Gang Starr
Album : Step in the Arena
Release Date : January 15, 1991
Label : Capitol

Review :

Gang Starr’s second album is quintessential hip-hop and is easily one of the greatest rap albums of all time. In contrast to their 1989 debut, No More Mr.  Nice Guy, which was filled with seriously uptempo jams, Step in the Arena slows down the pace, unveiling low, slow, and deceptively complex tempos along with some jazz-tinged loops and beats, all of which firmly established DJ Premier’s slot in the producer hall of fame. Furthermore, the slower sonic pace proved to be a perfect fit for Guru’s distinctive monotone flow. The album hits on every aural level, from the lumbering bass and blaring horn combo of the title track to the swirling sax blurts, unnerving siren, and kinetic scratch attack of "Who’s Gonna Take the Weight" to the laid-back smooth jazz soul of "Love Sick." Guru’s verbal volley can only be described as smooth hardcore, with no-nonsense lyrics that effectively strike a balance between the street and the intellect. Toss in tracks like the anti-hoodlum anthem "Just to Get a Rep" and the scathing "Execution of a Chump (No More Mr.  Nice Guy, Part 2)," and you’ve got yourself a bona fide classic that sounds as fresh today as it did when it was first released.

Track Listings :

01. Name Tag
02. Step In The Arena
03. Form Of Intellect
04. Execution Of A Chump
05. Who’s Gonna Take The Weight
06. Beyond Comprehension
07. Check The Technique
08. Love Sick
09. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
10. Game Plan
11. Take A Rest
12. What You Want This Time
13. Street Minestry
14. Just To Get A Rep
15. Say Your Prayers
16. As I Read My S-A
17. Precisecy the Righ Rhymes
18. The Meaning Of The Name

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> Gang Starr "Step In The Arena", by Robbi Paterson [2005-08-07 05:43:36]

This is a great album. All the Gang Starr albums are really good, but this is their most consistent. "Step in the arena" flows, and every track compliments the other well when listening track after track. DJ Premier comes up with some stunning beats, and his scratching is sublime. Many people rave on about Daily Operation being the groups best album, but this is by far a more easier listen on the ear. Classic album.