Reviews (page 4 of 8)
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.
Super cool and smooth album. It's really easy to flow along with the whole thing. Every song is pretty much the same which is good and bad. It's nothing to write home about, but it was a fun listen.
Didn't immediately grab me, but need to listen more closely.
Classic, had a good flow throughout, reminiscent of some De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest or Common, definitely some East Coast feels.
Sin letras no hay alegría.
The beats were a good foundation but then I feel the rhymes didn’t live up to it, there were times when I felt the beats overpowered the lyricist and I would t say I was blown away by the flow of his raps.
Way more jazzy than I was expecting. Great flowz
Ikke ligeså stor fan af det. Ikke så godt som deres album fra 1998.
While being a decent album, I can't deny that it felt a bit underwhelmed. It feels like there's a bit of missmatch between energy and message. The overall sound of this record is smooth and even a bit relaxing or charming, which doesn't add up with some of the menacing lyrics of the record. In the end, this albums have its fire tracks like 'Check The Technique' and it manages to be quite consistent despite of not doing anything that is mind-blowing or having that conflict between lyrics and attitude.
Middle-of-the-road early 90s hip-hop. It's OK 3.1
Gang Starr's Step in the Arena is ok. I know they're one of those foundational artists for hip hop heads, and I can understand why, particularly given the time of its release. There probably wasn't a whole lot going on in hip hop in 1991 that was easy to take seriously (although there definitely was some). Step in the Arena seems like a serious entry into the lexicon of early 90's hip hop. The lyrics are clever at points without being too goofy (although there are a few eye rolls in here). The beats are fine and straightforward without being anything revolutionary. I guess my semi-indifference to it has to do with its never deviating from the same tempo, theme, or lyrical cadence throughout. It's tough to differentiate between tracks; it could be one 40-minute long track. I'm happy for its existence because of its influence, but I'm happier about the great records that this record has influenced. 2.8/5
Ça fait un méchant bout qu’on m’a généré un album hip-hop, je sais pu comment developper une critique personnelle et profonde! J’ai besoin d’aide, heureusement la technologie est là pour me supporter; je vous présente Robot-Fantano, qui va toute nous dire les vrais affaires! Gang Starr – Step in the Arena | ALBUM REVIEW to Yoooooo, Anthony Fantano here—the internet’s busiest music nerd—and it’s time for a classic review. Today, we’re diving into a seminal release from the golden era of East Coast hip-hop: Step in the Arena by Gang Starr. Originally dropped in 1991 via Chrysalis Records, this was the duo’s second full-length LP, and it basically cemented Guru and DJ Premier as one of the sharpest, most cohesive MC-producer combos of their time. Let’s talk sound. DJ Premier’s production on this thing is just… mwah—chef’s kiss. We’re talking boom-bap at its most surgical. Primo was already showing hints of that raw, dusty sample-based style he’d later master in the mid-to-late ‘90s, but here it still feels hungry, unpolished in the best way, and rooted in the jazz-soaked ethos that made Gang Starr such a standout. The drums knock, the loops are hypnotic, and the scratches? Straight fire. Preemo’s work on tracks like “Take a Rest,” “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight,” and the title track is just... timeless. Now, lyrically—Guru. Man. He’s not flashy. He’s not gonna wow you with multisyllabic acrobatics. But what he does bring to the table is poise, clarity, and this authoritative, no-BS demeanor that slices through every track like a hot knife through butter. His monotone delivery is an acquired taste for some, but for real heads, it’s a key part of the Gang Starr aesthetic. On tracks like “Just to Get a Rep” and “Execution of a Chump,” he balances storytelling, social commentary, and braggadocio in a way that feels sharp, purposeful, and never bloated. Thematically, the album straddles the line between streetwise realism and philosophical coolness. There’s this ongoing tension between the roughness of NYC life and Guru’s almost meditative presence. It’s not an overtly political record, but the subtext is there. The emphasis on self-respect, responsibility, and resistance to the system—especially on “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight?”—hits harder with time. Also—let’s not gloss over the sequencing. Step in the Arena flows. Like butter. 18 tracks, and yet it avoids the bloat that plagued so many albums in the CD era. The skits are minimal, the interludes are functional, and the energy is consistent throughout. This thing moves. Are there flaws? Maybe a few tracks that don’t quite hit as hard as the standouts—“As I Read My S-A” and “Street Ministry” come to mind—but we’re talking small dips in an otherwise incredibly consistent ride. In hindsight, this album didn’t just foreshadow the greatness Gang Starr would later achieve on Daily Operation and Moment of Truth—it paved the way for an entire decade of minimalist, jazz-infused boom-bap. You can hear its DNA in everyone from Pete Rock to Nas to Joey Bada$$ decades later. So yeah—Step in the Arena. Classic material. Essential listening. If you care about hip-hop, you owe it to yourself to study this record. I’m feeling a light to decent 9 on this one. TRANSITION! Have you given this album a listen? Did you love it? Did you hate it? What would you rate it? You’re the best, you’re the best, what should I review next? Hit the like button if you liked the video, and don’t forget to smash that bell so you don’t miss a thing... Gang Starr—Step in the Arena. Forever. Bon, c’est ben beau tout ça, mais no way que j’met un 4/5, ça sonne comme d’la bioune, j’aurais dû suivre mon instinct, maudit AI Fantano avec ses phrase pré-faites
Old school cool. Ikke så verst, bare litt ensformig i lengden.
Such a great album to see on this list… BUT they could have included Gang Starr’s best album, Moment Of Truth. Somehow the author is too musically ignorant to include that one though, and I shouldn’t be surprised by that lol. 4.5 / 5
Highly influential, Guru and Premier are absolute legends, and this is probably their best LP.
ok album, a lot of the same beats and flow
Rating: 2.7 Not a lot of energy, average beat selection, the lyricism is obviously head and shoulders above what you would get on your average hip hop album today. Not bad, just nothing I’d recommend to try and blow someone’s mind.
Pretty good rap
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.
Pretty good but I thought I would like it more, some.good production but it got boring halfway through
Det er boom bap hiphop hiphop fra 90'erne. Det har sådan lidt oldschool tungt jazzet følelse over sig. Den definerer golden hiphop og lægger op til genren conscious rap. åbenbart kendt for dj premiers kontribution til produktionen. Han arbejdede senere med Nas, Biggie, Jay-z osv.
It's hard to resist comparing this to the most recent album of the same genre. Definitely enjoyed it more than the previous hip-hop album; the beats are fun (the simple drums-horn-bass combo on some of the songs is so good), and the vocal timbre doesn't grate me (even if i think the delivery is sometimes monotone). Unfortunately I haven't listened to much hip-hop, let alone older albums, so maybe that is why none of the tracks really stuck with me. Don't get me wrong, I can recognize the impressive amount of rhymes stuffed into each line, and the fun rhythms, but I'm distributing stars based on how much I would re-listen to the album. Tentative 7/10. Might bump it up to 4 retroactively if I end up hating a lot of the hip-hop albums from this decade, because I for sure didn't hate this. Favs: Who's Gonna Take The Weight?; Check The Technique
Back in the late 90s and early 2000s is when I first discovered Gang Starr, and at the time, I really thought Guru was a solid MC, but what really pulled me in was DJ Premier. That said, this album doesn’t quite click for me the way it used to. It’s not that it’s bad, it just feels like it’s passed its expiration date for me personally. The magic I used to hear in it just isn’t there anymore.
Another one where I'm familiar with the name, but have never listened to them before. This was Guru's group before he started doing the solo stuff. Always liked his Jazzmatazz albums. This was a good listen. Again, probably not one I'd rush to hear gain, but I'd be ok if it popped up somewhere I was at. The music is good (reminded me a bit of early De La Soul), the lyrics are alright, though a bit too much "I'm the greatest lyricist" stuff - typical of the era.
Coming from a white kid growing up musically in the late 80s. I loved rap when it was fun and then tuned it out when it became violent. (See my review on NWA) Not familiar with Gang Starr, but this album was interesting, obviously coming out in that transitional period of rap/hip-hop history. I definitely feel this album is more significant than NWA, its not just an onslaught of angry, it really grooves, with a lot of clever and smart raps. "Paragraphs, portraying my viewpoint, so stay attentive, cause this is a new joint, from the G-A-N-G with the info, lyrical elements emerge from the intro, forming a poetic mass over pathetic trash, other writers are outclassed, surpassed by the words and the wit, rhymes fit and hit cause that's how we designed it, page for page, we are the new age, dope in the videos and dope when we're on stage, commanding respect with my ink pen while suckers are sinking as I'm keeping them thinking ..."
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.
rap is not really my thing, but this was better than a lot of the others on this list. lyrics were not in the gutter.
DJ Premier is one of the best hip-hop producers of all time and this album is evidence. I had never listened to Gang Starr before now, but I loved this so much that I'm going to work my way through their discography. RIP Guru.
Rating: 6.5/10 It's a good album but did not age that well. Production was probably amazing for its time (still is great) but Guru's delivery is one-dimensional and lyrically it's boastful and fun but nothing interesting.
Hip-hop that is preferable to NWA. Fun beats, like in Check the Technique. But still too many songs for me.
Classic but feels a bit basic / dated compared to other golden era rap
Sounds very 90s, kind of cheesy but mostly fun. Seems like just mostly focused on lots of rhymes in the lyrics and talks about rap a lot (basically lyrics are irrelevant), voice is pretty good. Music is jazzy with lots of dj record scratching and samples and such. Not enough variety although it generally sounds good and catchy
First time listening to this group. I wish the album listed what songs the samples were taken from on wiki. Some seriously groovy music. The DJ was the highlight for me. Way above average hip hop album.
Довгий час Прімо був моїм улюбленим хіп-хоп продюсером, та й досі залишається в топі. Парадоксально, але на альбомах Gang Starr не так багато його бітів, які можна ставити в ряд з тими, що він віддав іншим артистам. Гуру з його розслабленим флоу мабуть ніколи не був серед моїх улюблених МС, але в цілому свій поважний статус заслужив не просто так. Мені альбом здається просто непоганим, на початку 90х були більш вдалі дуети мц + продюсер (див. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth). В межах дискографії Генг Стару цей альбом великий скачок в порівнянні з посереднім дебютом, але всі кращі ще попереду.
dj premier so goated
Meh. Rap is not my favourite genre, so yeah gave it a listen and yeah it is an ok album to have it in the background and the DJ did create a good atmosphere to rap to, but I just struggle to like the rhymes. Although I do appreciate the rap on the early 90s. It is more bearable and listenable than the current ones...
Ugh. Ok, I like DJ Premier and I think his work and his impact on hip hop is important. I just wanted to say that, but despite some great beats and storytelling on some of the songs, I found this to be a massive drag near the end. It's all a basic formula: sample based beat, Guru raps and ends each verse with the song title, Premier scratches during the chorus. It's not anything new and I'm not saying it's a bad formula, but I feel like this album is more full of "hobby cuts" than a true statement. I define a "hobby cut" as just making a beat one day, writing lyrics to it, recording vocals, adding scratches and calling it a day. I imagine Guru and Premier did this plenty of times, picked a bunch of them and put it together to make this record. The producer-rapper group method was very popular during this time and while it produced some great records (Eric B and Rakim), it feels very basic compared to some greater known records from this time. As a single tune, it makes a good impression. As an entire project, the schtick begins to run dry. (5/10, 2/5 on this scale)
There were too many songs on this album but was pretty good. It sounded a lot more like slam poetry with music which I tend to like better than rap. I also liked the The fact that there wasn't as much sexism in the stories. The songs are more about personal tax against stupid people and how amazing he is.
This was alright. Average east coast rap from the 90's. Does not stand out as much as other albums from the decade, but not bad by any means.
Lost me pretty quick, just doesn't seem written for me.
Great DJ, so-so lyrics
IGN ass take. I just didn't really connect with the beats or the vocals. This one wasn't for me. 2 Stars.
Meh
Gang Starr... Ahahahahaha, they think they are gangsters... Ahahahaha. Coochie coo. There is only one: Tupac
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
I enjoyed this but taking off a star because it did go on with little variety
I can see why this LP was voted the best of all time. This sophomore effort has got some great grooves on it. The cuts synch and flow into one another.
Not my genre...I listened to one track. That was enough.
Oh my days this was a joy.
En riktig banger 🤩🤩🤩 vibes var helt crazy. 4,5?
This is a great rap album! Did not know about them but do now!
Would not want to be that chump
I don’t know very much about hip hop. So maybe this is great but it wasn’t for me.
Never heard of these guys but this shit is great. It's dated but still fresh. A pleasant surprise.
It's good
Not a bad rap album; actually something I didn't mind listening to. 3/5
Big fan of Gang Starr.
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
It wasn't awful. I appreciate not skits. It wasn't especially vulgar. It was a bit too long. I just can't see myself ever choosing to play this again.
I usually enjoy early 90s rap, but this one didn’t do much for me. The beats and rhymes are solid enough, but they just didn’t click in a way that made me want to come back to it. It felt more like a history lesson in the genre than an album I’d throw on repeat. That said, “Beyond Comprehension” stood out. The sample from Up on Cripple Creek was a nice touch and gave the track some extra flavor. Moments like that show the creativity Gang Starr was capable of, even if the rest of the album didn’t land as strongly for me. Overall, it’s not a bad record by any means, but it didn’t grab me the way I hoped
This is my 4th 90's to early 2000's hip-hop album of the week and they have all delivered. While not as varied as The Roots or A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr still delivers a potent yet eminently listenable record. 3.5/5
Not really my fav genre but enjoyed bits of it.
Smooth rhythm, rap but also r&b beats. 90’s feel
Loved the beats. Enjoyed many of the samples, but the ones I didn't like were irritating. I largely liked the lyrics, except when it became a bit crime oriented. I feel that there are too many songs that are very similar timbres - but what I liked I liked very much and would listen to more of Gang Starr.
Disappointing 400th album. The songs just don't go anywhere - there's no progression, no structure. It just repeats a short sequence of notes with some inane mumbling layered over it until the 'song' is over.
For the record I’m a HUGE Gang Starr fan. The combo of Guru and DJ Premier is magic. But this isn’t the album of theirs what I would have chosen for this project. That would be 1994’s Hard to Earn.
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
I've never heard of Gang Starr or this album, but I generally enjoy hip-hop from the early nineties, so I'm excited to see what this album is all about. The reviews from people who like hip-hop paint a very positive picture of this album, and I see that one member of Gang Starr, DJ Premier, was born in Houston, so I'm excited to see some representation from my hometown. I'm ready to step in the arena with these guys! I thought Step In The Arena was fine overall. The rapping was fine, but I the production and beats were excellent. Lyrically, I’m not a big fan of the whole boasting schtick that was present on this album. I know that’s a staple of early hip-hop, but I felt like it was really overplayed here. I really enjoy hip-hop lyrics that tell good stories or churn out social and political critiques, but that wasn’t really present here. I thought Guru’s technique of emphasizing his rhymes was really unique, but I thought his voice was a bit bland. However, I did like the overall sound of this album. There was a gritty and muted, or buffed down quality to the sound that I really liked. It reminded me a lot of Enter The Wu Tang. The bass and piano sounded great together on “Execution of a Chump.” “Who’s Gonna Take The Weight” was really good too. I loved the high-pitched whine that they used, and the record scratching was excellent too. I loved how that high-pitched whine changed up towards the end of the song. I thought the best stretch of the album was from “Check the Technique” to “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow.” The sample usage during that stretch really stood out to me. “Check the Technique” was my favorite song on the album. I really loved the brighter sound, and I wished that Gang Starr would have used more sounds like that on the album, because I thought they made great usage of that brighter tone. This album wasn’t completely to my liking, but I can understand why it’s on this list, and I can see why plenty of people really love it.
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!!
Never heard of them … liked the beats and the vocals were cool but just too samey all the way through.
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
I like old school (or should I call it Orthodox?) hip hop. The beats on this were cool but ultimately it didn't do too much for me.
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
This was a throwback for me. I liked a lot of late 80s early 90s rap, and though I was never into these guys, it sounded like a lot of stuff I enjoyed back then. They have a simple, straightforward style but the lyrics were strong and the package was good enough to where this was worth a listen. Reminded me a bit of A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B & Rakim, or De La Soul at different times. I really liked Step Into the Arena and Take a Rest. There’s a few other good songs on this album too. Not a great record overall, but definitely solid.
def a solid rap album, 3.5
OK. 2/5
Not bad but nothing amazing
Hyvää perus 90 hiphoppia. Who's Gonna Take The Weight ehkä vähän tuttu. Parhaat: Check The Technique
Decent rap album, nice beats, rap is a bit monotonous but you get used to it. 3.6 stars
Was decent background music, didn’t give this a proper listen. Should definitely go back and give it a proper listen.
Hip hop to its core, I’ve always heard the Gang Starr lore but I’ve never sat down and listened to a full album by them. Two hip hop legends in a duo and you can just hear it. The beats are incredible, the rhymes aren’t too heavy but with music that sounds this good they don’t have to be. I’ll always be a fan of this flow too, just don’t have too many bad things to say about it.
Say Your Prayers! Yes, that is exactly what one needs to do before listening to this. What You Want This Time? Well, music would be fine. Take A Rest. Yes, listened to the album and I really need a rest after this terrible thing. No, no, no ... simply bad!
What a smooth album! Aged really well.
No gimmicks. No fancy beats. Its all about the lyrics.
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.
Maybe this one is the first to sound like this, but for me sounds like all the other rap albums from the 90s
Great to hear a trip hop band that was not on my radar. I love DeLa and Tribe. This is a great addition! 6.9
No notes
love this album
Cool vibes and well produced but at times repetitive
Rap is not my thing but he had a few very nice lines and in general it was objectively well made
Should probably be Step Into the Arena. Love a group who know the value of a nice, warm jacket.
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 should have been in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater ! What an amazing discovery. I loved De La Soul, but this is totally wonderful. And finally some hip-hop as well! The rhymes, the flow, the lack of expletives, just beautiful! It's a full 5 for me!
Tough rhymes, boom bap.
I liked the lyrics a lot. The rhymes are perhaps not the most rhythmic but I enjoy the vibe of these two. Nice slice into hip hop history at this time.
Hadn't listened to this previously quite enjoyable for someone who isn't a massive fan of early 90s hop hop.
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.
01) Name Tag (Premier & The Guru) - / 02) Step in the Arena - 6,0 03) Form of Intellect - 5,5 04) Execution of a Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2) - 5,5 05) Who's Gonna Take the Weight? - 7,0 06) Beyond Comprehension - 5,5 07) Check the Technique - 6,0 08) Lovesick - 6,0 09) Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - 5,5 10) Game Plan - 4,0 11) Take a Rest - 5,5 12) What You Want This Time? - 6,0 13) Street Ministry - 5,5 14) Just to Get a Rep - 5,5 15) Say Your Prayers - 5,5 16) As I Read My S-A - 6,5 17) Precisely the Right Rhymes - 5,5 18) The Meaning of the Name - 6,0 TOTAL: 5,71 (57/100) Current ranking: 516/621
"In 2007, it was named the greatest hip hop album of all time by IGN" Christ almighty....
Some tracks were pretty dated and uninteresting, and some were super lyrically complex and continued to be relevant. Not a bad listen overall. 3/5
Вайб, вещь времени, хорошие тексты из того, что я расслышал и воспринимал. Лучшая песня - Execution of a Chump.
I still struggle with rap while going through this list. It’s just not my genre. I like the backing music on a lot of this. Lyrics are fine but now feel quaint. 3/5
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
Chill hip-hop from the 90s
Did not listen to the whole thing but a good start.
What percentage of the 1001 albums are hip-hop/rap? Whatever that number is, the genre is WAY over represented. This wasn't unlistenable but there was nothing here to distinguish it from other rap albums. I'm feeling generous today. 2/5
When comparing this to the hip hop albums I listened to a few days ago, this one doesn't stand out as much. No shade. For being released at the start of the 90s though, I can see how it represented a shift in hip hop styles from the 80s. 3.5
Another good album but I didn’t hear any certain hits. Maybe deserves another listen.
I’ve heard worse.
It was pretty fun, and I can see how they'd be quite influential, but nothing really excited me too much in this album.
Just some good oldschool hip-hop to listen as background music - nothing to remember, but sounds fine
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 song, Step In the Arena, I thought "Here we go again, more violent Rap!" but it actually was a really clever metaphor. Pretty cool. This has a range of themes, ideas, attitudes. Thought it would be too long but kept my interest the whole time. Not bad at all.
first listen awesome jazz rap beats
I enjoyed it. Might take a second listen soon.
Sounds the same as all hip hop, very generic.
Old school album
Strong
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!
Hip hop vom Feinsten
Classic
The problem I’ve found with this 1001 is that gave me Illmatic FIRST, so every single hip hop album from the 90’s is instantly compared to that, and since that’s the goat, hard to beat. This was pretty good nevertheless, I did like the sampling more and more throughout the album, but nothing really rememberable.
Fairly decent rap album, did right with what it had, didn’t do anything special, just a typical 90’s rap album.
2/5 I think
Good.
not in my 1000000001
It was pretty basic hip hop that I've never heard before nor care to listen to ever again. The production was very generic and didn't have the clean classic hip hop sound that the great albums do. The lyrics are super funny though.
Really cool samples
Inoffensive, reasonably well put together rap. It has the usual tropes about nobody else raps as well as we do, we’re going to get you, but more that we might diss you rather than engage in hijinks with firearms. Bland enough that at times I sort of forgot I was listening to it, which is saying something for a rap album. But when focusing it was reasonable enough.
Not a fan if I am honest. I could not really define a gear change in any way from one song to the next. The music seemingly only having the purpose of a metronome. I am a music first and lyric second type of guy so this really fails to inspire me. The rapping is pretty decent but I am not reviewing poetry I need it to become a package and I dont get that here.
I don't have any opinion on this beyond "Good rap album". All sounded fine but didn't elicit any emotional response and faded into the background of my gym workout.
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
Listened in the truck via YouTube Music. This has some fun samples and beats but all sounds very homogeneous. None really stand out from the others. Has Avery specific vibe and sound that may have been too much for an 18 track album.
Lyrical miracle, early Premier beats show some flashes
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.
Hip Hop, 34eme album => 1/5
It’s alright kinda forgettable
Decent; far better than the poo of band, but not my sort of music
I thought I liked gang starr but JESUS CHRIST it is impossible to finish an enitre album. Guru is such a shit rapper and he hyped himself up way too much even though he doesn’t even have any bars AT ALL. I’ll bump this up because of dj premiere and his excellent producing on this album
I like this a decent amount; nicely jazzy production. I was slightly less excited by the rapping, but overall a pleasurable listen. Solid three.
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.
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.
I didn't mind it.
I enjoyed the smooth, old school beats. It reminds me of a Tribe Called Quest.
not too bad
Another boring early 90s hip hop album, it drones on at the same tempo, emotionless monotone corny rhymes
Wow, remarkably good. I know more than a few of these tracks, but could have not given you the name Gang Starr before yesterday, and now this is among my favorite rap albums.
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
I've been meaning to listen to more of Gang Starr. I'm glad this record came up. I'm aware of their influence on jazz-rap in general, a style that drew me in to hip-hop in the first place, so for me personally, it's important that they exist. They paved the way for Common's "Resurrection", A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, and countless others. This album came out in 1991, and frankly, it sounds dated, but not because it came out on 1991, because it sounds like it came out way earlier. The rhymes and beats sound rudimentary. If you need a comparison, just listen to two albums that came out in 1988, EPMD's "Strictly Business" or Eric B and Rakim's "Follow the Leader". The beats and the rhymes both sound light years ahead of this record. How were Guru and DJ Premier able to put this record out 3 years later and hold their head high? I know they must have heard "Lyrics of Fury", right? I'm won't even bring up Public Enemy and the Bomb Squad, that's just not fair. They were on their own planet. Nobody could touch them. But this is jazz rap, it's a chill vibe, so the lyric's aren't "Furious", there's no business to handle, so the rhymes much match the beats, right? I guess so, but sometimes there's so much space in these bars, and sometimes this shit just comes off kind of corny. (This was my first listen, but this may be the first mention of spaghetti by a rapper on record) There are also a handful of songs that sort of end before they begin. "Say Your Prayers" started, and I was all in. Guru warns us about the dangers of fast living and brings up the importance of Knowledge Of Self 7 years before Black Star hit us with "K.O.S. (Determination)"! Fuck yeah, he's finally gonna drop some science on this one. One verse, one minute and 24 seconds, the song is over. I'm looking forward to listening to later Gang Starr records. Guru and DJ Premier are very talented, and it's obvious that they just hadn't hit their stride yet.
Kinda unremarkable. Maybe a bigger deal when it came out
I'm not much of a fan of rap, but there was something about this album I liked. Maybe, for rap, this album represents the basics.
3.5
3.5
3.5
I'm sorry this album does zero for me. I literally have no feeling for it either way. For the hell if it I'll give it a tenth of a point on the up side. (6.1) ★★★
Good hiphop with jazzy beats. 4 stars
While I think this is an important and influential hip-hop album -- it really put DJ Premier on the map as one of the greatest hip-hop producers of the 90s -- I think they would go on to bigger, better things. It's a good album, but it's not on the level of Hard to Earn or Moment of Truth. 3.5 stars.
3.5
Minorly blammin but mainly beigey, wallpapery early 90s hip hop. Good for a background gangsta.
Dit is niet verschrikkelijk of zo, en ook niet ergerlijk. Nee, het is gewoon saai. Vijftig minuten gebabbel op een bedje van slecht aan elkaar geplakte herhalende samples en wat heen en weer geschuffeld vinyl. Ik lees op Wiki dat de Japanse uitgave een bonustrack heeft. Wat dan weer een heleboel vragen oproept: waarom luisteren per sé Japanners deze meuk?
Weer een definitie van een vergeetbare 3. Het is allemaal prima hoor. Er wordt rustig gerapt in de stijl die we al een paar keer voorbij hoorden komen. En daar zit het eerste probleem. A Tribe Called Quest, De la Soul, Jungle Brothers en Afrika Bambataa bieden allen een vergelijkbare sfeer, maar voegen veel meer toe. De één biedt meer soul, de ander meer elektro. Maar Gang Star houdt het veel kaler. Het weet zich niet te onderscheiden.
Vrij relaxed vibende hiphop, duidelijk uit de early 90s. Funky basslijntjes en gitaarriffjes, wat vrolijk gescratch en gesample. Ondanks dat ze Gang Starr heten, lijkt het op het eerste gezicht niet echt gangstarap te zijn met al te veel kinderachtige teksten. Het stoort me in ieder geval niet, dat is al heel wat. Ik kan hier op zich wel naar luisteren, relaxed, laidback. Meer heb ik over dit soort muziek niet meer te melden, 3 sterretjes kunnen er nog net vanaf.
Nice and chilled back hip hop. Really easy to listen to. High 3.
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.
I like his voice/flow, really good. My first exposure to Gang Star was paying Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, but that songs not on this album. This was good, but a few of the beats felt really repetitive, like 3 notes over and over. But I'm nitpicking, these guys are top teir. Shame I just found out Guru passed away a long time ago. Never knew
Regular gangsta rap
Very good. Will need another listen but old school funky soul rap
Wasn't sure what to expect. A bit limited / formulaic. Easy listening, classic hip hop. 5/10 for me.
The production is amazing. The lyrics are conscious and refined. Gang Starr are a very smart package. I do start to flag though after 30 minutes of such a similar rap flow. Similar to how I felt on the backend of Moment of Truth - I either want this to be a shorter record or have the introduction of a new flow somewhere along the way. The Meaning of the Name stands out positively because it does just that with Guru on more of an offensive. There’s ideas introduced though that I’m sure artists I love have benefited greatly from. A solid listen.
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.
Good vibes, good tracks, enjoyable verses, but a bit lacking in hooks. I enjoyed this more than a lot of other early hip hop.
It can’t top Jazzamatazz but this is great.
Legit old school hip hop with attitude, not bad
This record was a good surprise, wasn't familiar with them, but enjoyed the songs in here, very good flow and listen listenable any day.
Not bad, and honestly what I prefer from the hip hop I do like, I just don’t like much hip hop.
I HATED this album. Couldn't stand it sorry to say Repetitive as hell, and the horrible sound effects gave me sensory overload. All the songs sounded the same, like a 50min long song Oof, no thank you 1 ⭐️
Sehr cool
Kind of meh. 2.5 stars.
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.
No thank you
High 3. Lacks a standout track but good funky beats sampled and clear rapping meant I was inclined to listen to the lyrics
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.
More like, step into the funk
Cool
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
Mellow hip-hop with simple, groovy sample-based beats. Guru has a super smooth flow and a great voice. He approaches his raps clinically - he’s poised, methodical, controlled, and level, rather than highly technical, energetic, and emotional. But it feels deliberate rather than limited; he raps thoughtfully and with purpose. Consistently decent album throughout, though not many stand-out highs or must-skip lows. There are a lot of songs and it starts to blend together a bit, but pick any single one and you’ll be nodding your head along.
too cool for me
This album was so cool.
I am convinced these album selections are generated by AI. Far too many hip hop pop up. 👎👎👎
3/5
Punny band name was the best part of the album.
Totally acceptable 90s rap album. Some songs were pretty good (lovesick in particular) but a lot of the lyrics were kinda juvenile/sloppy. “[School subjects] have a purpose. Genocide makes me nervous” like what
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.
It's a good groove, great flow, great vibes
Old Skool Arena
ziek, nice bij sporten
3.0 Does all Gang Starr sound the same, or are there some reused hooks over the years?
I found this album pretty dull, although a couple of the tracks, like Lovesick, served to brighten things up a bit.
Not bad hip hop this. It was a good deal of fun in a way, although quite repetitive, to the point that it felt longer than it was. It starts really strongly - the first two proper tracks are bops - but that's a mixed blessing, because it kind of drifts after that.
boh va beh
Streit
Hip-Hop and rap just aren’t really my type of my music. Having said that, I didn’t hate this album, I found the beats to be good even if I didn’t care much for most of the rapping. Better than expected!
## 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.
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
Not my thing
It's not too bad. Old-skool kind of beats and rapping style. It feels long and samey though, so it wears thin. 2.5 rounded up.
A blast from the past with two legendary MCs
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.
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.
Reminds me of Special Ed from the early 90s. Contemporaries at the time. This has a nice vibe, but little variation from song to song.
Gang Starr is forever a staple in hip hop. Guru's lyrics are mediocre for the most part, but his voice carries well over Premier's beats. This record is an important piece in the culture and history of the genre, but Premier is who carries it. Not my favorite Gang Starr record, but still a quality one.
I’m sure it’s very important and influential… but most of it sounded like the same song over and over to me. A couple fun ones but mostly just not my thing.
Better than a lot of others I’ve heard from this genre but still not for me.
The group's name is Gang Starr and they are an early '90s rap group and they aren't gangsta' rap?! Nope, just one of those sort of bland "intellectual" rappers that like to drop knowledge on us ignorant folk. I liked some of the funky beats, but the rest is as average as you can possibly get, definitely not something you have to hear before you die. But it is clean (though Apple Music shows 5 tracks as "E", but I didn't hear anything Explicit) so you can put it on with your kids in the car.
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".
Premier and Guru are kings
Hip Hop. 9/10 Who's Gonna Take the Weight Step In the Arena Just to Get a Rep
Not bad! I'm sure I don't appreciate everything this album offers, but I recognize its solid production and ear-catching lyrics. A lot of hip hop doesn't sound as smooth as Step in the Arena. Other reviews by people with much more knowledge than me acknowledge Gang Starr's importance, so I'll defer to them to provide more details. But I enjoyed it!
I'm not the biggest hip-hop fan and it often requires a lot for me to really be taken in by an album in this space. This album didn't really take me in. However, there were some significant things I picked up on in this album. First, these guys were no doubt part of the blueprint for 90s hip-hop. At the literal turn of the decade, these guys are dropping a sound that would come to dominate the market. Second, they are veeeery smooth with their raps, rhymes, and lyrics; there were several times where I felt like the lyrical composition was impressive. All in all, this probably comes out to a high 2 for me, but I'll round up.
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.
This is laid back and good. Lyrics on Beyond Comprehension are solid
Nothing amazing, just decent
not for me
Not for me.
Blind album and artist. Some of the samples used here were very cool and it was very creative. Too bad it couldn't carry the album to at least 4 stars for me.
1 - Hip Hop de porquería
Listenable and I get it.
Excellent production and sampling. This could grow on me over time. 3.5/5
This is a little too old school sounding. When you have something like NWA 3 years prior to this it feels a little like a step back. It's ok but just kinda blends to me, the flow is choppy
I enjoyed this. It was a good hip hop record. Great beats and overall vibe.
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.
Pretty decent hip-hop album, but didn't stand out particularly much to me. Not really in the mood for rap today so not going to do much deeper analysis than this.
1991 seems surprisingly early for this album so it seems to be very influential east coast rap. It is however quite basic compared to modern rap. The flows were good but not that interesting, the samples were ok but nothing special. The sole exception is "Check the Technique" with it's very good sample of "California soul". All in all, I was not that impressed but since it is so early I'm giving it a weak 3.
Ik dacht altijd dat dit het debuutalbum was van Hip Hop duo Gang Starr, maar schijnbaar staat 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' niet op Spotify. Een reminder dat hoewel je je best doet om muziek te consumeren op andere manieren dan de betaalde platforms, je toch wel vaak naar de pijpen van een Spotify danst. In veel opzichten voelt 'Step In The Arena' wel als een debuutalbum. Het introduceert de gezamenlijke superkrachten van het duo, met aan de ene kant de diepzinnige en therapeutische rhymes van Guru, en aan de andere kant de organische, scratchy beats van Preemo. Die combinatie bleek uiteindelijk nog vruchtbaar voor tal van opvolgende projecten, tot Guru's vroege dood in 2010. Je hoort hoe Guru zich onderscheid van gros van rappers die rond de decenniawisseling, en het verstrijken van de 'Golden Age of Hip Hop'. Hij is vlijmscherp, en je hebt echt het gevoel dat je met hem in de arena stapt. Maar hij blijft ook bijzonder down to earth en humanistisch, een gentleman met een filosofie die verder gaat dan guns, sex en money. En DJ Premier zet zichzelf op de kaart met zijn idiosyncratische productie, die als een rode draad door de 90s Hip Hop wereld zou gaan lopen. Ik kan me voorstellen dat dit het werk is waardoor er vanuit alle hoeken aan hem getrokken ging worden. Maar het voelt ook als een debuut omdat de gebundelde krachten nog niet altijd zijn hoge potentie waarmaken. Het is hier en daar nog wel wat flets. In vergelijking met later werk zijn er weinig hooks te bespeuren, wat wel wat meer energie en schwung aan het album had kunnen geven. Veel beats lijken op elkaar, en de magic touch hierin zou Preemo later perfectioneren. Ik waardeer de nadruk op de frontale confrontatie met Guru, zonder al teveel poespas, maar het had wat spicier gemogen. 7/10 Highlights: Who's Gonna Take The Weight? Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Say Your Prayers
Super vet die Up On Cripple Creek in Beyond Comprehension. En dan komt California Soul in Check the Technique daar meteen achteraan. Verder vind ik de flow in Step in the Arena best lekker. Ik rolde makkelijk door deze plaat heen. Maar vind de individuele tracks (buiten de samples) niet super spannend. Mist een beetje edge ofzo. Maar wel van genoten. 6,5/10 Beyond Comprehension Take a Rest
Boring
It was fun but average to me. I like some other rappers much better.
Nice daisy age style hip hop. A good listen, but not something that will stick with me.
I had never heard this one before. Solid sound, especially for the era.
1991!? I do like this old school NY rap. 5 stars
Not my usual genre, but this was really easy to get into.
i liked it, fundamental stuff. i think they have some other better songs tho
Good beats and lyrics, I like this style of hip hop -Step in the Arena -Lovesick -Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Some good golden age, East Coast hip-hop. I'm not sure how groundbreaking this particular album was in 1991, but still a good representative of the smooth, intellectual lyricism that these East Coast groups were offering. The sampling is clean and not too overbearing either.
I like the beats and lyrics overall, but the wailing/screamy fake sounds in the background are really annoying in several songs.
Catchy, jazzy hip hop.
This album was super refreshing. Just a really solid 90s hip hop album.
old-school hip-hop that flows nicely and has some great grooves. I would say this isn't totally 'my thing' and I maybe didn't bring the right toolset into the listen to fully appreciate this, but I did like it.
Good aesthetic but I'm not sure any songs really stand out. (24 known/47 new)
Cool at first, but quickly became samey.
Some good early 90s hip-hop, though nothing outstanding. The production is consistently interesting and inventive for the time, and well worth the 50 minute run time, though I can't say the vocals are worth it. Best Tracks: - Form Of Intellect - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 7/10
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
4/10 - classic 90s rap. It just isn’t that good and sounds similar to every other 90s rap album.
Could never really get into gang starr. Their stuff sounds a little too dated for me. Still a decent album
2.1 Disappointing. I've heard of Gang Starr before, my brother's mate used to love them and so I was expecting better things given his music taste wasn't the worst. Literally just had a similar 90s hip-hop album yesterday. Basic beats, basic rhymes (imagine using "My music means everything to me, it's my life, so make like a camper, and go take a hike" unironically. Must say though, after the album finished 2 or 3 Gang Starr songs from other albums came on that were all enjoyable than this entire album. Lost chance.
Not my thing, but didn't give up on it.
As far as 90s hip-hop goes this was fine. However, the first song to catch my interest was the one that youtube autoplayed after the album was done.
Really liked it
Soooo Gooooood!
And do what?
I feel like there are better gangster albums.
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
Again, like most old school rap I just finf this monotone.
Favorite Track: Check The Technique
No major standout songs for me, but really enjoyable vibe. Definitely will check out more by Gang Starr.
Finns ju åtminstone någon form av melodi i låtarna.
i hate rap music. and i listened to this album in full once and then again during workout. i think that says something
As it is with hip hop and rap, I am not the biggest fan. But if I had to choose, it will always be late 80’s early 90’s like this right here.
twas ok.
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?
Из хорошего только голос Гуру. Биты ни о чём
Ganz in Ordnung
drei plus
I liked it more than I would have predicted.
I appreciated the rap about education and the references to mysticism, but this style also just doesn’t do for me what it did when I was a kid in the 90s.
Love this era of rap…
There’s certain better rap and beats out there, IMO.
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.
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.
Who’s Gonna Take The Weight? // Check The Technique // As I Read My S-A // 3.5/5