Hip Hop Wiki

Yo, thanks for checking out the Hip Hop Wiki! Please help us out by liking our Facebook page at Hip Hop Wiki

READ MORE

Hip Hop Wiki
Hip Hop Wiki
Hip Hop Wiki
3,068
pages
in: Gang Starr albums, 1991 albums, Albums produced by DJ Premier,
and 4 more

Step in the Arena

Sign in to edit
Step in the Arena

Studio album by Gang Starr

Released

January 15, 1991

Recorded

January - October 1990

Studio

Calliope Productions
(New York City, New York)
Firehouse Studios
(Brooklyn, New York)
Such-A-Sound Studio
(Brooklyn, New York City)

Genre

Hip hop, jazz rap, East Coast hip hop, Golden Age hip hop

Length

50:35

Label

Chrysalis/EMI Records

Producer

DJ Premier, Guru

Gang Starr chronology

Previous

No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989)

Next

Daily Operation (1992)

Step in the Arena is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Gang Starr, released in January 15, 1991 by Chrysalis Records. The album was recorded in January to October 1990 at Calliope Productions, Firehouse Studios and Such-A-Sound Studio in New York City. The production was handled by the duo their selves. Four singles were released from the album, and music videos were made for the songs "Who's Gonna Take the Weight?", "Just to Get a Rep" and "Step in the Arena".

Initially, the album was rated 3.5 out of 5 mics in The Source magazine, but it was later chosen by the magazine as one of their 100 Best Albums in 1998. The song "Who's Gonna Take the Weight" was remixed by DJ Premier for use in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.

Track listing[]

All songs written by K. Elam and C. Martin, performed by Guru, and produced by DJ Premier and Guru.

No. Title Time
1. "Name Tag (Premier & The Guru)" 0:36
2. "Step in the Arena" 3:37
3. "Form of Intellect" 3:40
4. "Execution of a Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2) 2:42
5. "Who's Gonna Take the Weight?" 3:56
6. "Beyond Comprehension" 3:14
7. "Check the Technique" 3:59
8. "Lovesick" 3:27
9. "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" 2:19
10. "Game Plan" 1:08
11. "Take a Rest" 4:21
12. "What You Want This Time?" 2:42
13. "Street Ministry" 1:26
14. "Just to Get a Rep" 2:43
15. "Say Your Prayers" 1:25
16. "As I Read My S-A" 3:02
17. "Precisely the Right Rhymes" 3:25
18. "The Meaning of the Name" 2:55

Notes

  • Track 4 features piano performed by Lisle Leete.

Samples[]

Name Tag (Premier & The Guru)

  • "Fantasy Interlude" by The Originals

Step in the Arena

  • "Never Let 'Em Say" by Ballin' Jack
  • "Four Play" by Fred Wesley and The Horny Horns
  • "Bumpin' Bus Stop" by Thunder and Lightning
  • "The Day You're Mine" by Big Daddy Kane

Form of Intellect

  • "Better Half" by Maceo & All the King's Men
  • "Dope Beat" by Boogie Down Productions
  • "Holy War (Live)" by Divine Force

Execution of a Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2)

  • "Don't It Drive You Crazy" by The Pointer Sisters

Who's Gonna Take the Weight?

  • "Parrty" by Maceo & the Macks
  • "To Da Break of Dawn" by LL Cool J

Beyond Comprehension

  • "Keep on Movin'" by Soul II Soul
  • "Up on Cripple Creek" by The Band

Check the Technique

Lovesick

  • "Trying to Make a Fool of Me" by The Delfonics
  • "Pain" and "Never Had a Dream" by Ohio Players
  • "I Need Love" by LL Cool J
  • "The Humpty Dance" by Digital Underground

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Game Plan

  • "Help Yourself" by Tom Jones

Take a Rest

What You Want This Time?

  • "Nose Job" by James Brown
  • "Life (Is What You Make It)" by Frighty and Colonel Mite

Street Ministry

  • "Leaward Winds" by Billy Cobham
  • "Sneakin' in the Back" by Tom Scott and The L.A. Express

Just to Get a Rep

Say Your Prayers

  • "Wilford's Gone" by The Blackbyrds

As I Read My S-A

  • "Easy to Be Hard" by Kole & Param

Precisely the Right Rhymes

  • "Outside Love" by Brethren
  • "Magdalena" by Leo Sayer
  • "Droppin' Science" by Marley Marl feat. Craig G

The Meaning of the Name

  • "With Respect to Coltrane" by Tom Scott
  • "Reading the Comics - July, 1945" by Fiorello La Guardia
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.