Reviews (page 7 of 8)
buen disco, muy de swag ah
Repetitivo e ideal para dejar de fondo while scrapbooking 2/5
Jag var tvungen att lyssna på Gang Starr. Kan inte kännas mer hip-hop än så här för Dino. Är ganska ball men ah de är också rätt jävla bjäring. Stark tvåa!
Sagde mig ikke noget
I tend dread the hip hop records that were pre-1996 much less than the more recent ones. While I still would not consider them good music or particularly enjoy them even a little, at least they aren't (usually...) so bad that I can't stand to listen to them. And there was no AutoTune then so that's always a plus. The lyrics are usually much less offensive and every now and then there might even be something in one song that approaches real music. This album falls into that category. I don't like it but it isn't full of misogyny, homophobia, abject violence, rape, and all other manner of things that for some reason are just standard for most hip hop from the late 90s on. I wouldn't listen to this again, I didn't really enjoy listening to it today, but at least as far as hip hop goes it wasn't too bad. Much too long but +1 star for being the only hip hop album I know of to stick in a Star Trek reference. 2/5
I bet this was important when it came out, but it’s pretty punchless now.
Old school hip hop which sounds dated. It might
I love rap and hip-hop, but this wasn't one of the better examples for me. Pretty cool instrumentals, but wasn't sure about the lyrical flow in places.
They tended to sound quite similar to me on a first listen. I’m sure there’s a lot to appreciate in this genre, but I don’t think I understand it well enough yet.
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.
This was okay. In general I feel like the hip hop on this list makes sense and deserves its place, but this was a miss for me. Not terrible, but I have a hard time understanding why this is considered significant. It’s not bad, just kind of forgettable, and there’s much better out there.
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.
Best Track - "Take A Rest"
This was okay. I had it on in the background but nothing really stood out to me.
Nope.
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.
All a bit samey
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.
2.1 Disappointing. I've heard of Gang Starr before, my brother's mate used to love them and so I was expecting better things given his music taste wasn't the worst. Literally just had a similar 90s hip-hop album yesterday. Basic beats, basic rhymes (imagine using "My music means everything to me, it's my life, so make like a camper, and go take a hike" unironically. Must say though, after the album finished 2 or 3 Gang Starr songs from other albums came on that were all enjoyable than this entire album. Lost chance.
Not my thing, but didn't give up on it.
Again, like most old school rap I just finf this monotone.
Finns ju åtminstone någon form av melodi i låtarna.
As it is with hip hop and rap, I am not the biggest fan. But if I had to choose, it will always be late 80’s early 90’s like this right here.
Ganz in Ordnung
There’s certain better rap and beats out there, IMO.
Not my thing
solid, unremarkable early 90s hip-hop
Inoffensive to have on in the background while making dinner, but given the choice (on what feels similar) give me 3 Feet High and Rising
I like old school rap as much as the next guy but I just don’t see what’s special about Gangstar or even this album in particular. The beats were as expected the rhymes and flow predictable. If this was the first of its type or a throwback to this sound I could perhaps see the relevance however it is from the time period it sounds like, and that’s not a good thing. There are others I would rather listen to when I want to listen to old school rap.
It was okay but I'm not a big fan of the genre so it didn't really move me.
Meh. D d d d d don't believe the hype...
Vibey
Too smooth
Solid fucking album
I was prepared to give it a 2.5, then looked at the songs and noticed I was only on track 7/18. I do appreciate it as a piece of rap history and at times it was refreshing and chill. Some of the lyrics were wack, but in a hype way. I don't really like how 'static' old rap is.
Not bad, but not really my cup of tea
this probably went so hard 40 years ago
Me gusta la cadencia lenta que tiene y la forma de rapear, pero tampoco es que me vuelve loco, es muy largo.
Not one of my favourites. Okay record.
Not my kind of music
I didn't hate it but it just fell flat for me and was instantly forgettable.
This album was definitely better than I had anticipated as a non hip hop fan. A lot of the songs started to kinda blend together tho. I think the beats were creative. The vocals didn't really interest me too much Liked songs: Just to Get a Rep, As I Read My S-A
The more older jazz rap I listen to, the more I love the jazz rap of the last couple decade or so. Albums such as To Pimp A Butterfly or Modal Soul really seem to understand what makes jazz so great, and doesn't take away from that genre for the sake of simple beats and an easy song structure. However, that, in turn, makes albums like The Low End Theory, and our album today, Step In The Arena, feel hollow and cheap, in my opinion. I am not denying the jazz is there, because it is, but it all feels so plain, and with flows and bars that feel like I could make them whilst parodying hip hop, it just doesn't have much in the way of something interesting. I'm glad acts like Gang Starr were around to add more layers to the rap game than gangsta rap or boom bap, but when returning to these earlier albums it can feel a tad goofy, and it really disappoints.
Felt dated. I don't hear this style of rapping any more.
I didn't get it. Not a genre I particularly like, and with that, maybe there's a historical reason for this being on the list, but I didn't get what that would be.
Lyrics are good on several songs, but the total was a bit too boring for me.
tracks 1-3: wow that’s a cool sound tracks 2-6: ok, still the same sound Tracks 7-10: can I get some variety? Tracks 11-15: please change something 😭 Tracks 16-18: I am dead inside
It seems well produced.
Not realy my taste.
1. name - 0 2. arena - 1.5 3. intellect - 1 4. chump - 1 5. uueight - 2 6. beyond - 1 7. technique - 1.5 8. lovezick - 1.5 9. tomorrouu - 1 10. game - 0 11. rezt - 1.5 12. time - 1 13. ztreeet - 0 14. rep - 1 15. prayerz - 1 16. read - 1.5 17. rhymez - 1 18. name - 1.5
I don't know why but I never got into this one at all .
Better than most hiphop albums on this list. Which does not mean much
It didn't grab me.
Nothing really stood out with this album, but I didn’t really listen to the lyrics, just had it as background music.
Idc 2.5
So very, very unmemorable.
90’s hip hop kinda sucks
I managed half of this and couldn't tell any of it apart so I bailed. Some of the samples were good but the rapping was really bland
This album sounds like it was recored on the cusp of the Daisy Age. Macho posturing is toned down, but there's still a slight growl in the delivery. The production is fantastic. There wasn't a lot of variety in the tracks. I tired after 45 minutes or so.
Not my genre. Surprisingly enjoyable. Laid back, mellow, some silly, playful lyrics. Check the Technique and Lovesick were highlights. Album too long and samey though. Also Jojo
Too jazzy for my taste.
Didn’t enjoy this much. Sonically sounded very dated, and I wasn’t a fan of much of the lyrical flow or production style. Seemed like a poor version of P.E.’s the Bomb Squad, with the horn squeals. The uplifting subject matter was nice but damn, Gangsta Rap had this beat on producing jams.
A little repetitive for me.
Some cool beats but pretty underwhelming
Old skool but overall kinda meh.
I feel like the is the album I want to listen to when I am craving 90’s rap. The only problem is, I have never craved 90’s rap.
This one was not for me. I enjoyed it musically and some of the songs were better lyrically than others. But most of the songs were filled by the rhymiest of rhymes. And rhymey rhymes are my pet peeve.
not my thing
Boom Bap Rap is one of the most boring rap genres, despite what this duo has done outside of this project being great.
En vaan oikein välitä tästä ysäriräpistä. Tärkeää genren historialle jne jne, ei vaan mun musaa.
Boring.
18 Songs mit 50:32 Min. Rap mit Acid und Techno Elementen (auch als HipHop bezeichnet) sogar auszugsweise auch hörbar. Trotzdem ist es ein Genre, das mir nicht zusagt. Es gibt auch keinen Song den ich nochmal hören will.
Man, I really thought I was going to love this album but it was a snooze. I love Premiers production, but it gets repetitive in one sitting. Guru never switches up his flow (admittedly, not a common practice in this era) and there are no features so it becomes more noticeable as the record goes on. No real stand out tracks, honestly. This era of hip-hop is filled with so many more interesting artists and albums. Gang Starr definitely holds a place in the history books, but I'll probably stick to best-of albums from here on out.
I still don‘t like Hip-Hop. Again I gave it a try, but it‘s not my cup of tea.
good old school rap
I'm sure it would grow on me but the songs sounded the same on first listen
Didn’t dislike this, but not sure it aged well and doesn’t really stand out.
First listen Saved 7/18 Top track: Step In The Arena
Some of the sampled music was nice, still not a fan of rap. After a while it was just boring shit.
Ok-ish to listen to in the background, but not an album I’d seek out to listen to again
Wasn't for me
Apparently some have called this the best hip hop album of all time. Forgive me, I simply found it underwhelming.
Subpar hip-hop outshined by it's contemporaries.
Not normally my type of of music, but I can def hear this album's influence on early 90s rap.
Nope
Decent. Not my cup of tea though but don't hold that against them.
Old school rap not my thing….
Hip-hop rap. Rollo. Sin más.
hip hop
If this is the greatest hip hop album of all time then I have no hope of getting into this genre
I like the flow and messaging, but the beats and monotone cadence are kind of boring. I'm guessing that this is kind of a consequence of the times though. I think it was probably a great album that just didn't age incredibly well.
Meh
Il fait trop chaud pour s'infliger en plus du rap du passé
bem chatinho
Brave gangster
Helaas is mijn mood niet gang-starr vandaag, zelfs met met zijn dubbele R!
Wel Nice! Beetje same same aan het eind van het album
90s rap. Apparently influential. A little 'Hi, my name's Louis...' in style, but the lyrics seemed interesting. I enjoyed the name-check of Dick Dastardly in 'Form of Intellect'. Disappointingly, neither Mutely, Penelope Pitstop, Peter Perfect nor the Ant Hill Mob got a similar shout-out. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Step In The Arena Date listened: 01/05/23
Lyrically I think it might be quite good, but I just found it a bit boring. It's the kind hip hop that's done over a loop, where as I prefer some melodic progression
Generic 90s hip-hop sound. Nothing really stood out and I was pretty bored listening to this album.
Sehr chill, ich mag den vibe voll. Aber ist halt auch nicht so was, was ich so wirklich hören würde
You can not convince me that hip-hop is music. It's awkward poetry read to some shitty beats. 2/5 dogshit.
Lyrics were pretty good but ultimately something I feel I'll forget about quite quickly
Not amazing. Wouldn’t give another listen.
mmmm hell yeah premier. track 4 goes barny last few were alright. track 6 yippy. sticken you and fricken you, just a teeny bit. beat goes hard on track 7 what the hell is guru on about. the kick sounds Really good on track 10. oh my lord that bassline on track 11. the short interlude tracks go so hard. I must say I want more premier less guru. something about his rap style just isn't clicking with me. track 17 beat is lovely. Yeah I would much rather this being a premier beat album with the beats slightly more developed than with guru on it. I am so sorry guru I like some of his work but this is simply not it to me ☹️. his rapping was good on the last track but I just really wasn't messing with this album. and I didn't even enjoy it as much as the very 3 adele album. jasus this is gonna be a 2
Hip hop. Coñazo.
Hip-hop rap. Rollo. Sin más.
Niet bijzonder interessant, ook niet heel aandachtig geluisterd. Het was prima achtergrondmuziek tijdens het gamen, alleen het greep dus ook mijn aandacht niet. Veel van hetzelfde, weinig variatie. Vast invloedrijk, maar met de latere hiphop in het achterhoofd niet heel interessant.
Weinig opmerkelijk
I thought the beats were so creative. Even so, the level of rapping didn’t match up to the quality of the production. It was a little too lethargic to me, especially when considering the diversity of the beat selection. It’s a little disappointing to present something this different and not rise to meet that standard. Faves: Execution Of A Chump, The Meaning Of The Name, Take A Rest, Precisely The Right Rhymes
2.5 got a bit samey
2.5 - Neutral Another album I'd pick as background music. Besides 3-4 tracks not too many bangers. The beats are solid though.
Pakko myöntää, että ohi meni kuunnellessa. Solid ysäriräppiä
Miellyttävää, kepeää. Yksi biisi nousi jopa suosikiksi. (Execution of a Chump). Mutta miksen jaksa kuunnella kokonaan?
Step In The Arena is just like loads of early 90s rap/hip hop we've had in that it just misses the quality bar set by the better East Coast artists, which have a distinctive (but not necessarily better) sound compared to the West Coast titans. It's just too laid back, it lacks edge, it lacks intensity, and tries to serve as a vehicle to show off their (average) lyrical dexterity while telling stories that don't engage or make you think. 2.
This is fine, decent rap but nothing special - the storytelling that makes really good rap great just isn't here (although it gets close in Just To Get A Rep). A lot of filler in this album, only really a couple of tracks that are really worth listening to (the title track is decent, a bit faster paced with a bit more funk than most of the album). 2/5.
J’ai écouté plusieurs album hip-hop de cette période et je trouve que celui-ci soutient mal la comparaison. C’était les mêmes thèmes, mais moins bien exploités. Le flow du chanteur me semblait plus lent aussi.
Well put together. Great flow. Some weird background effects that remind me of Halloween. But this was fine.
Quite good
Rap. Music. Wicky wick wickety, goes the sound of the record. Spinning vinyl like hair shedding off a German Shepard. I can't believe im listening to the sam- sa- same lyric over and over and over again. This record spinning bs is making a headache begin. It's not ba- ba - bad- bad, but it's pretty mid at the end of the day. I aint The Rock in an animated kids movie, but what can I say?
Some fun backing track twiddles, felt a bit like a GCSE project But vocals pretty samey but when I listen the lyrics tell some interesting stories More track scratching don't make a better track Liked it more than I thought I would? Pretty chill
Dull
It was alright, bit indifferent towards this, hadn't heard of Gang Starr before, guess I'm not the target audience, nothing really stood out for me.
Clairement, ils essaient de proposer un hip-hop « intelligent ». Ça sort un peu vide par contre. Ils essaient trop parfois et ça donne l’impression qu’ils sont des wannabe scientifiques.
leuk maar niet speciaal imo
Everyone says it’s good but needs a relisten
Seems like standard old school Eat Coast rap. I'm not really into it.
Good
General culture
Thought it was okay, nothing stood out to me.
Sadly unmemorable, both from the time and from when I listened yesterday.
I'm sure this album may be recognised as high-quality by hip-hop lovers. Although the lyrics seem to follow a long working time, I struggle with the drums and rhythms... Hip Hop is not for me.
This was certainly more tuneful than some rap I’ve heard but all the tracks were in the same vein and it’s certainly not a genre I would generally listen to. 1 seems harsh considering some of the albums we’ve heard so 2*
Didn't really listen as I normally would so perhaps a little unfair. But what I did hear was underwhelming...
Lots of technique. Nothing about the lyrics draws me though, in the way that Magnetic North (Derek Kan and Theresa Vu, not the other band) songs do. Kind of reminds me (a little bit) of Nujabes - Luv Sic vibes, for the lyrical flow, but not for the instrumentals.
3 I could not listen to "Who's Gonna Take The Weight" for more than a minute. 2 The lyrics are fun and clever, but the beats are so goddamn repetetive. I mean of course they are, it's the start of sampled hip-hop, but it's just so boring. "Check The Technique" slaps
Não foi dessa vez que eu consegui escutar atentamente um álbum de hip hop.
Detta albums sensmoral: Guru är episk på mikrofonen och i allmänhet. Bra beats dock.......
Not bad but not great
Their early stuff isn't as good as the later but still some good tracks on this one
not really my kinda music
Picks up steam as it goes along but can't escape some fatal design flaws – most beats are built around either repetitive or straight-up annoying samples (or both!) that grate across the space of a 3-minute track, and the bars tend to feel somewhat monotone and uninspired. There are several high points where the production and delivery rise to the occasion, but mostly this LP just feels a bit hollow.
Not quite my jam, but I could appreciate some of the tracks.
Not bad actually, the tunes are reasonably pleasant if a bit uninspiring
Didn't mind it, a few songs had me bobbin my head. I liked Lovesick and Execution of a Chump Although, as is the case with most hip hop, the song structures are extremely repetitive, so it bored me sometimes. I felt the album was too long for what it was worth, with a lot of fluff.
Quite boring honestly. I kind of liked “As I read my S-A”
"you're heating up like a thermostat?" no. that's it.
Definitely give them credit for writing thoughtful powerful lyrics, but I really don't like the delivery style, it has a muddy/muffled sound (reminds me of digital underground) with a lot of 80's sounding rap accent noises inserted (exaggerated scratches, sirens, horns). Doesn't age well for me.
Fun samples, vintage beats, but again this is nothing earth or butt shaking. Never heard it before, won't be listening again
Not really my cup of Gang Starr Tea
Firstly I have to profess I'm a Hip-hop dunce but something like "It takes a Nation of Millions" is raw and addictive and came before this. I think this is like the cleaned up 'presentable' version of Hip-Hop dreamed up by Spike Lee and presented to America? It's like the equivalent of 'Fresh Prince' only it's not funny. 'Who's gonna take the weight?' is a good track but only because it's a Public Enemy clone. It's not bad, only middle of the road.
Dont like this type of music.
I might recognize why this is in the list, but the entire album felt like listening the first three songs in a loop, always the same thing over and over. Not my type of music, I guess…
I dunno, it seems like fairly uninspiring hip hop to me. If anything he sounds as bored as I felt.
Classic early 90s rap/hiphop. Lyrics are creative and varied but don’t always go anywhere. No stand out tracks. Background beats are repetitive. Skipped one or two tracks.
Sorry, but no.
Anonymous early 90's rap sound...forgettable. 2/5
I find old school rap to be pretty boring. This album has some good beats but i don't think i will return to it anytime soon.
Seems pretty solid, background music is good and raps sound ok. Didnt have to skip around much. 2
I think a lot of the songs sound a bit too dated but I can appreciate the album for what it probably once was
1. Name Tag 0:36 - nice little intro skit 2. Step in the Arena 3:37 - decent bars. beat is weak though was bored half way through 3. Form of Intellect 3:40 - Like the beat of this song a bit more but nothing in this track blew me away. 4. Execution of a Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt.2) 2:41 - decent. 5. Who's Gonna Take the Weight? 3:56 - Not thrilled about this one. 6. Beyond Comprehension 3:13 - meh. 7. Check the Technique 3:58 - Again not bad but not great. 8. Love Sick 3:27 - Again not bad but not great. 9. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 2:18 - Again not bad but not great. 10. Game Plan 1:08 - interlude 11. Take a Rest 4:21 - I really like bass line sampled in this track, it is a shame the rest of the track doesn't measure up. 12. What You Want This Time? 2:41 - not great. 13. Street Ministry 1:25 - Short little track, nothing noteworthy though. 14. Just To Get A Rep 2:42 - Average 15. Say Your Prayers 1:24 - Average 16. As I Read My S-A 3:02 - not great. 17. Precisely The Right Rhymes 3:25 - My favorite song of the album, interesting lyrics and a decent beat. 18. The Meaning Of The Name 2:55 - Truly saved the best for last. I was expecting to write this song off but I like it even better than the last track. Maybe I am judging this album unfairly by applying 2021 standards to it. I realize that albums like this laid the ground work for really interesting stuff to come but I am not a rap historian whose mission it is to appreciate the birth of an art form, I am just a guy who wants to listen to good music. I was going to score it a 1/5 but the last two songs saved it and bumped the whole album up a star.
Felt like a pretty generic early hip hop album. Not bad but nothing special
Like most 90s rap, hasn’t aged well
Washed over me. Didn't hear anything that particularly felt revelatory but at the same time wasn't paying a huge amount of attention to the lyrics.
Good rap is still rap.
Not my kind of music 😞
I am not greatly into rap although I do appreciate it as an art form and expression. This was typical old skool rap and the flows were good, he has a nice tone. I likes some of the beats but the lyrics were not that clever.
The title track was alright, but honestly the album just felt like average hip hop of that time. Not bad, not great. 2/5 stars.
More intersting than most hiphop albums, but pretty boring.
Not my style
Solid listen. Premier beats are top notch and Guru's rhymes are somehow smooth and sharp. Execution of a Chump was my favorite track
Music is a mediocre sort of rap
I kinda see why some people see this album as a classic piece of east-coast hip hop, but I just can't hear it. The production is awful, with cymbals that are overplayed to a ridiculous extent and annoyingly sharp jazzy sounds that almost drown out some great lyrics. This mostly happens on the first half of the record, but I lose my patience on the second half due to the same boring, not hard-hitting, average, choppy rapping. 2/5.
Rap is just not for me.
Eh, I know I’m supposed to like gang Starr and I’m sure he’s respected for a reason, but I just find listening to him boring. Step into the arena is good
да уныль какая-то. репчик тех времён для меня во многом зависит от битла, ибо практически все флоу были монотонной и просторифмованной бубнежкой. ну а здесь, есчесн, одни из самых раздражающих и бесполезных битов, что я слышал. вероятно худшее использование волынки в треке (хотя может это и трубы были, хуй поймёшь). Плюс минус зашли meaning of a name и say your prayers (которая бля звучит как заставка гта сан андреас, я хз связаны ли они как-то). Неинтересный альбом, стронг фри ту э лайт фо
It's alright. Decent tunes and rapping but lyrics a bit shit.
No connection whatsoever.
Not my thing.. Very repetitive..
Not for me
Considering hip hop isn't really my thing, I didn't hate this. I was bopping along with it at times but it was quite tough to listen to for 50 minutes straight so I had a few breaks from it.
Good, but not for me.
Hip hop
Hip-hop rap. Rollo. Sin más.
eh, decent content subpar rapping
Too good for my taste & patience I think.
90s hip hop has not aged well. While I understand that it was probably influential and novel when it came out, on today's standard is (musically, not lyrically) less relevant
Very basic rap album without a lot of beats and very clean rap. Not bad, just too long and too monotonous
Aika joutava levy. Ei jäänyt mieleen...
I guess this falls somewhere between ice cube and ice-t, but it's nowhere near as good as either of those. Sounds like early 90s hip hop but without any samples, nothing really stands out, just plods along and acts a bit too intellectual. 2/5.
I was due for another rap record… This one was kinda boring tbh, it really just sounded like the guy was talking the whole time, I didn’t really care for his flow. The beats were fine but not really my style and his lyrics were pretty meh, just a lot of I’m the best, my rhymes are so good, I’m so smart. Tbh even with the sex interludes I liked the other rap record Ive listened to so far better bc at least that was interesting. I would not listen again, 1.25/5
*No music, just rap
HipHop? Nö!
Mittwoch 09.09.2026 Im UG der philologischen Bibliothek durchgeskippt, konnte musikalisch nicht viel mit anfangen, lyrics aber geil
favs: step in the arena just to get a rep say your prayers rating 0.7/5
Sighed when I saw it as today’s album, still gave it a couple of tracks, but then gave up. Samey and repetitive, and the lyrics come too fast to really be able to hear, understand or appreciate them. I’m sure some people like it. Not for me.
Lyrically powerful but monotone and dull as dishwater.