.
Good early rap/hip hop
LP
Gang Starr's one of those duos that is so damn good, but never got much mainstream recognition. It's a bit of a head-scratcher for me. DJ Premiere is one of the best DJ-slash-producers in the business, and Guru was an amazing lyricist and had such a great voice (RIP). Between the jazz-inflected music and Guru's evocative, thought-provoking lyrics, one would think they'd have gotten more attention. Maybe their stuff is just a bit advanced for casual hip-hop fans? It's certainly more subtle than the gangsta rap that was starting to take hold of the industry in the late '80s/early '90s, although one would think the lack of misogyny that was so prevalent in gangsta rap would be a mark in its favor. *shrug* Regardless, this album's fantastic from start to finish. I'm vacillating between giving it four or five stars, and I suppose that if I'm not 100% sure then it's probably four. Or 4.5. But great beats, great lyrics, and a positive message throughout ... this is quality stuff.
Was very chill. I liked the flow, and the whole production was very 90s which I like a lot.
Met Guru randomly on the street at SXSW. Someone in front of me recognized him and a few us took turns saying hello. Really nice guy and awesome music. One of my favorites from this era 4/5
Never heard this before but it was pretty damn good
The beats are wonderful – lean and pure and thus distinctly powerful. One likes the understatement, too. But simplicity gets to sameyness after a time. There's a very high floor of quality on every track, but a relatively low ceiling in that no cut ever achieves full or sustained breakthrough or liftoff. There are no unforgettable hits, in other words. The directness and purity to keep it real, plus the many winning effects and moments, ultimately win out, however.
The true beginning of two major, MAJOR forces on conscious, jazz-heavy hip hop. Still a little rough on select spots in comparison to, say, Moment of Truth, but it nevertheless hits all the spots on beats, delivery, and subject matter.
-got a good vibe from the intro -love Step in the Arena -is the definition of my style -liked every song as much as the previous -was moving to every song -Lovesick is fun -enjoy it a lot but some songs started to sound the same -first half > second half FAVORITE: Check the Technique
Good beats, non-exploitative lyrics, well-regarded but just obscure enough. Bring back ‘90s hip-hop because this was so worth the hype.
Original hiphop. Props but not my groove.
Some good songs on here, as someone who appreciates Tribe Called Quest this ticked a lot of boxes. Album will be immortalized by existing in liked section on spotify.
Essential jazz rap. Alongside A Tribe Called Quest , Gang Starr would popularize using more jazz samples in their production. This contrasted the much more hard-hitting production and rap styles of hardcore hip-hop and gangster rap, allowing for a much more mellow and laid-back sound.
Can't deny the influence they must have had. They pioneered a whole new level of the genre that still perseveres today. Reminds me of Michael Franti when he was Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. Respect to Gang Starr
Wasn't really aware of this duo and they seem super ahead of their time.
Really enjoyable and I don't tend to like sample loops. Guru is just super chill and smooth.
Definitely must the same era as Public Enemy who I'm sure came first.
The title track is amazing. What You Want This Time?, Love Sick, and Just to Get A Rep are all standouts. Guru's style just seems effortless, and DJ Premier's beats and production layer on the hooks behind the vocals. Smooth, earwormy, and enjoyable.
Zapravo dost dobro. Pjesma who's gonna take the weight mi je najdraža.
Gang Starr (Guru i DJ Premier) su jedan od najjačih dueta u hip hopu. Meni su u top 5, ako ne i u top 3. Guru sa svojom vještačkom rimom, flowom, glasom na mikrofonu i Premier sa svojim nikad lošim produciranim stvarima naprave kaos u pozitivnom smislu. Jest da su se još pronalazili ovdje kako bi dalje napravili bombe od albuma - svejedno, ovaj album je važan za slušati ukoliko želiš ući u njihov teritorij iliti arenu. Miris stare škole.
In general I like the groove in this album. It<s slow and sensual. There are some annoying noises in a couple of the songs but in general I can easily swing to it. The rapping is subtle and understated which works for me. Reminds me of Rapture by Blondie or Grandmaster Flash. As with many rap albums it sounds a little samey by the time you get through the middle and for me it can be difficult to make it through the whole album, thankfully though it does clock in at less that 50 minutes (barely), so that's a plus. 2nd time through better than the first. Getting the idea that each song is a vignette, a character study that gets its point and theme across and then moves on. No unecessary fat. I tend to like this rap style like Tribe Called QuestI'm tempted to give it 4 stars. In fact I will.
Slay
This is solid
nice and mellow with a bit of an ladies love Cool James vibe. a little bit irritating that he just banged on about how bloody good at rapping he is.
Old school rap. Love this stuff. The tunes take me back to high school, and even though back then I truly didn't get the lyrics or the music, it's something I really appreciate now. Pieces like "As I Read My S-A" have a lyrical acumen that you don't hear in a lot of rap nowadays. It reminds me a lot of De La Soul, actually. And it wanted me to look for more. Definitely not something I do with a lot of albums. No skits or throwaway songs, these were all coherent to the album, fitting very well. If you had not heard of Gangstarr, this is probably a good one to listen to because it sold me on them.
Nice to listen to in the background, good beats and good rhythm
Not my thing, but it can be heard in the back.
This was a good album! I enjoyed listening. I appreciate a good rap album like this one. Notably, 'Lovesick' 8/10
Great album. I'd previously only heard a couple of Gang Starr songs however I'd imagine a few of these will make their way into regular listening.
I enjoyed this one a lot. Negative: the flows get a little tedious and after a while it’s tough to pay attention to all the raps. Positives: interesting subjects, great rhymes and lyricism, great beats. 7/10
Dj Premier is my favorite producer of all time. All of his beats are classic & you can hear the hunger in Guru's rhymes. This is definitely old school with the squealy beats & melodies & admittedly I much prefer their late 1990s beats, but it's fun to go back and see where they started.
Þetta kom á óvart. Frábært stykki
old school rap very conscious, very inspired by tribe
Great example of old school rap. This came out at a time where the world was getting tired of it so I don't think this really got its due. I think if it came out a couple of years earlier more people would be aware of it. I sort of dismissed it at the time but looking back it really equals if not surpasses anything else like it. No real variety in sound but clever and smooth lyrics make up for that. These days though I don't really have a reason to listen to old school rap unless it's for nostalgia and this doesn't do that for me.
Smooth
Cool classic 90s rap music. I enjoyed the lyrics, flow, and beats. I will definitely check out more of their discography.
Very solid old school. Where Premier came from before PRhyme. Understated beats and conscious lyrics.
Great rhymes, solid vocals, classic hip hop production. Always a solid listen!
Relaxed, vibey, chill 90's hip hop. I could put this on to unwind to, and the interplay between the flow and the beats seems to bring out more than the sum of their parts. Who knew Ringo's son had this in him?
I well enjoyed this. I liked that some of the songs were about quite banal things like your girlfriend getting jealous and changing weekend plans. I thought it was really easy listening with fun samples. I think Avalanches must have re sampled some of these. Would listen again
4.5
I've heard great things about Hard to Earn and Moment of Truth, so I'm glad my expectations were met with this record. In a time where gangsta rap was on the rise, we have rappers like Q-Tip and Guru with smooth verses and intricate samples. It's simple, no experimental sounds, the songs don't evolve much, and they're fairly short, with tracks in the 2nd half hardly ever passing 3 minutes. This just an MC and his DJ, and it's among one of the best I've seen. Excellent scratching, beats, mixing, and pacing. Samples are groovy: jazz, funk, and soul. It suffers as expected. It's a bit too long for 50 minutes. And I found myself spacing out for many of the tracks. By the 2nd half, there were only a few highlights that would attract my attention. Also the cut to "As I Read My S-A" was harsh and loud. Favorites: Step Into the Arena, Who's Gonna Take the Weight, Check the Technique, Precisely the Right Rhyme
Awesome 90s Hip-Hop album. Great lyrics.
Very enjoyable chill album. Very easy to listen to the lyrics.
rap innit
The execution here is on point. Everything solid about MC/rapper combos is here. The flow is confidently smooth and laced with intelligence. The 90's is heavily here without needing all the "it was the times" qualifiers. Those pieces of The Chronic, The Predator, and The Low End that aged horribly are missing here without losing the cultural relevance to the moment of its creation. That elevates the work. Maybe it wasn't on the charts like those other albums but the slow burn here is a legacy play that'll last longer.
Guru's a great rapper but Premier's production in this is on another level. Great record.
This is yummy
Guru could read a dictionary and I would listen to it
I really dig it
Great stuff. And the first time I've heard The Band sampled.
I really loved the run of songs from "Who's Gonna Take the Weight" to "Check the Technique." I ended up loving this album. A nice refresher from the past few we've listened to as I was excited when each new song started. The lyrics were snappy, smart, and could be anything from funny to poignant.
classic 80s/90s rap. solid beats and tight rhymes. nothing flashy, just simple and well-executed.
I always think of myself as someone who doesn’t like rap and hip-hop but whenever I hear this earlier stuff from the 90s I really like it.
This is the second Gang Starr album that I've heard, and it’s much better than the one that I listened to. Production on this album isn't that crazy, but I can excuse that. I feel like when Dr. Dre released The Chronic just one year later is when production really got amazing, with all the amazing samples that he used. The chemistry between Gang Starr and DJ Premier is just fucking amazing. I mostly know DJ Premier for the stuff that he's done with Ye, Eminem and Royce Da 5'9, but he's been given us these amazing scratches for so long that it's obvious why people would have him on their album. The only times that I've really listened to Gang Starr is when his 8 Mile track comes on, but I feel like that has to change after this. The cover art is kind of basic, but I can forgive it. It was the 90's, and It’s cool to me such a young Gang Starr and DJ Premier. Also, the font that they use is pretty cool. Favourite track would be "Execution Of A Chump", because it sounds like this is something that actually happened to Gang Starr due to the rone that he is using. Least favourite track would be nothing, since I have no idea if I tracks are worse than other Gang Starr tracks, since I haven't heard many 9/10
Very nice. I liked it!
dikke priem, wel veel van hetzelfde maar daarom juist chill om dit te luisteren tijdens het leren
I enjoyed this album quite a bit. The samples and beats were classic east coast hip hop with the jazzy feel and the vocal delivery was very intentional and methodical. Though this album was long, I was able to get through it without any fatigue
4.25
Guru has an iconic voice
Step in The Arena, Daily Operation, Hard To Earn - they always sounded equally good to me - just very consistent, high-quality rap albums- and to have one of these albums included in the 1001 list is very nice.
Fine - didn’t finish yet
Never heard this and really, really liked it.
Prefs: Step in the Arena, Who's Gonna Take The Weight?, Check The Technique, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Street Ministry, Just To Get A Rep, As I Read My S-A Moins pref: Precisely The Right Rhymes
back to back, let's go!