Lords Of The Underground | Ready Or Not (1994)

Big Mello | Love Don't Love Nobody (1992) Explicit

2Pac - Young Black Male (1991)

Black Moon - How Many MC's Must get Dissed (1993)

EPMD (Featuring Das EFX) - Cummin at Cha (1992)

Once you step in the arena, cheater; you're gonna be a-
Mazed when you gaze at the armor on this leader
Fully clad and glad to fight a cause, I won't pause
Fear is a joke, slowpoke, I'm like claws
That'll rip 'cause your gift is merely flesh
Superficial and I wish you would give it a rest
But if you don't, I'll unsheath my Excalibur
Like a noble knight, so meet your challenger
A true hero, while you're a true zero
Gettin' beat to a pulp so that you can't run for help
I heard a gulp in your throat 'cause you hope that I'll be merciful
But coo-cluck, I made you strut as I rehearse a few
Battle drills, and watch your bladder spill
Yellow fluid, check how I mellowly do it
Face defeat to this beat, you can tell I'm into it
As I'm pullin' out my lance to kill you and advance to
The winner's throne; 'cause I own you once you step in the arena

In the arena... or rather coliseum
There's people gatherin' by multitudes to see one
Perpretrator fall to the dust after the other
Quickly disposed of at the hand of a known brother
Born with the art in his heart that is Spartacus
And one-to-one combat Jack, just a thought of this
Match-up makes Gang Starr wanna snatch up
One or two phrases from the new book with new pages
Of rhymes that are built like a chariot
Dope vocals carry it to the battle set
If a beat was a princess, I would marry it
But now I must bow to the crowd as I stand proud
Victorius, glorious, understand now
'Cause battles and wars and much fights I have been through
One MC got beheaded, and you can too
Forget it, 'cause you'd rather be just a spectator
An onlooker, afraid you may get slayed or
Struck by a blow from a mic gladiator
I betcha that later you might be sad that you played yourself
'Cause you stepped up, chest puffed out
And in just one lyric, you got snuffed out
'Cause rhymin' is serious, I'm strong, I'm like Hercules
You'll get hurt with these lines, close the curtains please
And suckers can jet 'cause I wreck once you step in the arena

[Scratches: DJ Premier]
Step inside my arena

In the arena or forum, weak MCs, I will floor 'em
Causin' mayhem, I'll slay them, and the blood'll be pourin'
Furthermore I implore that as a soldier of war
I go in only to win and be the holder of more
Trophies, titles, and triumphs 'cause I dump all the sly chumps
Never choosin' to lose my spot, not once
For the mere idea of an opponent that I'd fear
Is foolish utterly, I mean, what nut'd be
Tryin' to toy with a destroyer of many
You shitted your pants 'cause you can't think of any
Foe that could step to this concept so
You better sit again, citizen; weak MC's, I get rid of them
Watch the way they get distraught when they get caught
In the worst positions 'cause they didn't listen
And tried goin' up against a hungry killer who's itchin'
To maim and murder, those who claimed that they were the
Toughest ones, they get done once they step in the arena

Gang Starr - Step in the Arena (1990)

Eric B & Rakim - What's Going On (1992)

Natives In Black - Rollin' Strong (1991)

Lord Finesse | Gameplan (1995)

Do you know Mad Skillz? Well, you've heard his words spoken many many times. He's a prolific ghostwriter, who sources say has worked within the trifecta of well known "verse-purchasers": Dr. Dre, Will Smith and Puffy. We won't speculate on who else has spit his quotables, but he's put in work for sure. He also blessed us with over 10 years of annual urban/ pop-culture wrap-ups, this past one being his last.

He also released 6 studio albums. His first in 1996, and his follow-ups 6 years later and onwards (yikes). I was super into his first single Nod Factor backed with Skillz in '95. But my FAV joint, which I actually got from my Neighbourhood back in the day was this 12" he dropped around '97, which was a remake of Slick Rick's classic Lick The Balls. The B-Side, Conceited Bastard is crazy. Both joints are produced by Danja Mowf (who later produced Gimme More by Britney Speares). Here's both joints and the Conceited Bastard Instrumental.

2Pac - Young Black Male (1991)

Hip Hop Classics

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