[Scratches: DJ Premier]

Step up!

[Verse 1: Guru]

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 unsheathe 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

[Scratches: DJ Premier]

Step up!

[Verse 2: Guru]

In the arena, 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 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

Victorious, 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 bet ya 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—

Step inside my—

Step inside my—

Step inside my arena

Step inside my—

Step inside my—

Step inside my—

Step inside my arena

[Verse 3: Guru]

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

Tryna 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 MCs, 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

[Scratches: DJ Premier]

Step inside my arena