Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Production vraiment bonne, on comprends pourquoi c'était un album important dans l'arrivée du hip hop jazzy. Les flows deviennent un peu redondant à la longue par contre.
Great old school hip hop, great samples and basslines , rhymes are good and I really enjoy the scratching. Not too sure if it was just a product of the time but I don't recall any foul language, not a plus or minus just wondering. Favourite tracks - Step In The Arena, Take a rest, As I Read My S-A
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
This rap I could actually get with- it wasn’t obnoxious and shoving it in my face or anything and it was actually pretty good. It’s not my favourite or anything but I would listen again.
Guru has his moments, but DJ Premier is one big moment here.
I’ve always found Gang Starr to be more boring than the other rappers/hip hop groups out of New York. Not bad though. 3/5.
Another solid rap album.
I was ok with this... The artist told a clear story-dialog and for the most part didn't fall into the well of misogyny or vulgarity. Music was appropo
I was more familiar with Guru's solo Jazzmatazz albums (which I am pretty sure we sold at Scratches back int he day), although I remember some of the singles from this. I like Guru's laid back style and the jazzy, funky and inventive. It is nice to get away from the very aggressive and shout-y tenor of most 90s hip hop, and this is less violent and misogynistic than most. Guru's flow is sometimes a bit awkward, but he is so charismatic that he can sell even his clunkiest bars. I enjoyed listening to this, although not much stuck in my memory. If I wanted to play this vibe, I would be much more likely to spin Guru's solo work.
Really cool old school hip hop with laid back beats and a rapping that manages to stay sharp while being smooth all the way through. Their avantages are also their flaws, because it all can seem a little bit redundant towards the end. At least for a 50+ album. Still great though.
Yeah it's alright.
Cool hip hop album !
Smooth conscious boom bap always put you in a very nice mood, but this album lacks a little bit of tork and attack. It was very enjoyable, tho. I don't think I'll get back to it.
3/5 I was a little skeptical at first, what with it being gangster rap. The so f about the kid steppin is going to meet the executioner was a bit much for me but overall it was ok. Good rhythms to groove too. Not going to be looking for the album to save or anything. But I didn't hate it. So a neutral 3. 🙃™️
Repetitive and lacked any real progression or levels. Didn't pull me in or interest me but wasn't terrible.
More thoughtful than the average hip hop album, it borrows some great samples from soul classics and has that typical laid back 90s rap feel.
eh
Dj premier est un tres bon DJ et j'ai adore cwst collabo avev Nas, cette album est bon avec un flow de l'epoque et une super production. 3.95
I like 90s hip-hop that isn't all gangsta. Funnily this was all Gang Star. Some scratching got a bit extra, but a nice trip down memory lane.
Never heard this before. Quite melodic and chilled.
Not my thing but not bad? reminds me of alexander hamilton's son.
step into the realm you're bound to get caught wait wrong group
3.5
Nice hip-hop beats.
Hay canciones que estan de mas, pero sacando eso el album es bueno
Good rap album. Beats are good, Jazz influences with horns and pianos. Early 90s rap that sounds like mid 90s, ahead of its time in style.
Nice hip hop album, consistent and well produced.
It's alright, pretty standard hiphop stuff.
This was a surprise. An early hip hop/rap album with a chill vibe and beats. I would listen again.
Hard again? I barely even got a half chub. In terms of level of arousal, I will quote the most common phrase said by women leaving my bedroom. “That was very disappointing”. In terms of musical stylings, it had some razzle dazzle, so I’ll be generous as I often am in bed. 3 stars.
Eh. Constantly teetered between the idea that the flow is good with whack beats and that the beats are fire with whack flow being spit over it. Had a few good songs but not something I'll be revisiting, solid 3/5 stars. Feels weird putting it at the same spot as muddy waters, but it's definitely not like listening to an album of only bongos. Pretty boring.
it ok
I know nothing about hip hop or rap...it's history, evolution, east vs. west., etc. I've never listened to a full rap/hip hop album. I have never heard of Gang Starr. That said, here's what I can say... I'm glad I discovered this album. Smooth, jazzy, funky, chill, relaxed vibe. Loved the basslines. Loved the samples. Delivery was more understated/uninspired than I expected, but maybe that helps create the relaxed vibe. Idk. I just know I enjoyed the ride, will work this into my regular playlists and will be seeking out more rap/hip hop in the future. Isn't this the reason for joining this site? Curiousity, discover, and expansion of musical palate? Happy I joined. Enjoying the experience. Enjoyed every track, but faves were: Step in the arena Lovesick Just to get a rap (yes to the bassline!) 3.5/5.0
90s hip hop is vastly superior to modern
This is underground, intellectual rap at it's finest. Check The Technique is a hit.
Old school R&B/rap is some much better than the rap shit put out these days. Think I heard the 'N' word once, no taking pride that your girl/boy is a hoe and no glorification of senseless violence. Well , one song about taking a guy out....Anyway, probably can tell I'm an old school kind of guy who enjoys less of the shock rap shit from our current trend. Smooth album. I enjoyed the fact I could get into a nice groove while at work. First time I have heard of these guys and I really enjoyed the entire album. Nothing really stood out for downloading, but just enjoyed the overall sound of this album 3 from me.
3.5 The only Gang Starr song I knew prior to this was Mass Appeal, as featured in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4. While I adore probably a solid 95% of the songs used in the Tony Hawk games, Mass Appeal was never one that was high on my list. So, I didn’t have high expectations going in. Turns out, it’s a solid album. What stood out for me most was how subtle it was both in terms of vocals and music. Nothing was overly flashy or fancy, yet each song seemed to have a clear sense of identity with unique beats and subject matter. Guru’s delivery almost feels effortless, while also somehow complementing each of the beats perfectly. There’s not a ton of range in vocal performance to be had, but it doesn’t feel like anything extra is needed at any point. All in all, a really relaxing listen, and there’s not a bad song to be had. In many ways, it was a nice contrast to many of the more mainstream hip hop tracks of today. Will definitely be checking out more of their stuff. Favorite songs: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Execution of a Chump, Take a Rest, Lovesick, Who’s Gonna Take the Weight?
This album is good. The rapping is good and the flow is nice, but for some reason I can't fully get into this album. I feel like I should enjoy this album more than I did, but I can't put my finger on exactly why. Favorite song: Who's Gonna Take The Weight? Worst song: Lovesick
Wish this style of rhyming had been more popular. Intelligent and old school.
i dug it
For this genre not really being my thing I have to give them props for being ahead of the pack in terms of their overall sound. They get an extra star for that.
Good album! The beats were clean, flow was on point. A little old school but in a good way. I wish some of the more interesting beats had a little more time to shine, especially on the opening track. But overall a very solid listen.
Was always a fan of old-school hip/hop and this was quintessential old-school rap. Some highlights of the album for me were the lyricism and the pace. My favourite songs were Check the Technique, Love Sick and Who's Gonna Take the Weight.
Perfectly fine early 90s old school rap. Not exactly my thing but this one I can at least appreciate. Good production too
Some early boom-bap rap. Pretty good stuff. The beats are great on this record. You can tell this record was pretty influential, considering it was made in 1990, and the projects that would come after it.
Hip hop/Rap de los 90. Hay mucho más de esto de lo que esperaba en un lista de discos imprescindibles. Temas interesantes "Step in the arena", "Who's gonna take the weight", "What you want this time?" y en general muy buen disco, me quedo con ganas de más. Un 3 estrellas alto de casi 4.
I wish I was more well versed in hip hop to give this a fair review. I mean, I know plenty of artists and know what I like but it was very hard for me to judge this album. Their lyrics and flow seemed sophomoric compared to what I was listening to in the later 90s and 2000s. They had some decent wordplay but I wasn't blown away by any rapping. As for the beats, I personally love jazzhop elements and was really digging all of those tracks. Reminded me a lot of Tribe Called Quest who I'd guess were contemporaries of these guys. Overall pretty solid outing but probably not something I plan on listening to much in the future.
Refreshing alternative to gangsta
Pleasant enough musically and rapping. Not abrasive. Good samples. Good wordplay without the swearing and guns. Good.
Not being a fan of the genre I didn't really find anything interesting in this album. I would say it's pretty average, some nice rhythms and decent vocals. Couldn't be bothered with the lyrics but at least their flow was good.
Very old school vibe, i liked some beats and flows he had. I might keep listening to it until i dont. Rap is still not my thing
Cette association entre Guru et DJ Premier est parfaite. J'adore ce qu'ils font ensemble. On est en territoire de De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest et MC Solaar du côté Français. J’aime particulièrement le style de DJ Premier avec le choix de ses sampling et son intégration du scratching. Mon style de Hip Hop.
Nice samples but dated
Cool jams, and an interesting approach to rapping. While rap and hip-hop are not my thing generally, I appreciated the storytelling with a minimum of swearing. That can get tedious. That’s all I got.
how about i step into your mum
Oh leuke rap, ik had mss iets meer naar de lyrics willen luisteren
The beats on this record are top drawer. But while Guru’s lyrical imagery is definitely intuitive and novel for the genre, the actual egocentric tropes remain largely untouched. This is undeniably a great hip hop record though, but its impact waned greatly towards the latter half of the album.
Not a massive fan of the genre but I like the rhymes and delivery. There's a desirable lazy sling to the beats. Quite a lot to admire. My enthusiasm did wain towards the end.
I like to butter my grandmother's feet and have her dance on my belly.
Class rapping
If there's only one Gang Starr album on this list, for me it shouldn't be this one (Moment Of Truth is the winner). This is decent but very much sounds like they were still in the process of finding their own sound. Premier's beats and Guru's rhymes both evolved massively, and for the better, from here on in.
Not my thing - sounded decent rhough
Interesting - I had never heard of these guys or this album. But man, the 90's were such a great time for socially aware and/or politically charged rap & lyrics. One problem though is that it all sounds similar to me - like there's a crisp voice overtop of a variety of different, more in-the-background beats but the cadence and rhythm seems to come off the same. As I was listening to this album it ended and some random suggested tracks came on and I didn't even know it wasn't the same group. So yes, I love the lyrics but find the whole package didn't really stand out. If I had to pick a couple favorites though, it'd definitely be Who's Gonna Take the Weight?, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (great groove), and As I Read My S-A.
I have a really good sense of how rock music developed - so when I hear something that sounds like a lot of other things, I can often recognize who the trailblazers of that sound were. I don't have that same sense when it comes to the history of rap. So when I hear an album like this, I feel like I've heard a lot like it already. What I don't know is whether Gang Starr was a leader or follower. I enjoyed it, but it didn't stand out as much as other rap albums I've heard. Nice grooves, interesting lyrics, but doesn't make me want to dig in more. Favorite Tracks: Step in the Arena, Check the Technique, Here Today Gone Tomorrow.
Has its moments, the guys flow strays into will smithy territory a bit
Pretty good
This got a bit monotonous with just the one vocalist - some variety, guest spots etc. would have been appreciated. Otherwise this is pretty good, chilled out hip hop.
Le quotas boom-bap est rempli pour Robert qui peut maintenant commencer à nous reproposer de bons albums.
Aussi convaincant que l'article de Mercatostar sur le transfert de Lamine Sané à West Ham.
Solid Gang Starr album, great pace. The messages were clear and the mood was perfect.
Badass old-school flow and beats. Not a lyrics guy. Hard to follow but parts I caught were good. Good to know more than mass appeal. Give it 3.5 if I could. Love the beat on meaning of the name
Лёгкий и приятный рэп. Близок иногда даже к джазовому груву, но немного блёклый для меня.
This is the second album by hip hop duo Gang Starr. It's a classic 90's East coast hip hop/rap album that ranks high on the greatest hip hop albums of all time. I loved the nostalgic, underground sound of the rapping on this album. However, I prefer more modern hip hop/rap.
Good background grooves. Didn't listen to the words.
nice 90's production even if it was an early effort. many early steps in the gangsta rap direction
Enjoyed this, good 90’s hip hop that isn’t too intense full on gangster rap.
3.5
3.5
could’ve listened more but got a good average hip hop record vibe
Still not a fan of rap, but I can't say I didn't like it. It was okay, it has it's moments and though I wouldn't take the time to listen to it again exclusively, it makes for good background music.
Very laidback rap with great rapping and lyricism on display. Unfortunately, laidback is not often what I'm looking for in my rap.
Listened to on 8/18/22 3/5 Favorite song: assassination of a chump Hip hop isn’t my favorite but this album was super creative and enjoyable and very 90s
Solid rap album. Good background music
My name is eirik and im here to say type flow
Look, Gang Starr is classic, but you’re gonna include this and not Paid In Full or Road To Riches? U crazy Robert
6/10. More pleasant than I was expecting.
Beats are pretty solid but the vocal performance was so low-energy. 5/10
meh
Pretty good… I don’t really like rap, but I did like “Execution of a Chump.” I understand that this album was a pioneer in early rap, but it was kind of repetitive after awhile. Unlikely that I would listen to it again.
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Is there a general term for the transition hip-hop made from 1988 to 1992, a period we can now recognise as rather tumultuous for the genre? During these years, we observed the rise (and occasional fall) of, among plenty others, Public Enemy, Ice-T, NWA, De La Soul, Cypress Hill, A Tribe Called Quest, MC Hammer, Arrested Development, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Will Smith, and my faithful friends, you know that several of those ultimately proved detrimental: just ask Chris Rock! (I'm already embarrassed to have made that joke, and that's while I'm typing it right now). Regardless of that, hip-hop was a significantly different entity at the start of 1993 than it was at the end of 1987; in 1987 America, a rapper was someone a sitcom grandmother would impersonate in a bum-moisteningly embarrassing routine about why her grandkids should never even look at marijuana, whereas in 1993 America the actress who played that granny would be calling the police twice a day over her fears at seeing a "rapper" in her neighbourhood. Now, I'm speeding over much relevant history and culture of those four years, but forgive me; you're smart, you can fill in the details yourself (actually, was there that much hip-hop about the end of the Cold War? Loads of rappers gave their takes on 9/11, to varying levels of taste). Gang Starr fit into the alternative hip-hop of the period, having a firm foot in really old-skool hip-hop with their beats and good-natured bravado, yet showing a greater sophistication than their predecessors, both musically and lyrically (the sample from the French electropop anthem E.V.A. is wonderful), and broadly, the album works. One aspect that stands out from this album is its clear intelligence. As much as it flaunts a cockiness, it always mitigates it with the sober realisation that arrogance, or indeed the desire to be arrogant, leads to many a fall, many a humiliation, and many a fuck-up. But I can't ignore the grumbles I have. The tracks feel rather samey, so quite a few tracks feel fillersome, meaning that the album feels far longer than it is. This lack of diversity also causes the listener to drift, generating the perverse conclusion that you think the rhymes might be interesting, but you're not interested enough to pay attention. The standout tracks (Step in the Arena, Who's Gonna Take the Weight?, Just to Get a Rep) are fantastic, and the album never sounds bad at all, but one wishes for a few more fireworks. Still, it does have the merit of thoughtfulness. Much hip-hop of the era had that quality, but much else didn't (much managed both simultaneously; Public Enemy and Ice Cube decided to fight racism with racism). An interesting artifact from an era of interesting artifacts, but this at least is interesting in itself, and not just historically interesting, unlike 2 Live Crew declaring their yearning for pussy or Vanilla Ice imploring ninjas to go, go, go.
Not heard this before and impressed by it.
Really feel like I must be missing something with this album. It didn't particularly grab my attention. Decent use of samples, beats were good, but lyrically, I just zoned out. Vintage hip-hop, yes. Nostalgic, maybe. Best hip-hop album ever, I just don't see it.
It was good, but it wasn't something that stood out too much. There are a lot of 90's hip-hop albums I would rather listen to, but it's still decent.
Musically, I really enjoyed this. Lyrically, it's the usual mix of genre stuff, but some is quite clever.
Not impressive at all but it's endurable
It's a genre I like and this is a good, if not great, example.
Guru was astonishing. Frowning cuz I'm down in the dumps The other night I took her out So she could shake her rump Exactly.
gangstaaa
Better than I expected. More musical than similar of the genre. Cover art 1/5 zero thought went into this.
3/26/2022 Today's Album: "Step In The Arena" by Gang Starr - Being a rap album from the same era as Straight Outta Compton, this album feels like a step up. The first track is the title track Step In The Arena and is a great introduction to this mellow, grooved out, rap music. It has a similar issue in it's verse structure as SOC, where each line has a rhyming counterpart, but this album does it with much more finesse. It still feels boring after a little while, but there is so much more character and intent behind each of the verses being spit on this album. The bass throughout these tracks is super in the mix and super deep/dark. It gives this booming feeling to each track and does a lot to stylize the album. As we get into the track list, the instrumentals seem to only get more interesting as the vocals get more and more difficult to slog through. Maybe I just really can't appreciate this genre, because it is so unbearable how inherently uninteresting this way of rapping sounds to me. Each track sounds like such a let down, as the beats lure me in with the authentic and dark production, but the rappers suck every ounce of energy out of it. Getting pretty done with the generator recommending these let-downs. As far as I can tell, one of these rappers has some real potential. I can't tell which ones, but the Highlighs section is pretty much all of his tracks because he just has more charisma. He still uses that annoying cliché in his rhyming, but he mixes it up with lengthened lines and smart wordplay. The song Lovesick has a truly amazing beat, welcoming me in with soft guitar plucking and that ever-present warm bass. The flow isn't bad on this track and I think that they work well as a group when they are singing about love (for whatever reason), but it is a really nice track overall. I really like the telephone sample in What You Want This Time?, but as usual it gets pretty ruined by the rapping. Also, they just mostly rap about being good at rapping, despite it being the literal worst part of this project. Seriously, though. It is all they rap about. The rest of the track list doesn't leave a very large impact except for Precisely The Right Rhymes, which has a bass so overblown it made my walls shake and my ears hurt for a sec. So, I would say overall that although there are a ton of really cool instrumental ideas all over this record, it never ends up hitting quite right due to the lack of performative talent form 1, or sometimes both, of the rappers in this group. Listen to it if you really dig soul instrumentals and can overlook some plainly bad rap verses throughout most of the tracks. Score: 6.5/10 Almost really good. Highlights: Step In The Arena, Beyond Comprehension, Lovesick, Here Today Gone Tomorrow, As I Read My S-A
Preferred yesterday’s Wu-Tang Clan album but this had some good tunes
Solid, but not spectacular. I can listen to Gang Starr all day, but there is never one song that I'd tell a friend "you HAVE to listen to this song"
Really enjoyed this album. Classic hip hop. Great samples. Sounded great in headphones.
Rating: 6/10
Gifted. Unlimited. Rhymes. Universal. I listened to this a little in the 90's after getting into the Hard to Earn album (which was released after this) and GURU's Jazzmatazz which was great. Though it was good to go back in time and listen, I didn't think much about the album. Though I have respect for GURU, this album is forgettable and sounds dated, so does HTE.
I've been sleeping on Gang Starr, despite the fact that they seem to be the originators of my favorite subgenre of hip hop, alongside groups like the Roots, De La Soul, Jurassic 5, and others. While overall I don't think Gang Starr is quite on the level of the best of the genre, I really enjoyed "Step in the Arena." The only song I knew was "Check the Technique," and either because of familiarity or the great strings it was my favorite on the album. Guru's rapping is occasionally a bit too slow in a cornier 80s hip-hop type way, and while he’s got some good lyrics overall his flow is solid but the he’s the weak link here. DJ Premier does a fantastic job of mixing classic beats and scratching with jazz and rock elements. He’s the highlight of the album. While I loved hearing Gang Starr's music, my favorite thing I learned about them today is that each episode title of the first season of the Netflix series Luke Cage, based on the Marvel Comics character, was named after a Gang Starr song. Gang Starr was surpassed by those they inspired, but they’ll get an extra star for their influence.
I haven't ever heard this but it feels like the jumping off point for Digable Planets and De La Soul. It feels a little more dated but definitely in the same ballpark.
I appreciate the lack of curse words in these songs. It’s refreshing to know hip hop can be done well without them. However, the beats are quite primitive and lead to a lack of excitement to hear this again.
I liked it
3/5
listenable 3/5
was alright, not so much my style I guess
Mid school old school bit laboured by today's standards
im not a big fan of "old school" hip-hop simply due to the fact that with innovative artists we have nowadays (kanye west, kendrick lamar, danny brown), listening to the pioneers makes it easy to find faults - it can feel a lot more limited and overall, more confined. regardless, i really enjoyed this album more than i thought i would. the album does drag its feet a little bit going into the second half, but the flow is usually fun and enticing, which can, in turn, be said for the instrumentals. it's a pretty fun album, i would say it's far from perfect and does tend to overstay its welcome, as well as getting quite repetitive. nonetheless, it's clear to see why this release is listed here. holds some great highlights too, i.e Check The Technique.
Nice bit of old school hip-hop
Hiphop sin estridencias. Sintetizadores y estilo ochentero.
I liked this quite a bit! The backing track / beats / music is quite good and varied enough to keep the album interesting.
Very classic early learning center rap
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Lovesick, Take A Rest Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: It's gotta be the best feeling to perpetually rap about how much better you are than every other rapper in the game and then have everyone say "yup this is one of the best albums of all time". Levels.
better than expected.
Premier is probably the best producer of all time, and I love many Gang Starr tracks, and RIP to Guru. But I never really enjoyed his flow, it's a bit outdated now, and this album doesn't change that.
It's ok, I get that it's influential but most of the lyrics are just bragging about how great they are. Some tracks are better than others.
Not my type of music but the lyrics were strong and powerful. It also had some beats that will catch you dancing.
Cultured hiphop. I was aware of Guru but had never listened to Gang Starr, worth revisiting.
3.5 | Disco muy muy solido. Bien hecho. Excelentes beats. Letras con propuesta que se siente entre una mezcla de Public Enemy y A Tribe Called Quest. Musicalmente muy bien mezclados los elementos de jazz y la instrumentación que se sale un poquito del género, aunque para estos años tampoco es que estuvieran haciendo parteaguas en ese sentido. No lo conocía y veo que es un disco muy aclamado. Quizá no me convenza a ese grado de ponerlo en un pedestal pero se me hace un disco muy muy sólido con mucha calidad... que sufre como tantos discos de hip hop en ser quizá demasiado largo.
Dentro de lo que puede tocar de Rap y Hip Hop he descubierto que este estilo me gusta más, donde hay sampleos, beats y rimas y de menos se conserva una buena calidad para cantar. De este disco quizá mi única observación es que fue un poco más largo de lo necesario.
Not my thing really
I'm very unfamiliar with early 90s hip hop, so this felt a bit dated, but I also appreciated its sound. Liked Check the Technique, Execution of a Chump.
A typical but enjoyable rap album from the 90s. 0 recognized songs
Good for non active listening. Some annoying samples in the back sometimes.
Gang Starr has always been kinda mid in my opinion
This was cool, but definitely worked better on the tracks with fuller or funkier beats, otherwise his monotonous flow fell flat
It was good to hear another side of hip-hop's golden age with this album. It may have seemed repetitive and a bit of a mixed bag at first, but there's a lot I found myself enjoying across the record. DJ Premier and Guru make a strong partnership, allowing each other's contributions to shine with no features. Guru's vocals are mellow, laid-back, setting a warm tone against Premier's even warmer, groove-laden sampling. My impression is that this is easy listening by hip-hop standards- no abrasive production, no aggressive vocals or violent and misogynistic lyrics. A Tribe Called Quest are the closest peer I can draw from my (limited) hip-hop knowledge, but for a relative beginner to the genre, it's ideal. The stage is set from the stand-out title track, and from there the sampling draws from some classic funk and soul, introducing me to some great tracks I hadn't heard before. In particular, the dramatic orchestral sample on "Check the Technique" (Marlena Shaw- "California Soul") and the sunsoaked brass and keyboard riff in "Lovesick" (Delfonics- "Trying to Make a Fool of Me") have pointed me towards songs I enjoyed more than anything on this album. The lyrics seem fairly repetitive- Guru repeatedly casts himself as an intellectual outsider, and laments hip-hop's downfall to commercialisation and violent lifestyles. It's an interesting perspective but feels like it's been covered after three tracks- maybe I just need to hear the lyrics more. It may not show much variation, and isn't always dynamic or upbeat enough to jump around to, but nonetheless I quickly found myself on my third listen, bobbing along to "Who's Gonna Take The Weight." At the very least, this is strong background music and it's also certainly one of the smoothest, most considered hip-hop albums I've heard.
My kind of hip hop. Mellow
Some classic beats here. Guru's flow can occasionally be a little simplistic and one note, but I enjoyed it more often than not. Call it a 3.5. Favorite tracks: "Check The Technique", "Take A Rest"
Not a huge rap fan but this wasn’t bad.
This was enjoyable.
3 stars. It’s good, but kind of basic 90s hip hop
Nice chill old-school rap album
Liked this. Listened to a couple of times since, Just To Get A Rep is the best song on it.
Decent and I surprisingly enjoyed this
// Favs: Check The Technique Score: Decent 3
Very much in the vain of de la soul, enjoyed
August 11, 2021 (Aug 20) Not bad but I personally found it a little bland.
good rap
Couldn’t get into this. I heard a lot of samples that I know I’ve heard elsewhere, these guys probably were first. I don’t know why I didn’t like this, seemed odd cadence and somewhat low energy. Still better than a lot of modern style.
Classic Hiphop.
RIP Guru Don’t skip Execution of a Chump
Äntligen hip-hop!!! Typiskt old-school hiphopalbum, med långsamma beats och snabb rap i verserna, med samplade rader och record scratches i refrängerna. Välluttänkta verser, främst om hur Guru lyriskt mördar den andra MC:n. Lovesick (Dylan inspirerad??) behandlar hur berättarjaget har svårigheter i sin relation på ett mycket skickligt sätt rent textmässigt. Efter lite research verkar många hiphopheads hålla detta som Gang Starrs tredje eller fjärde bästa album, typ, vilket lovar väldigt mycket om resten av deras diskografi! Sammantaget ett väldigt bra, klassiskt hiphopalbum. DJ Premier med felfria beats som Guru rappar över med ett naturligt flow. Bästa låt: Just to Get a Rep.
Really good instrumentals throughout. Some really great scratching as well, however, overall lacking in hooks and too similarly paced. Take a Rest/As I Read My S-A adds a much needed injection of pace but for the most part it feels like each song just blends into the next. Vocal cadence/flow very similar throughout as well and unfortunately rarely gripped me.
Alright album. Lyrically it’s above average. Beats are true to the 90s and only a couple songs stand out. Mostly it’s a standard 90s rap album. 6.5/10
Very well made, great poetic lyrics. Quite repetitive on a full play through. “Love Sick” and “Take a Rest” are the standouts for me
Need to make a Playlist with Gangstarr and Aesop Rock.
This album sounds like it must have been innovative at the time, and clearly Gang Starr is extremely talented. But it was not really our thing.
-Seems like a step between early rap and more modern rap, with slightly more complex rhyme schemes than old school rap -"Lovesick" stood out as the best track -"Step In The Arena," "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow," and "What You Want This Time?" were pretty solid
Very cool and chilled. Great lyrics, great beats. That said, like a lot of hip hop I find it's in one ear, out the other, but that's just me. I don' think I really pay enough attention to it.
Typical gang starr. Beats cah get repetitive but there are some good ones.
nice start. *takes notes* apparently the dj's name is premier and this dude's the guru. well so far it's exactly what i expected from the intro + year this came out. i like this well enough. i'm on song 3 and i'm bored already help. 'you puny protozoa'. this whole song is too much. he's not like the other rappers. 'strangely enough i've been struck, affected by her smile' lmao. it's a short thing but my fave track was 'say your prayers'. other than that one i liked 'precisely the right rhymes'. i'm most likely not coming back to this record but his lyrics were fun, the music was boring though. 2.5.
really decent rap album. Enjoyed some of the lyrics, better than an average rap in my estimation, but generally I am not into rap.
Background music
Classic Guru rhymes on dusty premier beats. You can't go wrong with this pairing. Nothing especially stood out on this ablum, and it is hard to rate it higher when I think of the other work these two did.
Нормальная тема, хоть ни в одну тему особо и не залип. Особенно удачным показался второй трек. Флоу бодрый, но не слишком харизматишный или технишный. Думаю, продукт своего времени, для которого было збс. Ныне немного скушновато. Но эстетикой олдскула норм веет, понадобилось бы - спиздил бит.
ух ты нихуя себе реп хз почему этот альбом сунули, он самый слабый т.к. самый первый да и 91й год это ж пиздец базовый уровень. слышно прям явно как все реперы того времени вдохновлялись ракимом - тематика без особой жести, слабенькие панчи про то какой я КРУТОЙ, а вы ФУФЛО максимально поверхностные, за такие щас засмеют. хотя на то время это было пиздец прорывом и потом лет 5 все так и звучали. строчки с плотно уложенным текстом на всю длину такта и иногда выходящие на новую строку тоже отличительная черта. про биточки уж че и говорить, два прихлопа да погнали зато сигнатурный скретчинг премьера в первозданном виде кек вместо этого альбома лучше б 1998 Moment of Truth включили, раз уж репа тут так мало рип гуру хули
Cool beats
Ah 90s hip-hop, feels like a distant paradise in a sea of mumble-bumble bollocks. I'm not saying there isn't a time and a place for mumble rap, it just doesn't fit into my schedule very often. Anyway... Step In The Arena was an album that gave me a brilliant feeling. I love the old school beats and the old school everything to be honest. Only reason it isn't getting higher is due to the album not having any absolute stand out tunes on there for me. I liked Step In The Arena but generally, this is an album full of pretty good tunes. I'm loving it more for the vibe.
Meh. The problem with 90's hiphop is that we have Kendrick Lamar now and he is the King.
Had three listens. I do really like it, but... BAD THINGS: I never pay any attention to actual lyrics (besides the enunciation of individual phrases) and that's the main appeal of rap music, so I'm unlikely to ever score hip-hop a high mark because my brain just ignores all the best features of this music. Hopefully I can get out of that trap over time. GOOD THINGS: Great style, love the brass and guitar samples making it all jazzy, and all the basslines are incredibly groovy. I like that the lyrical content isn't so vulgar like in some hip-hop, but the lyrics are delivered in a very assertive manner which comes across well. FAVOURITE TRACKS: "Take A Rear", "Who's Gonna Take The Weight", and "Step in the Arena".
Enjoyed this, not listened to these two before though I've heard of Premier. Good 3*
Good album. It is the sort of hip hop I like.
Decent grooves.
Not usually my kind of tunes, but surprisingly enjoyed this. Witty rhymes and lyrics that are actually interesting and I also really liked the music. Cool strings/ brass and piano up in there. Getting Diggable/ tribe called Q vibes. *who's gonna take the weight, beyond comprehension, Check the technique, as I read my S-A
Not quite sure how these guys had passed me by until now. Coming to it 30 years late it obviously sounds pretty old school but you can see the influence they had on loads of people who came after them, including some of my favourite artists like Jurassic 5. Enjoyed it, but probably enjoy what it led to more.
Ayy I've listened to this one before. Big Mos Def vibes but not as good
3.3 - Classic old school hip hop sound. Sunny, poppy, "conscious." Some corny rhymes here and there, but overall there's plenty to like.
5.5
Old school hip hop. It might be key record back in the day, now it sounds dated and not special...
This is old-school rap at its finest, plenty of great classic soul/funk loops and thoughtful rhymes.
Ganstar rap is exactly what it is: old school rap. Not particularly great, but not bad either
Liking the low-key delivery and presentation; this drink goes down smooth. 6/10
Solid rap and beets. I wasn’t wowed by anything.
Consistently great, classic, sample-heavy production from DJ Premier. Guru is a solid rapper, but ESPECIALLY in this early album, it's a lot of early, not-very-interesting cliched styles.
DJ Premiere! Otherwise, sure it’s pretty good.
That bell sound is back on Say Your Prayer, fucking love that little bell. This was a 3 until I read that all this is produced with two turntables. The production was getting a bit repetitive but if all they're working with is samples on a turntables then fair enough. His rhymes are a bit cheesy at times but all up pretty sick.
Some good beats and classic messages
Enjoyed this one more than some of the other 90s hip hop. Lyrically strong without unnecessary excessive profanity. I'm trying to focus more on the lyrical quality of this genre to help me enjoy it more.
A great rap album from the early 90s.
Good lyrics, not my favorite delivery. Beats are okay, “softer” than most rap from the time.
This is amazing. I love the musicality of this album. The production does have an 80's vibe but not in the synth way that I usually think of 80's music. I will be listening to this again for sure.
Melko solidia old schoolia
3.5 kind of repetitive but not a bad listen. i like "love sick"
More song I knew than I realised! Good chilled out early hip hop!
I get a lot of heat for not giving hip hop a chance, so I gave this one two listend. The first time I listened really carefully. The second, I used it as background music while at work. I think that’s the listening experience Gang Starr had in mind when they made the album. Sadly, I got nothing from it. Just left me wondering “What am I missing? Am I having some sort of existential crisis around my inability to understand or appreciate why this is in anyway noteworthy?” Ok, I've pondered this some more, went back in for another go. So. Every track starts with a sample, a scratch and a beat, between two and four bars. Then in comes that soporific rapping, so low key as to be comatose. Then a scratch, repeat sampled riff. Then comes the once in a lifetime lyrics: "Listen, listen listen, I'll tell ya, my rhymes are like shelter" Really, gee thanks for that. Like....heavy man....word... Like, what is supposed to be good about this? It is the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over....again.
A fun trip down the lane of some more-classic hip-hop, but simultaneously kind of … one-note? … in its delivery.
Not really into hip-hop
From the Vault #19 (January 18, 2026) Another daily hip-hop album to knock this genre off the block. It is with great pleasure that I can announce I'm officially in 1991. Nearly a decade of hip-hop albums covered in the span of two weeks. I'll be done with these hip-hop doohickeys in no time. Anyways, Gang Starr is a vaguely familiar name to me, though I can't imagine these guys are critic darlings - this is obviously gonna be gangsta rap. It's another. FUCKING. Hip-hop album with bloat up the arse. 1990 really was the year where the quality/quantity ratio of hip-hop fell off a cliff. It's not the worst as far as actual runtimes go, but 18 songs is just way too fucking many for one man to engage with. I can appreciate the bold decision to roll with a stripped-back sound, but it didn't culminate in anything which hooked me. All of the 1-2 minute tracks passed by without much notice, either. The vocals are appropriate for the genre but, once again, hip-hop just isn't for me. Book time. Hip-hop purists (i.e., minimalists). "It sounds raw as hell." Never thought I'd encounter such a line in a professional review. The album which established their formula. Wikipedia reveals that this album was well-received by critics, but only had a mild chart success. Gang Starr were pioneers in jazz rap. IGN of all publications said this was the best hip-hop album of all time. That's pretty funny. These guys don't seem to be big shots by any stretch of the imagination, though they do appear to be fairly-well-respected in the more niche circles of hip-hop. I respect that, and as a result I cosign this inclusion.
Boring. It was long and nothing stood out.
This was okay. I had it on in the background but nothing really stood out to me.
Classic early hip hop with simple beats and smooth, easy to understand rhymes. It's a little basic and low energy in today's context though.
Couldn't get into it.
Typical style
Previously unknown. Good listen.
That squealing on "Who's Gonna Take the Weight?" drove me insane. I am no rap pro, but the space and breath between lyrics felt off putting and disjointed to me. It's like he was reading a paper in front of the mic over feeling it and letting it flow on many tracks. Some of the lyrics are decent and others made me giggle with what he was putting together. It needed to up the BPM to keep the momentum. Coffee shop rap. Early 90's feel. They may have laid the groundwork for what was coming. Many beats on this record are similar to what I don't like about certain EDM genres. 2.7/5
Unlike Colton, I didn't like this album, but I am very perplexed why I liked the Tupac one and not this one? It might because it seems like these guys are just chilling and acting all tough. While Tupac seems like he had more passion and grit behind the sound? Interesting for sure. Also going through these two albums in the same day was a looot of rap for me.
Decent 90s rap… but just on in the background. Nothing jumped out as something I plan to revisit.. 2.4
Is this the cult that formed around Ringo Starr after he narrated Thomas & Friends? If so... Mr Starkey, I'm disappointed. What happened to peace and love? The sound is standard golden-age hip-hop, maybe with slightly more palatable lyrics, but all in all nothing to get particularly excited about. The wonder of hearing that sort of lo-fi blurred backbeat – omnipresent in the genre – has long since worn off, and instead it's features like the piano and bassline in Execution Of A Chump that really stand out. The vocals, in just about every track, absolutely flop. Not that they're particularly bad... they're just the most bog-standard you could possibly get for hip-hop. The main rapper could be one of a thousand different anonymous, monotonous rappers of the era. If you're going to add a vocal and don't want to bother writing a melody, c'mon, give your delivery some oomph. There's a reason Eminem and Kanye and Kendrick ended up as successful as they are: there's real conviction, real humanity, behind the voice. The interludes – Name Tag, Game Plan, Street Ministry, and Say Your Prayers – are all completely pointless (possibly excluding Street Ministry, which at least has some cool instrumental melodies going on). Maybe I didn't pay enough attention to the album's lore or something. But I don't understand what these songs contribute to the album concept, or the musical themes, or anything really. Just because your producers gave you a spare minute or two to fill on the record, doesn't mean you should do so. The horns in Take A Rest, What You Want This Time?, and As I Read My S-A stand out positively. The other elements of those songs are nothing to write home about, but the harmonised trumpets? Now those are decent. Add more varied, less sample-sounding lines, sprinkle in a solo or two... then we're really talking. Unfortunately, this genre is sorely lacking in the brass solo department. The whole album feels flat and monotone as a result, even if some of the individual songs shine. Maybe I'm being too harsh. This makes for better music than most hip-hop from that time period. The vocal delivery gets on my nerves, but everything else is passable. 2/5 Key tracks: Step In The Arena, Execution Of A Chump, As I Read My S-A
Just not my thing. It's fine, but I'm not listening to it on my own. Super repetitive.
I struggle with old school hip hop. It is so dated by 2026 standards and it's hard to really appreciate it. Especially when the production of this era of hiphop is so grating to my ears. I don't like the scratching, or the repetitive beats, or the clumsy sampling. However, this album isn't annoying so that's at least a mark in its favor.
Wouldnt' listen agian. 2/5
An okay album, no real stand out songs.
Not really my kind of thing, but ok to listen to, I don't mind the odd rap track, but a whole album gets a bit samey
I can't seem to pay attention long enough to get much out of Rap, so my opinion is irrevelant. 2 stars or D.
Perhaps a little too underground for my liking. Ive never heard of this album though. Does this make me a fake hip hop fan?! Favorite song: Lovesick
very okay, kinda samey
Couldn't get through it, but what I heard didn't speak to me
Not big on rap myself. The album is at least an easy listen.
I understand this is a classic hip hop album but imo a tribe called quest holds up better. Production is pretty sick though
Man, this is so whack. I give it a star for the title track - there were a lot game & fantasy terms in their lyrics, which I think is interesting for a rap song. And another star for track 7. "Check the Technique", as they used a sample from another song I like. I don't think this album is particular strong and I was asking me sometimes if this is serious or a parody, but it was also a very funny to listen to (for example "Lovesick" or "what you want this time").
I love my old-school hiphop. But here somehow the flow is missing. And the backingtracks suck from time to time. Listen to the first one, sounds like my farts after drinking too much Weißbier.
Never got into HipHop, and this album certainly won't help. Many instrumentals are actually quite good, I like the beats and the Jazz samples. Would have enjoyed this more if it WAS only instrumental HipHop, because I hated the rapped verses. I generally don't pay much attention to lyrics, so I get why some of the appeal might be lost to me. But on the other hand, whenever I did listen to the lyrics, it was about why this guy was the coolest and that everyone else can suck it... yawn. 1,5/5 weak
It's interesting that every beat starts off really good but quickly overstay their welcome with few switch-ups or breaks. Especially considering the tracks aren't particularly long. That in combination with Guru's unenthusiastic delivery means I'm not really impressed by this album.
Meh. Felt pretty generic.
It's okay, not really my thing
Not a huge fan of rap. Didn’t finish the album.
Some decent beats and songs but overall pretty repetitive and dull
I didn't care much for this one. I know the focus is the lyrics, but I didn't really parse those, and without them, you just get songs with 3-4 second samples repeated ad infinitum. Not for me. 2/5
Music of its time, nothing more, nothing less, but closer to the middle of the road.
They say it’s one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. OK, now it’s official. I just can’t get into hip-hop. A barrage of words over the same old beats, over a words, over beats, over words, over beats. I suppose it’s all very meaningful. But musically, it bores me to death. Not my cup of tea. Definitely not my cup of tea.
Funky but didn't excite me.
It was a good hip-hop album. I don't think that I am the best judge for this album, but I think it was fun just not for me
Hi hum hip hop
Not bad, but not my favorite. Some great lines in the album but the overall tone of this felt lacking.
… I guess? I didn’t dislike it, but what am I missing here?
generic early hiphop
Boring, repetative. Surprised its not earlier than 1990 really.
Flojo, pero no inescuchable. Muy monótono y aburrido
I have never even heard the name of this group nor any songs by them. So this will all be new to me. This is my 5th hip hop album and I liked more songs on this one album than the other 4 rap albums combined (only 3 songs total on those). But - I still only ended up liking 5 out of 18 songs on this. Maybe rap is growing on me or this one is actually better (thinking the latter)? Songs liked: "Execution of a Chump", "Beyond Comprehension", "Lovesick", "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow", "What You Want This Time?". Just noticed most of these are some of the least streamed songs on this album, except for Lovesick. It seems my rap tastes don't match up with the masses at all - haha. Some of the songs have a fun vibe and they are not the usual misogynistic crap I've heard on other rap albums. Liked songs on Spotify: 5/18 Rating: 2/5
Gangster with a decent rythem. but let's just agree to stick to our own turf.
For hip-hop, this is pretty much spot on. It's just not for me.
Aldrig varit min genre tyvärr, säkert bra gjort oas!
Some of the bars are cool, but mostly this just feels like another dated hip hop album.
About as goofy as the artist name would suggest. 1.5/5.0: Bad
I mean I get what these guys are trying to do, but it's falling far short of A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy, De La Soul, 3rd Bass, and other east coast hip hop groups. I'm just not getting there. they have some grooves, but I still struggle to find why I needed to hear this before I die. Seems to happen a lot with albums on this list. 2.45 / 5 stars
ripetitivo, boring
A simple rap album with some interesting samples woven in. Didn't feel very special.
Hurray, hip-hop without incessant swearing and even some background tunes.
Hip hop que realmente no me llegó mucho 4/10
this was a bit of a hard slog to get through, you’ve heard one song you’ve heard them all
Still not my genre
typical-feeling early 90s hip hop. well done but not really grabbing me.
*Shrug* Playthrough was fine, but there was nothing drawing me in for a second pass.
Never ever even heard of these guys. But some sweet scratching on the decks.
I really want to like this… but many of the rhymes feel forced, making them sound awkward and/or weak.
I hate east coast rap. All they cared about was the rhythm of their deliveries and not about the beat
This was pretty bland. It slipped by largely unnoticed.
Dj Premier is een legende en Guru is zeker geen matige rapper, maar dit album is net wat te oud voor me. Ik verveel me er een klein beetje bij en dat is niet goed natuurlijk. Dit raakt geen enkele snaar bij me. Doe mij maar 'Moment Of Truth', hun album uit 1998. Ik hou het op een 2 vandaag. Ik kan er niet meer van maken.
Boring, generic rap. Was optimistic. 2
Kinda sounds like every other 90s hip hop album :/
Another "Greatest hip hop album of all time"? Big question sign for me! Nonetheless a well produced and quite listenable hip hop album. favourite: "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" 2,5
I came into this with nothing except a slight distain for early 90's rap I came away with that opinion wholly unchanged but i did enjoy some of the samples.
Chill beats, nice flow, little to say. Probably felt far more in its age.
ouderwetse rap. redelijk voor de stijl
Very early 90s rap.
I assume this has a great historical significance, but it kinda fell flat to me. Some great beats, combining jazzy samples with a Public Enemy style collage approach. Flows and lyrics are nice in a late 80s storytelling fashion, but it felt like a stepping stone to better work in later years. Not offensive, but lacking any kind of hook. Listened through twice and can't remember a single track. A very high 2.
Maso
This album has been ballyhooed as the greatest in the hip-hop genre and I have to say it is one of the least annoying of the many foisted on me in this list - but I got bored very, very quickly.
Sin letras no hay alegría.
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
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)
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.
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.
Never heard of them … liked the beats and the vocals were cool but just too samey all the way through.
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.
OK. 2/5
Not bad but nothing amazing
Tough rhymes, boom bap.
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
2/5 I think
not in my 1000000001
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.
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.
It’s alright kinda forgettable
not too bad
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?
Wasn't sure what to expect. A bit limited / formulaic. Easy listening, classic hip hop. 5/10 for me.
Punny band name was the best part of the album.
I found this album pretty dull, although a couple of the tracks, like Lovesick, served to brighten things up a bit.
Streit
Not my thing
Better than a lot of others I’ve heard from this genre but still not for me.
Nothing amazing, just decent
not for me
Not for me.
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
Boring
4/10 - classic 90s rap. It just isn’t that good and sounds similar to every other 90s rap album.