Gang Starr - Step in the Arena

Chrysalis Records / EMI

Step In The Arena, Gang Starr's second album, solidified Gang Starr's position in the world of Hip-Hop. A name-taking duo of unparalleled potential. It's 30 years to the day that the East Coast connoisseurs released their seminal second serving.

With one of the finest to ever touch a mic in Guru and arguably the greatest producer in hip-hop history in DJ Premier you have a seemingly limitless array of avenues to venture down. Step In The Arena takes a more basic, some would say classic, approach to the rap game. A straight to the point performance from Guru and dusty diggin' in the crate beats from Premo make this relatively easy to dig your teeth into. No bells or whistles to speak of, just pure game.

It comes off as simple but to say it's easy to do is far from the truth. Easier said than done rings true for this stone cold classic.

RIP Guru.

January 15th, 1991.