Moment of Truth (Gang Starr album)
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| Moment of Truth | |||||
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| Studio album by Gang Starr | |||||
| Released | March 31, 1998 (US) | ||||
| Recorded | D&D Studios in New York, New York | ||||
| Genre | Hip-Hop | ||||
| Label | Noo Trybe/Virgin/EMI Records 7243 8 45585 2 9 V2-45585 |
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| Producer | DJ Premier (Producer) Guru (Co-producer) |
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| Gang Starr chronology | |||||
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Moment of Truth is the fifth album by hip hop duo Gang Starr.
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[edit] Overview
Released four years after their previous album, Hard to Earn, this could be seen as a comeback, with a newer, updated style to their already established jazz-tinged Hip-Hop, as stated by Guru in the introduction:
"We have certain formulas but we update em (oh right)
with the times and everything y'know
So y'know the rhyme style is elevated
The style of beats is elevated but it's still Guru and Premier."
Stylistically, Premier's beats, while maintaining the signature two-measure loop and scratched chorus formula, expand their range of samples. Not only does he use more orchestral (ie, less funk/soul-based) horns and strings, but he also features more atonal, non-melodic samples, a style he'd first explored on Jeru the Damaja's The Sun Rises in the East. Guru also grows somewhat on the album; he focuses more openly on social issues, and attempts to embrace his status, which had grown considerably during Gang Starr's hiatus to the point where many already considered him a hip hop legend. Of course, his trademark battle rhymes are also in full force on many tracks.
Despite being overshadowed by more mainstream artists, the album has gained immense respect within the underground hip-hop circuit, and is Gang Starr's most commercially successful album to date. Moment of Truth debuted at #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It went on to sell over 500,000 copies and was certified Gold by the RIAA on May 7, 1998. The lead single "You Know My Steez" became the duo's second Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1997, peaking at #76. Spin magazine ranked it as the #16 album of 1998.[1]
This albums guest rappers include Inspectah Deck, Scarface, G-Dep, Shiggy Sha, K-Ci & Jo-Jo, M.O.P. as well as others.
[edit] Track listing
- "You Know My Steez" (Elam/Martin) – 4:07
- "Robbin Hood Theory" (Elam/Martin) – 3:44
- "Work" (Elam/Hailey/Martin) – 2:57
- "Royalty" (feat. K-Ci & JoJo) (Elam/Martin) – 5:11
- "Above the Clouds" (feat. Inspectah Deck) (Elam/Hunter/Martin) – 3:41
- "JFK 2 Lax" (Elam/Hendly/Martin/Wilson) – 3:34
- "Itz a Set Up" (Elam/Johnson/Martin) – 3:49
- "Moment of Truth" (Elam/Martin) – 4:07
- "B.I. Vs. Friendship" (feat. M.O.P.) (Elam/Grimage/Martin/Murray) – 4:37
- "The Militia" (feat. Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx) (Campbell, J./Elam/Guy, C./Martin) – 4:48
- "The Rep Grows Bigga" (Elam/Martin) – 4:55
- "What I'm Here 4" (Elam/Martin) – 2:45
- "She Knowz What She Wantz" (Elam/Martin) – 3:00
- "New York Strait Talk" (Elam/Martin) – 4:14
- "My Advice 2 You" (Elam/Martin) – 2:31
- "Make 'Em Pay" (Elam/Gibbs/Martin) – 4:21
- "The Mall" (feat. G-Dep & Shiggy Sha) (Coleman, T./Elam/Martin/Jackson, E.) – 3:40
- "Betrayal" (feat. Scarface) (Allen/Brown/Dikerson/Elam/Martin) – 5:29
- "Next Time" (Brown/Elam/Higgins/Martin) – 3:06
- "In Memory Of..." (Elam/Martin) – 3:50
[edit] Samples
You Know My Steez
- "Drowning in the Sea of Love" by Joe Simon
- "Music Lets Me Be" by Les McCann
- "Flash is on the Beatbox" by Grandmaster Flash
- "Shadowboxin'" by GZA (vocals by Method Man)
- "Episodes of a Hustla" by Big Noyd
- "What is Hip Hop?" by Greg Tate
Work
- "Devil in the Dark" by The Manhattans
- "Prove Your Love" by Fleetwood Mac
Royalty
- "Let's Do it In Slow Motion" by Latimore
- "DWYCK" by Gang Starr (Vocals by Guru)
Above the Clouds
- "Two Piece Flower" by John Dankworth
JFK 2 Lax
- "It's Time to Breakdown" by The Supremes
Itz a Set Up
- "Beyond Yesterday" by Les McCann
Moment of Truth
- "Let's Fall in Love All Over" by Billy Paul
Militia
- "Main Title (Dark Shadows Theme)" by Robert Cobert
Rep Grows Bigga
- "Come Dancing" by Jeff Beck
- "Off The Books" by The Beatnuts
- "DWYCK" by Gang Starr (Vocals by Guru)
- "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu-Tang Clan
- "Fakin' Jax" by I.N.I.
What I'm Here 4
- "Little Green Apples" by Young-Holt Unlimited
She Knowz What She Wantz
- "Sunnin' and Funnin'" by MFSB
- "Itzsoweezee (HOT)" by De La Soul
New York Strait Talk
- "It's My Thang" by EPMD
- "Bastards" by Ruthless Bastards
My Advice 2 You
- "I Love You More Than You Will Know" by Cold Blood
Make 'Em Pay
- "Livin' Proof" by Group Home
- "You're Something Special" by Five Special
Betrayal
- "Deliver the Word" by War
Next Time
- "A Good Man is Gone" by Monk Higgins & the Specialites
- "I Shot Ya (Remix)" by LL Cool J
In Memory Of...
- "Here's that Rainy Day" by Paul Horn & Nexus
- "You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)" by The Notorious B.I.G.
[edit] Album singles
| Single cover | Single information |
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"Royalty" [Promo Only Single]
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"You Know My Steez"
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| "The Militia" |
[edit] Album chart positions
Chart positions from Billboard magazine (North America)
| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | |||
| 1998 | Moment of Truth | #6 | #1 | |
[edit] Singles chart positions
Chart positions from Billboard magazine (North America)
| Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
| 1997 | "You Know My Steez" | #76 | #32 | #5 | #2 |
| 1998 | "The Militia" | - | #68 | #38 | - |
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