Step In the Arena
The *Rubber Soul* to Daily Operation’s *Revolver*, Gang Starr’s 1991 sophomore LP represents half of a two-album knockout blow that helped to define the sound of hip-hop in the early ‘90s. *Step In the Arena* presents a foundational formula: Take the juiciest parts of records from the ‘60s and ‘70s; loop them; add enough well-placed scratches to remind us of hip-hop’s roots; then get an MC to kick imaginative wordplay that draws on the laid-back styles of forbearers Rakim and EPMD. Gang Starr may not have invented the blueprint, but no other groups could match their skill in drawing succinct illustrations of hip-hop style. Expanding on the James Brown riffs that had dominated the late ‘80s, DJ Premier begins to dig deeper into his crates of vinyl for *Step In the Arena*, kickstarting a taste for obscure samples that would take hip-hop to new heights. And with his unhurried flow, Guru rejected the fast-rapping phenoms of the previous era and proved to his peers that speaking slow and low was the ultimate demonstration of control and confidence. There isn’t a weak track on *Step In the Arena*; it remains a milestone in the history of the genre.
Discover Step in the Arena by Gang Starr released in 1991. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.