MC Guru and DJ Premier were one of the most influential MC-and-DJ tag-teams of 90s hip-hop despite being overshadowed by other ensembles who experienced crossover success. Even with their underdog status, Gang Starr laid the blueprint for grassroots hip-hop and stayed true to their mission of being “dedicated ministers of underground sound”. Originally released on 15 January 1991, Step In The Arena took the template set by No More Mr Nice Guy and perfected it.

At a time when gangster rap was ruling the airwaves, Gang Starr’s lyrical prowess and hard-hitting truths somehow felt even more cutting. Step In The Arena would make Source Magazine’s 100 Best Hip-Hop albums with the magazine writing, “Step in the Arena stands alone on a musical level, yet it also remains true to hip-hop’s underground heritage”. Famed hip-hop writer Jeff “Chairman” Mao summed up Gang Starr better than most, writing Step In The Area balanced “message, muse and menace”.

While Premier would go on to become one of the most in-demand producers of all time and Guru became the vanguard of hip-hop jazz fusion, Step In The Arena stands as their one of their career pinnacles and sounds startling fresh today.