Step in the Arena

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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
Genre	Hip Hop
Length	49:18
Label	Chrysalis Records/Noo Trybe Records
Producer(s)	DJ Premier Guru
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Entertainment Weekly (B) January 25, 1991
Gang Starr chronology
No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989)	Step In The Arena (1991)	Daily Operation (1992)

Step In The Arena is the sophomore album by underground Hip Hop duo Gang Starr, released in January 1991. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Samples 3 Album singles 4 Album chart positions 5 Singles chart positions

[edit] Track listing

#	Title	Songwriters	Producer(s)	Performer (s)
1	"Name Tag [Premier & the Guru]"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
2	"Step In The Arena"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
3	"Form Of Intellect"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
4	"Execution Of A Chump [No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2]"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
5	"Who's Gonna Take The Weight?"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
6	"Beyond Comprehension"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
7	"Check The Technique"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
8	"Lovesick"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
9	"Here Today, Gone Tomorrow"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
10	"Game Plan"		DJ Premier, Guru	*Instrumental*
11	"Take A Rest"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
12	"What You Want This Time?"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
13	"Street Ministry"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
14	"Just To Get A Rep"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
15	"Say Your Prayers"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
16	"As I Read My S-A"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
17	"Precisely The Right Rhymes"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
18	"The Meaning Of The Name"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru

[edit] 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

Form Of Intellect

• "Better Half" by Maceo & All the King's Men
• "Dope Man" 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 (Vocal sample by Master 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 Rhyming With Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
• "Ease Back" 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 (Vocal sample 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 (Vocal sample 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

[edit] Album singles

Single cover	Single information
	"Just To Get A Rep" Released: February 25, 1991 B-side: "Who's Gonna Take The Weight?"
	"Lovesick" Released: April 11, 1991 B-side: "What You Want This Time?", "Credit Is Due"
	"Step In The Arena" Released: August 29, 1991 B-side: "Check The Technique (Remix)", "Credit Is Due"

[edit] Album chart positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Billboard 200	Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1991	Step In The Arena	#121	#19

[edit] Singles chart positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles
1991	Just To Get A Rep	-	-	#5
1991	Step In The Arena	-	-	#5
1991	Lovesick	-	-	#11
1991	Who's Gonna Take The Weight?	-	-	#9

v • d • e Gang Starr
Members: Guru | DJ Premier
Albums: No More Mr. Nice Guy | Step in the Arena | Daily Operation | Hard to Earn | Moment of Truth | The Ownerz
Compilations: Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr | Mass Appeal: Best of Gang Starr
Singles: "Believe Dat!" | "The Lesson" | "Movin' On" | "Positivity" | "Words I Manifest (Remix)" | "Jazz Thing" | "Just to Get a Rep" | "Lovesick" | "Step in the Arena" | "Take It Personal" | "Ex Girl to Next Girl" | "Gonna Get Over (Taking Loot)" | "Code of the Streets" | "Dwyck" | "Mass Appeal" | "Suckas Need Bodyguards" | "You Know My Steez" | "The Militia" | "1/2 & 1/2" | "Full Clip" | "All 4 Tha Ca$h" | "Discipline" | "Skills" | "Nice Girl Wrong Place" | "The Ownerz"
See also: Gang Starr Foundation