Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Funky Funky Funky - Funky Beats from Premier and Rhymes from the MC represented the common man. Had a lot of fun with this
Surprisingly, I liked it. This just might encourage me to seek out more simmilar hip hop
I liked this one. Very smooth flow and great beats. Good lyrics too. Would definitely listen again.
Wasn't familiar-now I am! Listened to Gang Starr all day. Who's Gonna Take the Weight was my fave song, but no bad ones here imo!
Okay so I'm not really a fan of alot of mainstream rap mainly for lines like "never stop thrustin into your system" which kinda caught me off guard but some songs i really really loved on this album One of my fav tracks was the execution of a chump cos i really loved the beat and the sound 4/5 pleasantly surprised <3
Pure, clean flow. I don't normally listen to rap, but this was actually a very good listen.
Wow. Great album. Group I have heard spoken about a lot, and now I get it. Put this up there with Tribe Called Quest as some of my favorite rap progenitors.
Not bad. Decent rap album
Great flow, good beats. 90’s hip hop is the best.
Super funky fresh flow and groooooovy
Lotta bars
Everything 90s rap was trying to be.
Love 90s rap! Definitely will need to listen again.
Rap viejito. De esos que cimentaron todo lo que sucedería en el género durante los 90s y que claro, serviría para que Gang Starr se instalara en la cultura pop. Muy agradable. Las mejores son Who's Gonna Take The Weight? y Lovesick.
Really enjoyed this one. Great slab of hip hop
Classic hip hop doesn’t get much better than this
Nie mam dużo do powiedzenia na temat tego albumu, uwielbiam oldschoolowy hiphop, a ten krążek mimo że nie zaskoczy nikogo niczym w 2021, to jednak nie zestarzał się ani trochę bo doskonale się broni od strony muzycznej i produkcyjnej jako takie klasyczne brzmienie HH, ciepłe, organiczne (dzięki charakterystyce sampli i wokali) i lekko niesforne. W chuj duży podziw dla głównego producenta za całokształt i consistence albumu, a dla guru za consistent flow (warstwie lirycznej nie miałem okazji przyjrzeć się z bliska gdyż nie jestem na tyle obeznany z tekstem). Ulubione kawałki: Step In The Arena (nostalgiczne wrażenia, mimo że nie grałem nigdy w GTA), Who's Gonna Take The Weight, Game Plan (fajny przerywnik, chociaż niekoniecznie ciekawe jest przejście z niego w nastepny utwór pod względem kompozycji), Take A Rest (ten jeden bardziej obskurny sample mnie kupuje wraz z dynamiką tego kawałka i przerzucaniem sie między samplami, które momentalnie zmieniają charakter kawałka), Just To Get A Rep, Precisely The Right Rhymes.
Fantastic, obvious root and influence of many mcs to come
I’m not sold on these cats. They were influential on the East Coast rap scene, and in some ways, directly responsible for Wu-Tang Clan. There is a hardcore thread running through this record that definitely shows up in future artists. They had some sick rhymes with lyrical substance, but it never really gets cooking on the album. It’s reminiscent of ATCQ, but with none of the excitement or verve. It’s just kind of…there. (7/10) FT: Step in the Arena, Execution of a Chump
Strong album, I'd listen again!
10/19 Smooth beats matched with superb storytelling and sharp lyricism. Standout Tracks: Execution of a Chump, Beyond Comprehension, Lovesick, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Just To Get a Rep, Precisely the Right Rhymes, The Meaning of the Name
Very cool hip hop album. Not perfect, but it's a fun classic rap album
good shit 4
good shit, really nice production and fun lyrics. i’ll give it a 7/10, overall just really cool.
(Old S)Cool & the Gang
ЧТО: Второй студийный альбом хип-хоп дуэта из Бруклина. Признанная классика хип-хопа. Группа, каждый альбом которой продавался многомиллионными тиражами. КАКОЙ: Классический хип-хоп из 90-х. Много джаза, ритм-н-блюза, фанка и соула в сэмплах. Мелодичный ярко выраженный бас. Развитая техника сэмплирования. Я уловил только очевидное (например, сэмпл из Rapper’s Delight), уверен, там очень много всего. Чувствуется, что Gang Starr с Восточного берега. Они сочетают африканскую музыку с танцевальной, подхватывая свой уникальный стиль. Получился мягкий джаз-рэп времён расцвета американского хип-хоп олдскула, который заметно контрастирует с жёсткими остросоциальными мотивами в творчестве их, если так можно сказать, коллег: Public Enemy и Run-D.M.C. Довольно революционно звучит интерлюдия посреди альбома. Это сейчас их стали пихать когда можно и когда нельзя. В то время это было редкостью. О ЧЕМ: Лирика альбома, естественно, не обходится без сторителлинга. Альбом полон рассказов о женщинах, трудностях жизни чёрного человека в Америке, о религии. Важная тема - мастерство исполнителей. Они доказывают, что лучше всех управляются на битах. Об этом свидетельствует и название. DJ Premier и Guru предлагают всем, кто их критикует, выйти с ними на арену и разобраться. На Check the technique они советуют их соперникам в игре (как бы это не звучало) поработать над своей техникой, чтобы быть с участниками Gang Starr на одном ринге. Это те основы, без которых не обходится хип-хоп. Это базис хип-хоп культуры как образа жизни и принципа творчества. Это не мои выдумки; а то, что говорят об этом классические исполнители и преданные слушатели этой музыки. ИТОГ: Замечательный хип-хоп альбом. Повлиял на звук многих современных рэперов. Обильное использование джаза и интерлюдии - то, что стало можно значительно позже. Это альбом-заявление, который начинается с того, что участники дуэта представляются. Они не собираются прятаться и готовы доказать, что лучшие в игре (ещё раз извиняюсь за слово «игра» в этом контексте). Альбом не зря назван классикой хип-хопа.
clean and unique sound. coulda done without a few filler songs. excellently produced. enjoyable good 90s hip hop 😈
Riiktigt bra. Dock för långt
Hugely influential. Some of the rhymes didn't age super well, but the influence on subsequent hip hop duos is clear. Best track: Just to Get a Rep
Super album! Echt een aanrader wat mij betreft. Lekker oldschool met goede beats.
Niet mijn kopje thee, maar door de pure eenvoud van de muziek pakt het me stiekem toch. Ik zal het niet gauw zelf opzetten, maar waardeer het toch met 4 sterren omdat ik wel kan horen hoe goed het is
Solid hip-hop. Lyrics along the lines of "Watch me rap better than you" which I prefer to the "I'm going to kill you" vibe. Samples were catchy but repetitive within a track.
Great album. I enjoyed it and will listen again.
Very consistent album filled with some nice beats and some good lyrical flow
Relaxing
Again, one song, but it's a bloody good one! Must have been hugely different from other rap when it was released.
DJ Premiere is the be of the greatest producers of all time and Guru is a great MC but there are better Gangstarr albums.
Liked it
Really nice hip hop album, very chill
90's East Coast Hip Hop, yes please
Nearly a five after a couple of listens, laid back rap, like Erik b and rakim
My favorite type of hip hop
„But yo I don`t look for hassles, my rhymes are like castles“ Gang Starr‘s soft power ist so heilsam genrefern, dabei stark und mit ordentlich Rückgrat gegenüber „the weak stuff you heard from those creampuffs“. Und wie ausgeglichen, gar aus männlicher Sicht feministisch „Lovesick“ mit toxischer Eifersucht umgeht, hab ich im US Rap auch noch nie gehört. Die Beats wirken anfangs altbacken, nehmen mit der Dauer an Schärfe zu, bleiben aber lässig und manche bass line könnten die Beastie Boys eingeschnürt haben, wie im ohnehin handwerklich großartigen „Take A Rest“. Sanftmütige 4.1
Was für einen Unterschied Kopfhörer machen können! Zuerst dieses Juwel über Boxen und nicht besonders laut gehört - ganz nice, aber nun wirklich nicht aufregend. Hörte man bisschen so weg. Dann am späteren Abend noch mal mit - basstarken - Headphones, und oh my God: Primo, das biste ja! Dichte Samples, aber knochentrocken und locker gestreut, luftig, reduziert und (rate mal ...) jazzy. Schon fast jeepig, aber andererseits wahnsinnig kultiviert. Gurus Rapstyle - ja, das machte man damals so, mit dem Preaching und der Berichterstattung und der Consciousness. Vielleicht heute bisschen dated (im Gegensatz zu Premiers wirklich immer freshen Beats), aber trotzdem I like it. Wirklich schöne (wieder-)Entdeckung!
I really enjoy this era of hip hop. Arrested Development, Public Enemy, De La then prearranging taste of music to come in the following years.
A little too long for this early 90s style, but I really enjoyed this album. Jazz beats and great wordplay make this a great departure from the previous hip hop we’ve listened to.
I think I have learned from this challenge that I like hip hop! I guess I also associated rap with like Snoop Dog and 50 Cent and PDiddy and whatever was in the 90s/00s charts which was really shite. This though- there's great beats in this, love the 90s sound, dunno the right terms but like the sampling and scratching. The rapping is pretty chill and smoothly rhythmic, lulling and poetic.
and, for whatever reason, i liked this one way more than Ready To Die, which was yesterday's pick. just felt right
I think I like early rap better than late 90s and 2000s rap. I think it had a different sound and purpose. And I think my own feelings of “I don’t like rap” from that time period were probably colored by my influences.
4 stars
Fav Song: Check the Technique
Really great album that flies under the radar! This is up there with Eric B and Rakim, but might actually be better! Great flow, and hits hard.
Another great album that is outside of my normal wheelhouse. I'm not sure which school of hip hop this one falls in, but I like it. Would definitely listen again. 4 stars.
Great early rap album.
Don't normally listen to hip hop but this was enjoyable.
Not bad but won’t listen to it again
pretty good hiphop album
So incredibly dull, only liked the one song where it went like kitty kitty smth like that. But good samples and beats
Was fine. Knew some of it from before but prefer other music in this genre/era.
I dunno ? Better than the one before but didn't particularly like it either
It feels typical-sounding but it's also pretty early so maybe it deserves some credit for setting trends, it's not the most varied of albums to listen to but it is pleasing and it's capable of mustering up some likeable charm when it wants
7.5 / 10
Completely fine
I enjoyed this album. The beats by dj premier were so classic. Having the 1990 album amerikkka's most wanted album followed so closely by this 1991 gang starr album was such an interesting contrast because in year they are very close but in sound very different! Gang starr is so east cost and the lack of violence and sexism makes it feel more timeless to me. Even though I've heard of the group I got them confused with black star and didn't know these tracks glad I could change that.
Didn't know this or these. Fine retro hip hop, a bit repetitive
Aight.
Very promising first album from guru and dj premier. Suffers a little from lack of identity. Later albums would prove to be more rewarding. This is full of wonderful little touchstones though.
Amerikaanse hiphop wel oke niet helemaal mijn stijl
Enjoyable. Hasn’t been my favorite of this era. I enjoyed the mellowness of it.
I liked to vibe across some songs. It didn’t really do much for me.
an album with top to bottom solid recordings from the early stages of rap music. A part of me thinks the lines get too belabored at points, but how mad can you be when flows like that probably weren't common in '91? It's always good, occasionally great, and historically fascinating... the shape of rap to come?
I enjoyed this!
I can listen to this genre of hip-hop all day. Bonus points for the New Orleans Saints hat on the album cover.
This was a good album. Has that early 90s hip-hop sound that was prevalent in the day.
Good album, but it felt kind of flat. Guru had good flow, but it's all one speed and not a lot of modulation. The beats are awesome.
Another decent rap album - I'm just never really that enthused by rap.
I like the grooves and production, fantastic basslines throughout, but I feel like this doesn't quite get out of third gear. It reminded me a lot of De La Soul but the tracks themselves are less memorable. Listened to it twice, nodded along both times and enjoyed it enough but don't really remember any of it beyond the general overall vibe.
This was probably unorthodox for its time. The beats at times are annoying but completely original. The flow could be likened MF Doom. Overall not bad but there were some terrible/cliche bars dotted all over the place.
I liked the rhythm of this album. Really gave me Jurassic 5 vibes. Now I wanna listen to Jurassic 5, who I'm surprised are also on this list compared to all the garbage that's on here...
I'm a big fan of early 90s hip-hop/rap so there is some personal bias here and we are probably starting off with 2 stars minimum. I can definitely hear what would inspire some of my favorites from right after this album (91) but I just dont connect with this one the same. Favorite track is Check the Technique.
Its not for me but the lyrics are quite fun
3,2/5
(4/7) idk if this was cool when it came out but it feels dorky today
til that this kind of rap is called boom bap. I like boom bap! this album was great! I've never heard it before but the beats were solid and I enjoyed listening to it. I'm not super into rap generally and I probably won't listen to it again
gimme dat old school
engagé, bonne musique de fond mais j'écouterai pas au quotidien
This didn’t click with me, but I can see why it’s so important.
Pretty cool I guess. I’m not really into old rap music but it was still fine.
Some really cool beats especially for so early in the 90s.
I hadn't heard this at all! Very good stuff.
I'm no fan of the current Rap / Hip Hop music, and especially that obnoxious Gangsta Rap. This, on the other hand, is stuff that I can tolerate and sometimes even like. Crips beats, good samples, and fitting scratching musically, and rapping with a nice flow and lyrics that are not dumb, narcissistic, misogynistic, or just disgusting.
Mildly enjoyable, easy to listen to. Wouldn't be something I'd likely revisit, but I wouldn't walk out of a room because it was playing either.
I guess this is hugely influential/important (Apple Music compares it to Rubber Soul, uh, ok?), and I get it based on its release year, but it just seems kinda average-ish to me. Certainly not bad.
Super smooth, bass-heavy beats. Laid back, smart, cool rhymes. Just good old school hip hop, and I’m glad this album made this list.
3.1 me encanta el hip hop rap
Never heard of Gang Starr before this. Not really a hip-hop person either — so take this with that caveat clearly on the table. I listened twice, which feels like a meaningful data point: something kept me coming back. I can't place it in context. I don't know where Guru's delivery sits relative to his peers, or what DJ Premier's production meant for the genre in 1991. What I can say is that it sounds purposeful and confident — like people who know exactly what they're doing. Whether I'm hearing greatness or competence, I genuinely can't tell. 3/5 — which in this case means: I think this is probably better than I'm equipped to judge, and I respected it more than I enjoyed it. Not a bad place to land.
Production and beats is 5 star (I mean, DJ Premier is on the hip-hop Mount Rushmore) while the flow is very good. The album is solid, but there wasn't any track that stood out. Best Tracks: Form of Intellect; Check the Technique; Just to Get a Rep
I didn't hate it
Gang Starr may be the hip hop group with the biggest gap between how impressive I find their music and how much I enjoy it. Guru's flow is tight, his rhymes come in bunches; "spectator" / "slayed or" / "gladiator" is a particularly good trio. His lyrics are thoughtful and clever. DJ Premier's beats are layered, twinkly pianos and thumping drums. It's all very good, but it almost sounds clinical or sterile. None of the beats hit you hard or sound all that different. Songs are short on hooks. Guru's flow sounds tired after a while. Even at 50 minutes, almost short for a hip hop album, the album drags during the last few songs. From a technical perspective I only have good things to say about this, but it just doesnt have enough unique moments to work as an album.
Never heard of these rappers, but enjoyed it. Reminds me of the Fresh Prince and MC 900 Ft Jesus.
No es mi estilo pero no me desagrado 2,5
Haven't heard of them. After the first few songs I thought it's gonna be the boring type of 90s rap but then the samples and beats got more interesting. So overall a rather nice experience 3/5
Not my thing for sure, but not terrible.
yeah this was fun to listen to, it's not something i would put on again but it was cool to hear
I don't listen to any hip-hop really, but i was pleasantly suprised by this album. Some of the beats were nice, such as on Who's Gonna Take the Weight? and Check the Technique. And the lyrics were decent. Unremarkable for me though. 3/5 Name Tag (Premier & The Guru) - Step In The Arena 6 Form of Intellect 6 Execution of a Chump 5 Who's Gonna Take The Weight 7 Beyond Comprehension 4 Check the Technique 8 Lovesick 6 Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 4 Game Plan 4 Take A Rest 6 What You Want This Time? 5 Street Ministry 5 Just to Get a Rep 4 Say Your Prayers 3 As I Read My S-A 5 Precisely The Right Rhymes 4 The Meaning of the Name 5
algo parecido com o anterior só que bem mais superior no meu gosto, não escuto hip hop mas foi um album bem bom favs: form of intellect, check the technique, love sick
This was ok. There's other groups from this era of hip hop that I would choose over this. It is interesting to kind of hear in this album a transition of styles from what was popular in the late 80's to the biggest groups in the Golden Era, but I don't think it's interesting enough to keep me coming back very often. 2.5/5
I liked all the record scratching
Great old school. 3.5/5
smooth, ill flows and a real sense of the time period
Not Bad
One of the best voices in hip-hop, Guru. Love the blending of jazz and hip-hop. DJ Premier was working magic with the samples and mixing on this album. It is hard east coast hip-hop with socially conscious raps. It is very raw sounding with some goated songs and a few duds, could have been less songs.
Fairly standard hip-hop from this era. Some of the sampling worked really nicely with the tracks, but this isn’t really my flavour of hip-hop so found it all a little samey.
Before Illmatic made jazz-hop canonical and before East Coast boom bap was a brand, Gang Starr were laying the blueprint with Step into the Arena. DJ Premier and Guru’s second full-length, released in 1991, is a gritty, confident document of the era—built on dusty samples, tight drums, and streetwise wisdom delivered with a steady hand. Guru’s famously flat, monotone flow is a defining texture here—not showy, not overly emotive, but deliberate and precise. It gives the album a meditative calm, even when the beats crackle with energy. Premier, still perfecting his signature style, laces the project with jazzy loops, horn stabs, and occasional forays into rock samples. It's a crate-digger’s playground, wrapped in the hard-knock ethos of golden-age New York. Highlights include the title track, where a familiar sample (later reworked on 2Pac’s “I Get Around”) rides smooth horn accents as Guru flexes with easy confidence. “Execution of a Chump” juxtaposes a moody, piano-driven beat with gangster bravado, creating an oddly hypnotic dissonance. “Check the Technique” comes in heavier, its aggressive drums propelling Guru’s most animated performance. And “What You Want This Time?” is all swagger, powered by a sharp horn loop and no-nonsense lyrical dismissals. It’s not Gang Starr’s most refined work, but Step in the Arena is a street-level classic—raw, uncompromising, and deeply influential.
Fun. A bit raw and a bit simple, but I understand why this is so influential.
Here today, gone tomorrow Take a rest Form of an intellect Check the technique Execution of a chump The meaning of the name As I read my s-a
There's nowt wrong with this but it did take me three listens to determine I have no determinable opinion on it
Sort of a long listen, but DJ Premier's beats are really awesome, I just had a hard time hanging on towards the end.
Hadn't heard it before. Not a challenging listen, which is a plus is some ways, but on the other hand, it wasn't super provocative. Enjoyable though, and I would listen again. 3.5, rounding down.
5.5/10
This guy seems to think he's a lexicon devil
Great beats and interesting lyrics with an unfortunately boring delivery. 3.
Hip-hop has come a long way in 35 years. The performances are solid and the beats are great (I have a soft spot for this early-90s east coast sound), but there’s nothing that swept me off my feet so to speak. The flows are pretty firmly of their time. I enjoyed my listen fine but will probably not revisit.
Preemo always comes correct. Love the beats, love Gurus lyricism. Kind of a cool old school version of Gang Starr. I'm not familiar with their earlier stuff but this was great. Not as many memorable tracks as I would have liked though. It's a tough decision, but I gotta give this a 3. Just not enough bangers. Every track was good enough, but none were standouts.
I liked this but it did feel like a generic rap album. It definitely feels like a progression from Run DMC. Definitely more moody.
Lo-fi beats to chill and study to. It was alright, didn't grab me particularly. Never heard of them before, but I wouldn't mind listening to another if it came up. Not particularly moved.
This was fine, but not spectacular. Pretty typical stuff, sometimes catchy, sometimes repetitive
Pretty great little old school contest rap album.
No. 384/1001 Name Tag NR Step In The Arena 4/5 Form Of Intellect 4/5 Execution Of A Chump 3/5 Who's Gonna Take The Weight? 3/5 Beyond Comprehension 3/5 Check The Technique 4/5 Lovesick 4/5 Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 3/5 Game Plan NR Take A Rest 3/5 What You Want This Time 4/5 Street Ministry 3/5 Just To Get A Rap 3/5 Say Your Prayers 3/5 As I Read My S-A 4/5 Precisely The Right Rhymes 3/5 The Meaning Of The Name 3/5 Average: 3,38 Not a lot of hip-hop records from the late 80s & early 90s have aged that well. So I was quite positively surprised by this.
If it had just been the MC this would have been meh, but DJ Premier is delightful. I love the turntable work. It's a bit preachy in places but at least it manages to not curse every other word. It's full of the exact same tropes ("I'm better than you", "all the women want me", etc) as "Ready to Die" but from a "good boy" angle. That's just the scaffolding of the genre, I guess. All that said, it is pretty enjoyable. Another high 3.
Kind of one-note.
Old Skool cool - a bit one-note but enjoyable.
No particularly strong feelings. Thought it was pretty meta when they sampled The Sugar Hill Gang. This epitomizes why I had a hard time getting into rap in the early days — the repetitive samples, the monotone delivery of the rap, it doesn't stay interesting for long. A couple of tunes, sure. But about 30% in, I was ready for something else.
I knew the name Gang Starr but I knew nothing about them. Guru was one of the first hip-hop artists I ever bought. And I know DJ Premier from PRhyme. So I was excited for this one. And it's solid if a bit dated maybe? I feel like both guys did better stuff later on. Still, it's cool.
I guess I'm a '90s rap fan. This project has expanded my mind. 3.5
10/03/2026 After all the good hip hop albums that I've now listened to because of this generator... I was expecting more. This was just bang average. Spotify listeners: 3.2 million
Average gangsta rap
Not bad, but not noteworthy either.
Appreciate the lyrical prowess, but as far as listening enjoyment it was boring and repetitive. Understand the importance it has in hiphop history and that it influenced better music down the road. But thats just the thing, it influenced better music..
Once again, here to state that I don't like rap. That being said, I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this record. I couldn't tell you exactly what it is, but something works
Monotont. Sikkert rap-teknisk stort, men....
Fav tracks: execution of a chump, step in the arena, precisely the right rhymes The productions sounded super cool in this album and the lyrics were creative! The flow sounds like it set the standard for peak 90s rap.
Inconsistent I think. Some strong tracks, some odd ones. Overall I enjoyed it. Check The Technique was class.
Det var noget af det bedre rap vi har haft. Det var tilbagelænet og ikke et usselt forsøg på at se sej ud over for sine venner.
Better than average 1991 sound. More of a mellow flow than their peers at the time.
Really fun first few songs I was about to write it off but then it kind of clicked
Not my usual listening fare, but it was good for what it is
Not usually my thing but a really solid album.
3.1
fun.
Early hip hop like this tends to not age well, but I still found this to be pretty enjoyable. I'd say the beats have held up better than the bars. When I was a kid I somehow went from MC Hammer to NWA, but I think something like this would have been a better middle ground.
I love the grooves here. Somehow reminds me of Tribe Called Quest with the horns/jazz backing. There are lots of clever slant rhymes, even basic things like "[superficial] [and I wish you] (would give it a rest)" -- it's not a strict rhyme but same number of syllables, same cadence, "sh" in the same spot -- it works. I'd call it a high 3.
2/10/26. New discovery for me, enjoyed on the first listen! Tight flow and cool beats/samples. I need to check out more of their work to expand on my 90s hip hop!
Not sure if this is a case of Stockholm syndrome, but two hip hop albums in two days, and I’m finding them … OK? I know that I’m probably only catching a fraction of the clever rhymes and wordplay here, but the music is satisfyingly funky and I can let it wash over me. Probably not one I’d go back to and listen again, but I didn’t actively hate it which is probably progress of a sort.
Ended up liking this one quite a bit. I'm not a huge rap/hip hop fan, but this album had a style that I liked. The flows were good, and it somehow sounded both like early 90s rap and something timeless. My biggest issue with it was that it was long, both in runtime (50+ minutes) and track number (18 total). That made it a bit tedious for me, especially as it got toward the end. I probably would have minded that less if I was more a fan of the genre. Still, I thought it was pretty good. Overall: 3.5/5
Good but nothing memorable.
Good samples, good flow, good lyrics. Just overall pretty good, although not my usual choice for regular listening.
Favorite track(s): Execution of a Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2), Check the Technique
3/5 I didn’t think I would really like this album but it surprised me! Enjoyed the vibe but got a bit repetitive
3 Stars (8/15)
Mediocre album. Big fan of DJ Premier but this album didn't do much for me.
3⭐️/5 01.21.2022
6
good lyrics and beats but nothing really stands out on here.
At points this sounds incredible and at others it’s a boring slog. I think the rapper’s voice is the main issue. It’s monotonous and not particularly engaging
I like Gang Starr. And this album serves as a good introduction to them, even if it isn't as good as "Hard to Earn." This is a "classic" in that it helped inform what came next, but I wouldn't call it a Mt. Rushmore hip-hop record. Still, a great listen. 7/10
thats a decent hip hop
Lyrical miracle spiritual backpack rap that sounds like an inner-city substitute teacher trying to win over a classroom with a rhyming dictionary. No doubt influential to the history of hip hop, but the genre progressed so quickly that this is ancient history
Beats didn't do much for me, kind of simple and boring to me. Lyrics and flow were good and clear. Decent narrative.
Good enough Rap album. May listen again, not gasta listenable, clever.
3.5 stars. Early 90's gangster rap. Impressive for its time even if it doesn't hold up super well decades-on. Standout is "Check The Technique", with it's "California Soul" sampling.
++*: Lovesick ++: Step in the Arena, Beyond Comprehension, Check the Technique, What You Want This Time?, Street Ministry, Just to Get a Rep, As I Read My S-A, Precisely the Right Rhymes, The Meaning of the Name +: Name Tag (Premier & the Guru), Form of Intellect, Who's Gonna Take the Weight?, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Game Plan, Take a Rest, Say Your Prayers +-: Execution of a Chump ( No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2) 7,7/10
Рэп- это музыка, которая быстрее всех стареет. Этот релиз один из таких
If I was really into this? I’d be a happy for the length. It’s a bit too long for me. Not loving it though
I like hip hop, but I can be very picky. Older hip hop doesn't really interest me often. The beats are simple and repetitive and many lyrics simple. This album is a little better than I am used to, but still the album doesn't really impress me. It's good, with nice flow, lyrics and somewhat funky beats, but it's just too simple for my tastes. It doesn't help that the album lidts a whopping 18 tracks. I would immediately believe you if you told me this album isn't their greatest work, because it just isn't it for me.
I recognize a lot of these songs used in samples for newer songs. I can see the influence and the lyricism is much better than the other rap from this era. It is high brow rap, but as others have said, it lacks feeling and comes off as dry.
Sometimes named the best hip-hop album of all time. Do I agree? Not overall, but I don't like one artist for any genre. It's built by so many names. I notice a lot of the negative reviews for this album are from non hip-hop fans. Alas, I respect it. They're not one of the artists that made me fall for hip-hop, but you can hear the influence.
Very cool
Okay, rap and hip-hop are not my genre, but I’m genuinely trying to learn. I gave this album 4 listens before rating. There is clearly fantastic production on display in “Step Into the Arena”. Also on display some fun beats and rhythms, that even managed to get my middle-aged, white head a boppin’. That is what I’m supposed to be focusing on in terms of instrumentation, I think? I also appreciated the fact that the lyrics were not over-the-top misogynistic or otherwise written for shock value. To me, that shit always comes across as fake overly theatrical bullshit. The lyrics came across as much more intelligent and mature, for me this is a good thing but other obviously feel otherwise. It is probably my inexperienced ears, but a small gripe is that the music, not necessarily the rapping, seemed a little repetitive. Overall, this was among the better traditional hip-hop albums from the list so far. I still don’t totally get it, l enjoyed listening to it, but I didn’t gravitate toward it. I’ll keep trying.
3.5
I'm not too big on early hip hop with some exceptions. This album was pretty good; definitely feels like its part of a transition between late 80s "goofier" hip hop and early, basic rap, and the more violent gangster rap that emerged throughout the 90s. Some really good flow on the album.
i can see how this was impactful. i think as an album it wasn't for me as much but having the individual songs on a playlist when i'm in the mood for it would work for me.
An interesting album - had a few good songs on it So far no albums with women ???
Competent, but not impressive. I'm only passingly familiar with hip-hop, but this sounds like a stepping-stone album that maybe laid the groundworker for future masterpieces, but is not a masterpiece itself. It reminded me a bit of Wu-Tang and Tribe Called quests. But this came out in '91, whereas 'Midnight Marauder' and 'Enter the 36 Chambers' both came out in '93. So it may have been a strong influence on some of the greatest hip hop of the 90's (or all time). But was nowhere close to perfecting what it was doing the way those other artists and albums were.
Not my go to genre, but thought it was decent - enjoyed it
DJ's Guru and Premier are clearly students of Eric B & Rakim as the two rap intellectual and emotional lyrics over light, breezy, and jazzy beats and samples. Gang Starr are technically brilliant, but the album feels a little two one-note for me. If you're a fan of late 80's/early 90's hip hop for the culture, then you'll love this.
I wasn’t in the mood for hip hop this morning. I’ve had a lot of rap on this list recently, and frankly, I’m over it. What I forgot, however, is the basic equation- the older rap is, the better it is. This was pretty ok. The vibe was right, the flow was cool, and overall I went from coming in hyper critical to leaving with a head nod of approval. I’ll revisit this one day when I’m actually jonesing for old school hip hop.
(63/100)
Sounds like 90s rap. Solid flow, good beats.
Smooth as butter and some great sharp lyrics.
It’s listenable rap for me, which is saying something. Good beats & groovy enough. The Meaning of the Name is my favorite tune on it. I do love their tune It’s Getting Hectic w/ the Brand New Heavies.
This is a typical 1990s Hip Hop album. Really, I can't add anything else to that. Favorite Track: "Step In The Arena".
I am torn on this one. So it's gets a 3, right in the middle
Extremely generic 90s era rap.
I didn't get the hype it was just OK
3.3 2x catch up Marta and airport 12/1
Rätt bra, chill 90-tals hip-hop! Gillade det mer än jag trodde, bra vibe och bra texter!
This album was listenable. 50+ minutes was a bit too long for me. Like the jazz albums these songs all kind of ran together. I didn’t hate it and am not the one to judge this album due to my lack of reference in the rap genre. I did like “The Meaning of The Name” and the title track.
Perfectly OK 80s-90s hiphop. I have a hard time seeing myself going back her, but I enjoyed it well enough
The rap was great, and I can see how this is influential. Sadly this just didn’t hold up over the years falling into the dated category. I was happy to listen, but I won’t need a repeat on this anytime soon.
Not my thing at all but I'll give it a 3
This is nice--retro beats, clever rhymes, one dude's from Boston. No complaints.
Not my thing
Enjoyable to listen to, not anything I'd revisit though.
Nice album!
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Accessible rap.
I'm not crazy about hip hop, but this is solid. I like the jazzy elements. Lovesick has a cool beat. Favorite songs: Just to Get a Rep, Say Your Prayers, Lovesick.
Found myself enjoying this one at first, but then as it went on it did feel a bit repetitive/flat. Think the style of delivery contributes to that. Still not bad overall.
talking to matt while listening to this one, might come back later, too mny songs to get to already
While not something I'd normally listen to, I liked this.
Decent old school rap albeit the sound is a tad dated.
Turns out I enjoy the 90s rap sound more than I thought I did, that being said nothing majorly stand out on this
I like the vibe on this chill
It's aight, all the best songs are not really on this one Will I listen to again: 29%
3/5
Best Song: Lovesick. Perfectly laidback, relaxed. Chill as hell. Worst Song: Game Plan. Don't know if this even counts as a track, but it's just 70 seconds of wasted space on the album. Overall: Pretty decent. It feels dated in a neutral way. Definitely "of an era", but fun enough that I could imagine coming back to it.
I was expecting garbage but it was some fun early 90’s hip hop. Spouse said “sounds like going to a fraternity party in 1991”
Another classic example of "right artist, wrong album". In this case it should have been Gang Starr's 1998 album "Moment of Truth". Regardless, this is a solid hip hop album. Makes me wanna listen to more Gang Starr since this is only the second album of their's that I've listened to from start to finish. Good stuff. Favorite track: Execution Of A Chump
Classic hip-hop album. Somewhere between a 3 and a 4.
I don’t know that it will be super memorable for me, but I appreciate hearing new hip hop I haven’t heard before. I’ll take it over another 50s psych rock Zappa experiment.
Jazzy boom bap beats with classic dj scratching, soul samples, and a laid back upbeat feel to them, especially when the upright bass parts hit. Tight wordy verses delivered in two similar precise high speed flows with distinct timbres/cadence. Conscious positive rap from the same time/place as the Native Tongues acts. No bad songs, but there's not a ton of variety to it, so the 50 minutes feels a bit long.
Pretty average early 90s hip hop record. Nothing special for me. Muddy production on the vocals. It was fine certainly nothing special for me. No intensity at all and certainly didn’t have an amazing groove vibe. Just felt uninspired.
Good album, very long.
Tough 3 vs 4. I would listen again but nice pre party groove mix. Almost chill beats with more to it
Pretty good. I liked it. What else can I say?
I don't know much about early hip hop history but this was very enjoyable, especially since the MCs rap without flair and vocal acrobatics like modern rap. The samples are all classics, put on loop but never feel repetitive. There isn't a single weak track. I'd give this a 4 if there was a stand out track, but this really is a solid album by Gang Starr from the golden age of hip hop.
Decent hip hop album, good beats, solid rapping, but not the best rap album I’ve heard during this challenge
I appreciate the lyricism and the influence here, but the slow rapping and old school beats are a little dull to my modern sensibilities.
Bra.
Ya se me están apilando los discos de hip-hop que individualmente se empiezan a diluir. Me llevo un like igual. Nota: 3.3
it was hard to listen, kinda tired from all the rap albums i've tried to listen. but, this one's lyrics are not bad at least he's not saying "nigga mf" every 5 secs 3 stars out of respect
Lyrics hit and miss, beats untouchable
Didn't dislike this album. Which is unusual for rap/hip hop. Always helps when they're not singing about puerile topics, guns, bitches and ho's, drugs, ma Benz' etc. Several tunes really were quite cool, nice use of samples, eg, 'California soul'. Wouldn't buy though.
Execution of a chump
It's fine. Some of the rhymes are pretty good, others are clunky.
A very mediocre album overall. DJ Premier is fantastic, but I find this to be his most basic production…very simple loops. Guru isn’t a fantastic rapper as well. He lacks a lot of charisma you could get from many rappers in 1991 (Q-Tip, Busta, De La Soul) and there isn’t anything on this album that is iconic today.
The lyrics and rapping I thought was very interesting, but the instrumentals sounded blah and all the same. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
This is probably influential in some way but I didn’t think it was anything special. The beats were solid and I am a fan of turntablism. The raps were good, sometimes silly, mostly end rhymes. I think for the time it doesn’t stand up to Chuck D, Rakim, or even Ice Cube.
Classic.
Pretty smooth.
Pretty cool, lots of variety. I liked it. 7/10.
Great hip-hop and nothing but pure hip-hop. Some really... 'interesting' lyrics (like, goofy) that bring down the overall production but otherwise a fun album. fav tracks: What You Want This Time
För mig är Gang Starr så som hiphop låter, blue printen för vad som är hiphop liksom. Det kanske säger nåt om när man verkligen hörde hiphop ordentligt för första gången, jag vet inte... Det betyder inte att det är den bästa hiphopen bara att här är facit. "Check the technique" är en ofrånkomlig banger, svåröverttäffad. Det finns en hel del andra bra spår också och såväl Guru's rap som Primiere's scratch och samplingar är fläckfria. Men det blir oxå lite segt långradigt med allt i stort sett samma tempo och vibe. Skulle mått bra av att kortas ned med några spår för att hålla intresset fokuserat. Samtidigt ligger en del på mig, jag borde ge några varv till för att verkligen komma in i den. Jazzen och funken är där så en stabil trea
Det låter ganska daterat. I många stycken som ett ledigare Public Enemy. Bitvis svängigt. Men om inte minnet sviker mig så blir Gang Starr betydligt bättre på senare skivor. Svag trea.
Ok. a good hip hop album. Chill and relaxed. some beats are actually quite good as motifs. In my opinion, if they can expand a bit more than just repeating the beats, it’d be much more diverse and fun to listen.
3.5 in my book. Great flows with some cool lyrics, just a bunch of good sounding songs. Not much pulled my attention back to check what track I was on though.
i think this album left a bit to be desired. i wasn't a huge fan of the beats, but i did really like Guru's rap style. it's not my favorite of the time period, but he does have good flow and his rhyme scheme i feel branches where hip hop was, and where it was heading. i heard a decent amount of internal rhymes and some wrap around rhymes around lines, which for the time probably pushed forward rap into the 90's flow style. not sure if i would go back a ton, but a fine album.
I think every song in here was good, but nothing jumped out as great. An enjoyable album overall.
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.
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.
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
Old school cool. Ikke så verst, bare litt ensformig i lengden.
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
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 ..."
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.
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
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.
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.
Meh
I enjoyed this but taking off a star because it did go on with little variety
It's good
Not a bad rap album; actually something I didn't mind listening to. 3/5
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Hyvää perus 90 hiphoppia. Who's Gonna Take The Weight ehkä vähän tuttu. Parhaat: Check The Technique
Was decent background music, didn’t give this a proper listen. Should definitely go back and give it a proper listen.
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
Rap is not my thing but he had a few very nice lines and in general it was objectively well made
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.
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
Chill hip-hop from the 90s
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.
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
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.