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Step in the Arena
Studio album by Gang Starr
Released	January 15, 1991
Recorded	Calliope Productions in New York, New York Firehouse Studios in Brooklyn, New York Such-A-Sound Studio in Brooklyn, New York, 1990
Genre	Hip Hop
Length	49:18
Label	Chrysalis/EMI 0946 3 21798 2 1 F2-21798
Producer	DJ Premier, Guru
Professional reviews
Allmusic [1] Select [2] The Source [3]
Gang Starr chronology
No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989) Step In The Arena (1991) Daily Operation (1992)

Step in the Arena is the second album by underground hip hop duo Gang Starr, released in January 1991. In 1991, the album was rated 3.5 out of 5 in The Source magazine^[3]. In his review Reef wrote : "Step in the Arena stands alone on a musical level, yet it also remains true to hip-hop's underground heritage." In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. In 2007 it was named the greatest hip hop album of all time by IGN.com [1].The song "Who's Gonna Take the Weight" was remixed for Grand Theft Auto IV by DJ Premier.

Track listing

Samples

Name Tag [Premier & the Guru]

• "Fantasy Interlude" by The Originals

Step In The Arena

• "Bumpin' Bus Stop" by Thunder and Lightning
• "A Blow for Me, a Toot to You" by Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns
• "Four Play" by Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns
• "Never Let 'em Say" by Ballin' Jack
• "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 (Vocals by KRS-One)
• "Holy War" by Divine Force Crew
• "Here I Come" by Lord Finesse

Execution Of A Chump [No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2]

• "Don't it Drive You Crazy" by Pointer Sisters

Who's Gonna Take The Weight?

• "Who's Gonna Take the Weight?" by Kool & the Gang
• "Parrty" by Maceo & the Macks
• "To Da Break Of Dawn" by LL Cool J

Beyond Comprehension

• "Up on Cripple Creek" by The Band

Check The Technique

• "California Soul" by Marlena Shaw
• "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" by Marley Marl (Vocals by Masta Ace)
• "To Da Break Of Dawn" by LL Cool J

Lovesick

• "Trying to Make a Fool of Me" by The Delfonics
• "Pain" by Ohio Players
• "Never Had a Dream" by Ohio Players
• "Ain't There Something Money Can't Buy" by Young-Holt Unlimited

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

• "You'll Like it Too" by Funkadelic
• "Crosswind" by Billy Cobham
• "Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane (Vocals by Biz Markie)
• "Critical Beatdown" by Ultramagnetic MC's (Vocals by Kool Keith)

Take A Rest

• "UFO" by ESG
• "T Plays it Cool" by Marvin Gaye
• "Give it Up" by Kool & the Gang
• "Right on for the Darkness" by Curtis Mayfield
• "Funky Miracle" by The Meters
• "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang
• "Poetry" by Boogie Down Productions (Vocals by KRS-One)

What You Want This Time?

• "Nose Job" by James Brown

Street Ministry

• "Leaward Winds" by Billy Cobham

Just To Get A Rep

• "E.V.A." by Jean Jacques Perrey
• "Funky For You" by Nice & Smooth (Vocals by Greg Nice)
• "Eazy Street" by Eazy-E

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
• "Magdelena" by Leo Sayer

Album singles

Chart performance

Album

Singles

References