Gang Starr – Step In The Arena

Wow, no comments on this impeccable release, is the honor really all mine? I can remember the day and even where in the store I first found my copy of this album. This is the first real Gang Starr album, as "No More Mr. Nice Guy" was more a haphazard collection of various material, some not even recorded together. This record clearly had a mission, and was conceived much moreso as a whole. In other words, the magic between Guru and Premier really gelled right here. Here, in my opinion, is also where you can really see Primo's production style come to fruition, although he'd already had credits such as with Lord Finesse. Just with the intro of "Name Tag", the setting of mood with a simple chopped loop as an introduction is classic Gang Starr, and really feels different for the time period. The tempos are not as aggressive as on "No More Mr. Nice Guy" but still several tracks keep it moving as it was 1990, but most notably the attack is far more focused. Tracks like "Just To Get A Rep," "As I Read My S-A," "Step In The Arena," and the still-ripping "Check The Technique" show that this newly-reformulated crew was not messing around. The heads nod, the lyrics kick, and the beats (many of which became iconic) are just beautiful in their efficiency. I believe most people check in on this group with the next album and its more intense, slower wordplay and Gang Starr Foundation guest stars, but overlooking "Step In The Arena" would be a huge mistake. This is the essential place to start in learning about this monstrously influential and just downright professional rap group.