Step in the Arena
1990 studio album by Gang Starr
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Step in the Arena is the second studio album by hip-hop duo Gang Starr, printed as a 1990 release,[4] and commercially released on January 15, 1991.[5] In 2007, it was named the greatest hip-hop album of all time by IGN.[6] HipHopDX called it "the album that cemented Gang Starr as a timeless tag team."[7]
January 15, 1991 (commercial release)
- Calliope Productions in New York, New York
- Firehouse in Brooklyn, New York
- Such-A-Sound in Brooklyn, New York
| Step in the Arena | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 (liner notes) January 15, 1991 (commercial release) | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | East Coast hip-hop | |||
| Length | 50:37 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Gang Starr chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Step in the Arena | ||||
Background
Filmmaker Spike Lee was a fan of Gang Starr's debut No More Mr. Nice Guy, particularly the song "Jazz Music". As Lee was filming Mo' Better Blues at the time of the album's release, he felt the duo needed to expand on the song's theme - which became the single "Jazz Thing". Lee introduced them to a poem written by Lolis Eric Elie, which group member Guru converted to a rap, as the poem didn't rhyme. The song caught the attention of Chrysalis Records, who offered them a deal based on "Jazz Thing". However, DJ Premier said the label had gotten the wrong idea of the group, stating: "When they signed us, they thought we were going to do records like "Jazz Thing" all the time. When we were just doing that for Mo' Better Blues".[8]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [5] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[9] |
| NME | 8/10[10] |
| Q |  [11] |
| Record Mirror | 5/5[12] |
| (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [13] |
| Select | 4/5[14] |
| Sounds | [15] |
| The Source | 3.5/5[16] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[17] |
In his review for The Source, Rob "Reef" Tewlow wrote: "Step in the Arena stands alone on a musical level, yet it also remains true to hip-hop's underground heritage."[16]
Legacy
In addition to IGN.com and HipHopDX's accolades, Step in the Arena was featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[18] In 1998, it was included in The Source's "100 Best Albums" list.[19]
In popular culture
The song "Who's Gonna Take the Weight" was remixed by DJ Premier for use in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.[20] "Step In the Arena" was on the video games Skate It and Skate 2,[21] and "Just to Get a Rep" was on Thrasher: Skate and Destroy.[22]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Name Tag (Premier & the Guru)" | 0:36 |
| 2. | "Step in the Arena" | 3:36 |
| 3. | "Form of Intellect" | 3:37 |
| 4. | "Execution of a Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2)" | 2:39 |
| 5. | "Who's Gonna Take the Weight?" | 3:54 |
| 6. | "Beyond Comprehension" | 3:10 |
| 7. | "Check the Technique" | 3:55 |
| 8. | "Lovesick" | 3:22 |
| 9. | "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" | 2:16 |
| 10. | "Game Plan" | 1:06 |
| 11. | "Take a Rest" | 4:18 |
| 12. | "What You Want This Time?" | 2:39 |
| 13. | "Street Ministry" | 1:21 |
| 14. | "Just to Get a Rep" | 2:39 |
| 15. | "Say Your Prayers" | 1:20 |
| 16. | "As I Read My S-A" | 2:35 |
| 17. | "Precisely the Right Rhymes" | 3:22 |
| 18. | "The Meaning of the Name" | 2:53 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 19. | "Credit Is Due" | 4:51 |
Personnel
- Guru – rapping, production, mixing
- DJ Premier – beats, scratching, production, mixing
- Lisle Leete – piano, engineering
- Shlomo Sonnenfeld – engineering
- Yoram Vazam – engineering
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Marc Cozza – art direction, design
- Rick Patrick – logo
Charts
Album
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] | 141 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[24] | 36 |
| US Billboard 200[25] | 121 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[26] | 19 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Rap Singles | ||
| 1990 | "Just to Get a Rep" | 5 |
| 1991 | "Who's Gonna Take the Weight?" | 9 |
| "Lovesick" | 11 | |
| "Step in the Arena" | 5 |