Moment of Truth (Gang Starr album)

For other uses, see Moment of Truth (disambiguation).

Moment of Truth
Studio album by Gang Starr
Released	March 31, 1998 (US)
Recorded	1997–1998 D&D Studios in New York, New York
Genre	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Label	Noo Trybe/Virgin/EMI Records 7243 8 45585 2 9 V2-45585
Producer	DJ Premier (Producer) Guru (Co-producer)
Gang Starr chronology
Hard to Earn (1994) Moment of Truth (1998) Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr (1999)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[2]
RapReviews	(9.5/10)[3]

Moment of Truth is the fifth album by hip hop duo Gang Starr.

Overview

Released four years after their previous album, Hard to Earn, this album could be perceived as a comeback, with a newer, updated style of the group's already-established jazz-tinged hip-hop, as stated by Guru in the introduction:

"We have certain formulas, but we update 'em
With the times and everything, you know
So you 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 had 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 gained immense respect within the underground hip-hop circuit, and is the group'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.^{[citation needed]} 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]

The album features more guest artists than previous Gang Starr releases; collaborations include songs with Inspectah Deck, Scarface, G-Dep, Freddie Foxxx, K-Ci & Jo-Jo, M.O.P. and more.

The title track also appeared in the soundtrack of the 2001 video game Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2.

Track listing

#	Title	Producer(s)	Performer (s)	Length
1	"You Know My Steez"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	4:07
2	"Robbin Hood Theory"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	3:44
3	"Work"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	2:57
4	"Royalty"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru, K-Ci & JoJo	5:11
5	"Above the Clouds"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru, Inspectah Deck	3:41
6	"JFK 2 LAX"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	3:34
7	"Itz a Set-Up"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru, Hannibal Stax	3:49
8	"Moment of Truth"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	4:07
9	"B.I. vs. Friendship"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru, M.O.P.	4:37
10	"The Militia"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru, Big Shug, Freddie Foxxx	4:48
11	"The Rep Grows Bigga"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	4:55
12	"What I'm Here 4"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	2:45
13	"She Knowz What She Wantz"	Guru, DJ Premier	Guru	3:00
14	"New York Strait Talk"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	4:14
15	"My Advice 2 You"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	2:31
16	"Make 'Em Pay"	Guru, DJ Premier	Guru, Krumbsnatcha	4:21
17	"The Mall"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru, G-Dep, Shiggy Sha	3:40
18	"Betrayal"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru, Scarface	5:29
19	"Next Time"	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru	3:06
20	"In Memory Of…"	DJ Premier, Guru	DJ Premier, Guru	3:50

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Canadian Albums Chart	14
U.S. Billboard 200	6
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums	1

Singles

Chart positions from Billboard magazine

Year	Song	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	–

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1998 (U.S.)

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ EW review
3. ^ RapReviews review

Samples

Betrayal -War - Deliver The Word

Next Time -Monk Higgins - A Good Man Is Gone

Above The Clouds -John Dankworth - Two-Piece Flower