Reviews (page 7 of 8)
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.
This is right in my lane. Great record.
eh
90s rap is just always pretty good
Pakko myöntää, että ohi meni kuunnellessa. Solid ysäriräppiä
Miellyttävää, kepeää. Yksi biisi nousi jopa suosikiksi. (Execution of a Chump). Mutta miksen jaksa kuunnella kokonaan?
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.
Good early rap/hip hop
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.
LP
Love it when you come across a gem like this in this project. First listen - Heard of them but don’t recognize any of this LP but not just an LP that I’ll listen to again but this will be with me for the rest of my life. I hope. I can’t fault this. Intelligent, loose, upbeat hip hop. I’m not one for lyrics but these are brilliant. Vocal delivery, beats, turntable scratching melody, jazzy bits and oh my oh my the bass. This is quality, taking hip hop back to its routes. The sort of LP you learn all the lyrics to without even trying. It holds your attention on 1st listen all the way.
step into the realm you're bound to get caught wait wrong group
Gang Starr's one of those duos that is so damn good, but never got much mainstream recognition. It's a bit of a head-scratcher for me. DJ Premiere is one of the best DJ-slash-producers in the business, and Guru was an amazing lyricist and had such a great voice (RIP). Between the jazz-inflected music and Guru's evocative, thought-provoking lyrics, one would think they'd have gotten more attention. Maybe their stuff is just a bit advanced for casual hip-hop fans? It's certainly more subtle than the gangsta rap that was starting to take hold of the industry in the late '80s/early '90s, although one would think the lack of misogyny that was so prevalent in gangsta rap would be a mark in its favor. *shrug* Regardless, this album's fantastic from start to finish. I'm vacillating between giving it four or five stars, and I suppose that if I'm not 100% sure then it's probably four. Or 4.5. But great beats, great lyrics, and a positive message throughout ... this is quality stuff.
3.5
Was very chill. I liked the flow, and the whole production was very 90s which I like a lot.
Met Guru randomly on the street at SXSW. Someone in front of me recognized him and a few us took turns saying hello. Really nice guy and awesome music. One of my favorites from this era 4/5
Never heard this before but it was pretty damn good
No, still don’t like hiphop/rap
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.
The beats are wonderful – lean and pure and thus distinctly powerful. One likes the understatement, too. But simplicity gets to sameyness after a time. There's a very high floor of quality on every track, but a relatively low ceiling in that no cut ever achieves full or sustained breakthrough or liftoff. There are no unforgettable hits, in other words. The directness and purity to keep it real, plus the many winning effects and moments, ultimately win out, however.
Nice hip-hop beats.
Quite good
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.
The true beginning of two major, MAJOR forces on conscious, jazz-heavy hip hop. Still a little rough on select spots in comparison to, say, Moment of Truth, but it nevertheless hits all the spots on beats, delivery, and subject matter.
-got a good vibe from the intro -love Step in the Arena -is the definition of my style -liked every song as much as the previous -was moving to every song -Lovesick is fun -enjoy it a lot but some songs started to sound the same -first half > second half FAVORITE: Check the Technique
It's alright, pretty standard hiphop stuff.
Stari rep. Ne
This was a surprise. An early hip hop/rap album with a chill vibe and beats. I would listen again.
Meh... ekkert spes. Mjög einsleitt.
Good beats, non-exploitative lyrics, well-regarded but just obscure enough. Bring back ‘90s hip-hop because this was so worth the hype.
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.
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?
it ok
So bad….
Original hiphop. Props but not my groove.
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
Some good songs on here, as someone who appreciates Tribe Called Quest this ticked a lot of boxes. Album will be immortalized by existing in liked section on spotify.
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
90s hip hop is vastly superior to modern
Essential jazz rap. Alongside A Tribe Called Quest , Gang Starr would popularize using more jazz samples in their production. This contrasted the much more hard-hitting production and rap styles of hardcore hip-hop and gangster rap, allowing for a much more mellow and laid-back sound.
This is underground, intellectual rap at it's finest. Check The Technique is a hit.
Can't deny the influence they must have had. They pioneered a whole new level of the genre that still perseveres today. Reminds me of Michael Franti when he was Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. Respect to Gang Starr
Wasn't really aware of this duo and they seem super ahead of their time.
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.
5 I absolutely did not expect this to be hip hop nor did I expect it to grab my attention right off the bat. The subject matter throughout reminds me of NWA and Eminem and subverts my expectations at seemingly every chance it gets. The beats and samples are so cool and distinct enough that I can easily tell the difference between songs but never so distinct as to betray the style of the album. Low-key and smooth, this has that pure 90s sound that would fit in perfectly on a Tony Hawk soundtrack (may have been on one, honestly). Front to back I loved this. This is exactly the type of album that made me want to do this challenge in the first place. My appreciation of hip hop is now a bit deeper.
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
Really enjoyable and I don't tend to like sample loops. Guru is just super chill and smooth.
Wish this style of rhyming had been more popular. Intelligent and old school.
Gang Starr - one of best yet. But maybe not yet fully developed at this stage. Similar vein to Eric B & Rakim and Boogie Down Productions, a quality duo with classic samples and awareness in the lyrics. The album just got a bit macaroni cheese for me: I like Macaroni, I like cheese but after 50mins of nothing but macaroni and cheese I need something else in the mix to spice things up.
i dug it
Definitely must the same era as Public Enemy who I'm sure came first.
The title track is amazing. What You Want This Time?, Love Sick, and Just to Get A Rep are all standouts. Guru's style just seems effortless, and DJ Premier's beats and production layer on the hooks behind the vocals. Smooth, earwormy, and enjoyable.
Zapravo dost dobro. Pjesma who's gonna take the weight mi je najdraža.
Gang Starr (Guru i DJ Premier) su jedan od najjačih dueta u hip hopu. Meni su u top 5, ako ne i u top 3. Guru sa svojom vještačkom rimom, flowom, glasom na mikrofonu i Premier sa svojim nikad lošim produciranim stvarima naprave kaos u pozitivnom smislu. Jest da su se još pronalazili ovdje kako bi dalje napravili bombe od albuma - svejedno, ovaj album je važan za slušati ukoliko želiš ući u njihov teritorij iliti arenu. Miris stare škole.
In general I like the groove in this album. It<s slow and sensual. There are some annoying noises in a couple of the songs but in general I can easily swing to it. The rapping is subtle and understated which works for me. Reminds me of Rapture by Blondie or Grandmaster Flash. As with many rap albums it sounds a little samey by the time you get through the middle and for me it can be difficult to make it through the whole album, thankfully though it does clock in at less that 50 minutes (barely), so that's a plus. 2nd time through better than the first. Getting the idea that each song is a vignette, a character study that gets its point and theme across and then moves on. No unecessary fat. I tend to like this rap style like Tribe Called QuestI'm tempted to give it 4 stars. In fact I will.
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.
Slay
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.
One of the best Hip Hop albums ever released. Breaks, samples, lyrics all working together.
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.
Always had a soft spot for these guys was shocked to hear Guru passed had no idea. At a time when hip was going going gangsta these guys did something different something jazzy. Hi class
Refreshing alternative to gangsta
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.
Pleasant enough musically and rapping. Not abrasive. Good samples. Good wordplay without the swearing and guns. Good.
Listens: 2 Enjoyed: fuck yeah Never really delved into Gang Starr but fuck this is a great album. I don't think there is a single skipable track
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
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.
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.
Pudo haber estado bien en su momento pero es algo que no perdura en el tiempo.
This is solid
how about i step into your mum
leuk maar niet speciaal imo
Oh leuke rap, ik had mss iets meer naar de lyrics willen luisteren
Everyone says it’s good but needs a relisten
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.
nice and mellow with a bit of an ladies love Cool James vibe. a little bit irritating that he just banged on about how bloody good at rapping he is.
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
This is a band at the top of their game. Guru is greatly missed
Seems like standard old school Eat Coast rap. I'm not really into it.
Old school rap. Love this stuff. The tunes take me back to high school, and even though back then I truly didn't get the lyrics or the music, it's something I really appreciate now. Pieces like "As I Read My S-A" have a lyrical acumen that you don't hear in a lot of rap nowadays. It reminds me a lot of De La Soul, actually. And it wanted me to look for more. Definitely not something I do with a lot of albums. No skits or throwaway songs, these were all coherent to the album, fitting very well. If you had not heard of Gangstarr, this is probably a good one to listen to because it sold me on them.
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.
This is why I downloaded the app
Nice to listen to in the background, good beats and good rhythm
Good
I maybe would have liked this album 10 years ago when I was more into hip hop, but I am not so much anymore. Rhymes were a bit corny at times too and felt like it was freestyled rather than written.
General culture
Not my thing, but it can be heard in the back.
bleh
This was a good album! I enjoyed listening. I appreciate a good rap album like this one. Notably, 'Lovesick' 8/10
Awesome album
Has its moments, the guys flow strays into will smithy territory a bit
Pretty good
Thought it was okay, nothing stood out to me.
Never heard Gang Starr before but this is amazing. Great flow. Old school hip hop Reminds me of J5 or Abdominal...
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.
Great album. I'd previously only heard a couple of Gang Starr songs however I'd imagine a few of these will make their way into regular listening.
Solid Gang Starr album, great pace. The messages were clear and the mood was perfect.
step up
I enjoyed this one a lot. Negative: the flows get a little tedious and after a while it’s tough to pay attention to all the raps. Positives: interesting subjects, great rhymes and lyricism, great beats. 7/10
Dj Premier is my favorite producer of all time. All of his beats are classic & you can hear the hunger in Guru's rhymes. This is definitely old school with the squealy beats & melodies & admittedly I much prefer their late 1990s beats, but it's fun to go back and see where they started.
Sadly unmemorable, both from the time and from when I listened yesterday.
Þetta kom á óvart. Frábært stykki
old school rap very conscious, very inspired by tribe
Great example of old school rap. This came out at a time where the world was getting tired of it so I don't think this really got its due. I think if it came out a couple of years earlier more people would be aware of it. I sort of dismissed it at the time but looking back it really equals if not surpasses anything else like it. No real variety in sound but clever and smooth lyrics make up for that. These days though I don't really have a reason to listen to old school rap unless it's for nostalgia and this doesn't do that for me.
Really? A top 1001 album?
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.
East Coast Hiphop,old school,smooth and tense,real Classic!
Smooth
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.
4.6⭐️
Cool classic 90s rap music. I enjoyed the lyrics, flow, and beats. I will definitely check out more of their discography.
Good background grooves. Didn't listen to the words.
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...
nice 90's production even if it was an early effort. many early steps in the gangsta rap direction
Very solid old school. Where Premier came from before PRhyme. Understated beats and conscious lyrics.
Great rhymes, solid vocals, classic hip hop production. Always a solid listen!
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.
Base
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
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
The rapping on this album sounded so unenthused it was actually putting me to sleep, and the excessive disc scratching noises were dumb as hell. I also hate when people rap about how good they are at rapping. I honestly kind of checked out half way through this one.
90s Hip-hop are one of my favourite genres. So safe to say this went down very well.
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.
Relaxed, vibey, chill 90's hip hop. I could put this on to unwind to, and the interplay between the flow and the beats seems to bring out more than the sum of their parts. Who knew Ringo's son had this in him?
Very laidback rap with great rapping and lyricism on display. Unfortunately, laidback is not often what I'm looking for in my rap.
I liked it. Reminds me of ATCQ
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
Não foi dessa vez que eu consegui escutar atentamente um álbum de hip hop.
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
Detta albums sensmoral: Guru är episk på mikrofonen och i allmänhet. Bra beats dock.......
I well enjoyed this. I liked that some of the songs were about quite banal things like your girlfriend getting jealous and changing weekend plans. I thought it was really easy listening with fun samples. I think Avalanches must have re sampled some of these. Would listen again
Not bad but not great
6/10. More pleasant than I was expecting.
Beats are pretty solid but the vocal performance was so low-energy. 5/10
Their early stuff isn't as good as the later but still some good tracks on this one
meh
4.5
not really my kinda music
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.
I've heard great things about Hard to Earn and Moment of Truth, so I'm glad my expectations were met with this record. In a time where gangsta rap was on the rise, we have rappers like Q-Tip and Guru with smooth verses and intricate samples. It's simple, no experimental sounds, the songs don't evolve much, and they're fairly short, with tracks in the 2nd half hardly ever passing 3 minutes. This just an MC and his DJ, and it's among one of the best I've seen. Excellent scratching, beats, mixing, and pacing. Samples are groovy: jazz, funk, and soul. It suffers as expected. It's a bit too long for 50 minutes. And I found myself spacing out for many of the tracks. By the 2nd half, there were only a few highlights that would attract my attention. Also the cut to "As I Read My S-A" was harsh and loud. Favorites: Step Into the Arena, Who's Gonna Take the Weight, Check the Technique, Precisely the Right Rhyme
Awesome 90s Hip-Hop album. Great lyrics.
So many samples!
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Incredibly important hip hop record smooth beats and dangerous rhymes a truly enjoyable listen, influenced many artists like the roots etc
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.
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.
Very enjoyable chill album. Very easy to listen to the lyrics.
90s rap classic to my ears 🤷
rap innit
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.
The execution here is on point. Everything solid about MC/rapper combos is here. The flow is confidently smooth and laced with intelligence. The 90's is heavily here without needing all the "it was the times" qualifiers. Those pieces of The Chronic, The Predator, and The Low End that aged horribly are missing here without losing the cultural relevance to the moment of its creation. That elevates the work. Maybe it wasn't on the charts like those other albums but the slow burn here is a legacy play that'll last longer.
Musically, I really enjoyed this. Lyrically, it's the usual mix of genre stuff, but some is quite clever.
Not quite my jam, but I could appreciate some of the tracks.
Not impressive at all but it's endurable
Guru's a great rapper but Premier's production in this is on another level. Great record.
This is yummy
It's a genre I like and this is a good, if not great, example.
Not bad actually, the tunes are reasonably pleasant if a bit uninspiring
Guru could read a dictionary and I would listen to it
I really dig it
Great stuff. And the first time I've heard The Band sampled.
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.
I really loved the run of songs from "Who's Gonna Take the Weight" to "Check the Technique." I ended up loving this album. A nice refresher from the past few we've listened to as I was excited when each new song started. The lyrics were snappy, smart, and could be anything from funny to poignant.
classic 80s/90s rap. solid beats and tight rhymes. nothing flashy, just simple and well-executed.
I always think of myself as someone who doesn’t like rap and hip-hop but whenever I hear this earlier stuff from the 90s I really like it.
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.
gangstaaa
Better than I expected. More musical than similar of the genre. Cover art 1/5 zero thought went into this.
This is the second Gang Starr album that I've heard, and it’s much better than the one that I listened to. Production on this album isn't that crazy, but I can excuse that. I feel like when Dr. Dre released The Chronic just one year later is when production really got amazing, with all the amazing samples that he used. The chemistry between Gang Starr and DJ Premier is just fucking amazing. I mostly know DJ Premier for the stuff that he's done with Ye, Eminem and Royce Da 5'9, but he's been given us these amazing scratches for so long that it's obvious why people would have him on their album. The only times that I've really listened to Gang Starr is when his 8 Mile track comes on, but I feel like that has to change after this. The cover art is kind of basic, but I can forgive it. It was the 90's, and It’s cool to me such a young Gang Starr and DJ Premier. Also, the font that they use is pretty cool. Favourite track would be "Execution Of A Chump", because it sounds like this is something that actually happened to Gang Starr due to the rone that he is using. Least favourite track would be nothing, since I have no idea if I tracks are worse than other Gang Starr tracks, since I haven't heard many 9/10
Quite boring honestly. I kind of liked “As I read my S-A”
Immaculate flow with a classic sound and classic beats. A genuine time capsule.
Very nice. I liked it!
dikke priem, wel veel van hetzelfde maar daarom juist chill om dit te luisteren tijdens het leren
"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.
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
Fun samples, vintage beats, but again this is nothing earth or butt shaking. Never heard it before, won't be listening again
I enjoyed this album quite a bit. The samples and beats were classic east coast hip hop with the jazzy feel and the vocal delivery was very intentional and methodical. Though this album was long, I was able to get through it without any fatigue
Not really my cup of Gang Starr Tea
Preferred yesterday’s Wu-Tang Clan album but this had some good tunes
4.25
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"
Hip Hop - 0.5/5
1/5 this went south quickly.
It may be that rap albums hit some kind of pinnacle in the early 90s where the clean lyrics and fun rhymes grew into something more complex but also more raw in its content. Maybe that was an East vs. West type of thing. Notably, the album's sound includes a lot of jazz elements, simple beats, and a very modest yet effective DJ. Lyrically, it comes off as an inviting narrative to 'come and sit while I tell this story' and the listener is indeed compelled to do just that. Where rap music eventually turned into various outlets of strong expression, this album is way more conversational in its delivery and less confrontational. "Just To Get A Rep" or "Execution Of A Chump" stand out as the implications of violence that this portion of the hip-hop culture draws much of its emotion and content. Thing is, previously mentioned, the listener is compelled to hear this out. Over time, this subject matter has lost its importance because of its marketability and most people see it for that thirty years later as though Gang Starr knew that "Just To Get A Rep" is a reality moving forward. The album may have more musical reasons for being on this list, but for this listener and perhaps because of an old soul, this album creates a nostalgic desire for 21st century rap/hip-hop to come back with that authenticity. An authenticity that perhaps Gang Starr prophetically touched on in "Form of Intellect" with "...oversaturated market, full of wackness" and "get real, get deep, so you can keep involved, resolve and solve, so you can make the calls". If one pays attention to the current entertainment industry, the power figures in rap/hip-hop seemed to have heeded this advice. They may have come up from the streets per se, but they did not stay there. These men and women are now moguls in their own right, kings and queen makers of that world. "Step In The Arena" is a challenging album, maybe even a bit preachy but that's the value here and perhaps a more philosophical reason this album is on the list.
Guru has an iconic voice
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.
Really enjoyed this album. Classic hip hop. Great samples. Sounded great in headphones.
Classic hip-hop that I had never heard before. I loved it though, and will definitely hunt out more of their stuff. Execution of a chump, and the meaning of the name were my favourites first time through, but I will revisit it to pick up the lyrics and flow of some of the denser tracks too
Step in The Arena, Daily Operation, Hard To Earn - they always sounded equally good to me - just very consistent, high-quality rap albums- and to have one of these albums included in the 1001 list is very nice.
Never took the time to check out Gang Starr, but this was a pleasant surprise. It's hit and miss for me with hiphop and rap, but this hit me for sure. Smooth and groovy, just the way I like it.
Dont like this type of music.
Fine - didn’t finish yet
Never heard this and really, really liked it.
Rating: 6/10
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…
You Gotta be kidding me, this is a top 10 hip-hop classic for me. Right up there with Illmatic, 36 Chambers and Low End Theory. Banger after banger on this Jawn. Straight fire!
Prefs: Step in the Arena, Who's Gonna Take The Weight?, Check The Technique, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Street Ministry, Just To Get A Rep, As I Read My S-A Moins pref: Precisely The Right Rhymes
Wow c'est très bon. Je vais certainement réécouter l'album. 5
I dunno, it seems like fairly uninspiring hip hop to me. If anything he sounds as bored as I felt.
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.
If this is the greatest hip hop album of all time, then I should probably stop giving hip hop a chance.
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.
back to back, let's go!
I simply don't like rap. These two definitely don't have the most annoying voices in rap, so this is at least 1.5 stars instead of 1, but I'll still round it down for being super boring. I didn't make it past the fifth track. The pseudo-intelligent-sounding lyrics don't help either.
A fantastic rapper and one of the best producers create an album full of brilliant, classic hip-hop tracks.
Funky Funky Funky - Funky Beats from Premier and Rhymes from the MC represented the common man. Had a lot of fun with this
I liked it
3/5
listenable 3/5
was alright, not so much my style I guess
Sorry, but no.
Surprisingly, I liked it. This just might encourage me to seek out more simmilar hip hop
I liked this one. Very smooth flow and great beats. Good lyrics too. Would definitely listen again.
Wasn't familiar-now I am! Listened to Gang Starr all day. Who's Gonna Take the Weight was my fave song, but no bad ones here imo!
This is not the album to convince me that hiphop is worth my listening time.
18th January 2022 Listened on the way to book club at the standard. 90s hip hop. Love it.
Mid school old school bit laboured by today's standards
Okay so I'm not really a fan of alot of mainstream rap mainly for lines like "never stop thrustin into your system" which kinda caught me off guard but some songs i really really loved on this album One of my fav tracks was the execution of a chump cos i really loved the beat and the sound 4/5 pleasantly surprised <3
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.
mehh, ég fíla ekki rapp
Nice bit of old school hip-hop
Pure, clean flow. I don't normally listen to rap, but this was actually a very good listen.
Anonymous early 90's rap sound...forgettable. 2/5
Wow. Great album. Group I have heard spoken about a lot, and now I get it. Put this up there with Tribe Called Quest as some of my favorite rap progenitors.
Very cool album! I’m really trying to discover more rap so this really helped.
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.
Hiphop sin estridencias. Sintetizadores y estilo ochentero.
Not bad. Decent rap album
Great flow, good beats. 90’s hip hop is the best.
Super funky fresh flow and groooooovy
I liked this quite a bit! The backing track / beats / music is quite good and varied enough to keep the album interesting.
Seems pretty solid, background music is good and raps sound ok. Didnt have to skip around much. 2
Rap, hurt my ears ...
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.
I'll give credit due when its due. Gang Starr have good rapping vocals and their sound isn't cheesy like a fair chunk of rap/ hip hop music around that time. There are a couple of decent songs here too. But as a whole this was as interesting as a ham sandwich, has the essential elements but nothing enticing for me.
I think a lot of the songs sound a bit too dated but I can appreciate the album for what it probably once was
Loved it
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.
Lotta bars
Everything 90s rap was trying to be.
Not my type of music but the lyrics were strong and powerful. It also had some beats that will catch you dancing.
Love 90s rap! Definitely will need to listen again.
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.
Rap viejito. De esos que cimentaron todo lo que sucedería en el género durante los 90s y que claro, serviría para que Gang Starr se instalara en la cultura pop. Muy agradable. Las mejores son Who's Gonna Take The Weight? y Lovesick.
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.
Really enjoyed this one. Great slab of hip hop
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.
Not my thing really
Classic hip hop doesn’t get much better than this
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.
Nie mam dużo do powiedzenia na temat tego albumu, uwielbiam oldschoolowy hiphop, a ten krążek mimo że nie zaskoczy nikogo niczym w 2021, to jednak nie zestarzał się ani trochę bo doskonale się broni od strony muzycznej i produkcyjnej jako takie klasyczne brzmienie HH, ciepłe, organiczne (dzięki charakterystyce sampli i wokali) i lekko niesforne. W chuj duży podziw dla głównego producenta za całokształt i consistence albumu, a dla guru za consistent flow (warstwie lirycznej nie miałem okazji przyjrzeć się z bliska gdyż nie jestem na tyle obeznany z tekstem). Ulubione kawałki: Step In The Arena (nostalgiczne wrażenia, mimo że nie grałem nigdy w GTA), Who's Gonna Take The Weight, Game Plan (fajny przerywnik, chociaż niekoniecznie ciekawe jest przejście z niego w nastepny utwór pod względem kompozycji), Take A Rest (ten jeden bardziej obskurny sample mnie kupuje wraz z dynamiką tego kawałka i przerzucaniem sie między samplami, które momentalnie zmieniają charakter kawałka), Just To Get A Rep, Precisely The Right Rhymes.
Okay więc jest bardzo dobrze. Mam wrażenie, że jeden z moich nowych ulubionych albumów hip hopowych. Nawet nie wiem co mówić bo wszystko mi się podobało. Ulubione kawałki: check this technique take rest say ur prayers just to get a rap step in the arena.
A typical but enjoyable rap album from the 90s. 0 recognized songs
like
Good for non active listening. Some annoying samples in the back sometimes.
Gang Starr has always been kinda mid in my opinion
Fantastic, obvious root and influence of many mcs to come