This album unstoppable. It’s a classic. Normally I don’t listen to instrumental albums as albums, but this Step In The Arena is perfect. DJ Premier’s beats are more than that, they’re songs. He avoids monotonous four bar loop by mixing in samples and scratches, keeping the beats fresh and listenable.

It may sound like SITA overload, but I typically follow this album with the full version. The instrumental album is like hip hop foreplay, because by the time the full album comes on I’m completely warmed up and ready to hear Guru spit fire. Highly recommend both versions of this album.