Step by Step
STARR Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 find 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 ya challenger
A true hero, while you're a through 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 out how I mellowed into it
Face to feet to defeat, 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 arenak, or rather coliseum
There's people gatherin by multitudes to see one
Perpetrator fall to the dust after the other
Quickly disposed of at the hand of a known brother
Born wit the art in his heart that is Spartacus
And one-to-one combat Jack, just a thought of this
Match-up, makes GangStarr want to 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

In the arena or forum, weak MC's 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 fear
Is foolish utterly, I mean but none'll be
Tryin' to toy wit a destroyer of many
You shitted your pants cause you can't figure any
Foe that can 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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of STARR's song "Step By Step" are a testimony to the rapper's confidence and lyrical prowess. The song is about stepping into the arena of rap music, where there is no room for weakness, and only the strong survive. STARR starts by asserting that anyone who steps into the arena as a cheater will be amazed by his armor. He then goes on to say that he won't pause because fear is a joke to him. He compares himself to claws that will rip because the challenger's gift is just flesh and superficial. The rapper warns the challenger that if they don't give up, he'll unsheathe his Excalibur and challenge them like a noble knight.


STARR describes himself as a true hero while his challenger is a through zero, getting beaten to a pulp so they can't run for help. He says that he knows the challenger is hoping for mercy, but he is rehearsing a few battle drills as their bladder spills. He pulls out his lance to kill and advance with victory as the only option. The second verse describes the arena as a coliseum where people gather to watch perpetrators fall to the dust after the other, disposed of quickly by a known brother. STARR's confidence shines through as he talks about being born with the art in his heart and how the thought of a match-up makes GangStarr want to snatch up one or two phrases from his rhyming book.


Line by Line Meaning

Once you step in the arena, cheater, you're gonna be a- Mazed when you gaze at the armor on this leader
Entering the arena means you're in for a surprise as you look upon my impeccable armor.


Fully clad and glad to find a cause, I won't pause Fear is a joke, slowpoke, I'm like claws
I'm fully prepared to pursue a noble cause and won't be slowed down by fear.


That'll rip 'cause your gift, is merely flesh Superficial and I wish you, would give it a rest
Your physical abilities are superficial and I wish you would stop trying to compete.


But if you don't, I'll unsheath my Excalibur Like a noble knight, so meet ya challenger
If you persist, I'll be forced to draw my sword like a knight and face you as a challenger.


A true hero, while you're a through zero Gettin beat to a pulp so that you can't run for help
I'm the hero here while you're nothing and you'll be beaten so badly that you won't be able to run away.


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
I hear your fear and your hope for mercy but you're just a puppet as I rehearse a few moves.


Battle drills, and watch your bladder spill Yellow fluid, check out how I mellowed into it
Prepare for my skills and watch as you tremble so badly that you lose control of your bladder.


Face to feet to defeat, you can tell I'm into it As I'm pullin out my lance, to kill you and advance to
Face-to-feet, I'm fully in the game and about to pull out my weapon to kill you and advance.


The winner's throne, cause I own you once you step in the arena
I'll own you and your future as soon as you step into the arena.


In the arena or forum, weak MC's I will floor 'em Causin' mayhem, I'll slay them, and the blood'll be pourin'
In the arena, I'll take down weak MCs and the result will be pure chaos and carnage.


Furthermore I implore, that as a soldier of war I go in only to win and be the holder of more
As a soldier, my mission is to win and gain more victories.


You shitted your pants cause you can't figure any Foe that can step to this concept so
You're so lost that you've soiled yourself and can't comprehend an opponent at my level.


You better sit again citizen, weak MC's I get rid of them Watch the way they get distraught when they get caught
You should sit down, as I get rid of weak MCs and watch as they become distraught when they realize their mistake.


In the worst positions, cause they didn't listen And tried goin' up against a hungry killer who's itchin
They end up in the worst possible situations because they didn't listen to the warnings before trying to take on a skilled killer.


To maim and murder, those who claimed that they were the Toughest ones, they get done once they step in the arena
My goal is to hurt and kill those who boast and claim to be the toughest - and they'll be taken down immediately when they step into the arena.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: CHRIS E. MARTIN, KEITH ELAM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Chase C

most underrated hip hop artist. We miss you Guru. R.I.P legend.

Dillon C

definitely not underrated. more like underexposed.

Rafael Coelho

Every commentary on rap videos is "some rapper is underrated". Once I saw in a commentary that K Dot is underrated. hahaha

Aerial Horizon RC

@Dillon C it mean he was not exposed to the mainstream media of music like MTV music awards or other music awards and radio play. Only time I see his music back in the day was MTV raps and Rap City on BET back in the 90’s.

Jim Bob

@Rafael Coelho lol ha

Joshua Warren

Guru should definitely be up there with krs 1 & Rakim

4 More Replies...

Herrin Schadenfreude

Played the hell out of this album in the 90's. Literally was the reason for an upgrade to Fosgate amps and 12" subs all by itself.

sherman w

Man miss the mass appeal!

bitchhole64

seeing gang starr get revived back to life makes me so happy.

Seth Props

Facts.

More Comments

More Versions