| Moment of Truth | |
|---|---|
 Studio album by Gang Starr | |
|
Released |
March 31, 1998 |
|
Recorded |
May 1997 - January 1998 |
|
Studio |
D&D Studios |
|
Genre |
East Coast hip hop, Jazz rap, Underground hip hop, Conscious hip hop, Boom bap, Hardcore hip hop |
|
Length |
78:37 |
|
Label |
Noo Trybe Records / Virgin / EMI |
|
Producer(s) |
|
| Gang Starr chronology | |
|---|---|
|
Previous |
Hard to Earn (1994) |
|
Next |
The Ownerz (2003) |
Moment of Truth is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo Gang Starr, released in March 31, 1998 on Noo Trybe Records. Recording sessions mostly took place at D&D Studios during May 1997 to January 1998. Production was completely handled by DJ Premier. 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. It features more guest artists than previous Gang Starr releases, including appearances by Inspectah Deck, Scarface, Freddie Foxxx, M.O.P., Krumb Snatcha, G. Dep, K-Ci & Jojo, Hannibal Stax, Big Shug and Shiggy Sha.
The album is the group's most commercially successful album to date. Moment of Truth debuted at#6 on the Billboard 200 and #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 Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on May 7, 1998. Moment of Truth released the singles: "You Know My Steez" (which peaking at #76 on the Billboard Hot 100, #15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #5 on the Hot Rap Singles chart), "The Militia" (which reached #19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #7 on the Hot Rap Singles chart) and "Royalty".
Track listing[]
All songs produced by DJ Premier and co-produced by Guru, expect "She Knowz What She Wantz" and "Make 'Em Pay" produced by Guru and co-produced by DJ Premier.
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Know My Steez" | Guru | Elam, Martin | 4:08 |
| 2. | "Robbin Hood Theory" | Guru | Elam, Martin | 3:44 |
| 3. | "Work" | Guru | Elam, Martin | 2:58 |
| 4. | "Royalty" | Guru, K-Ci & JoJo | Elam, Hailey, Hailey, Martin | 5:11 |
| 5. | "Above the Clouds" | Guru, Inspectah Deck | Elam, Hunter, Martin | 3:41 |
| 6. | "JFK 2 LAX" | Guru | Elan, Hendley, Martin, Wilson | 3:35 |
| 7. | "Itz a Set Up" | Guru, Hannibal | Elam, Johnson, Martin | 3:49 |
| 8. | "Moment of Truth" | Guru | Elam, Martin | 4:07 |
| 9. | "B.I. vs Friendship" | Guru, M.O.P. | Elam, Grinnage, Martin, Murray | 4:38 |
| 10. | "The Militia" | Guru, Big Shug, Freddie Foxxx | Campbell, Elam, Guy, Martin | 4:49 |
| 11. | "The Rep Grows Bigga" | Guru | Elam, Martin | 4:55 |
| 12. | "What I'm Here 4" | Guru | Elam, Martin | 2:45 |
| 13. | "She Knowz What She Wantz" | Guru | Elam, Martin | 3:01 |
| 14. | "New York Strait Talk" | Guru | Elam, Martin | 4:14 |
| 15. | "My Advice 2 You" | Guru | Elam, Martin | 2:32 |
| 16. | "Make 'Em Pay" | Guru, Krumb Snatcha | Elam, Gibbs, Martin | 4:22 |
| 17. | "The Mall" | Guru, G-Dep, Shiggy Sha | Coleman, Elam, Jackson, Martin | 3:40 |
| 18. | "Betrayal" | Guru, Scarface | Allen, Brown, Dickerson, Elam, Jordan, Jordan, Martin, Miller, Oskar, Scott | 5:30 |
| 19. | "Next Time" | Guru | Brown, Elam, Higgins, Martin | 3:06 |
| 20. | "In Memory Of..." | Guru | Elam, Martin | 3:50 |
Samples[]
You Know My Steez
- "Flash It to the Beat" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
- "Drowning in the Sea of Love" by Joe Simon
- "Shadowboxing" by GZA feat. Method Man
Robbin Hood Theory
- "The Day After the Dawn" by Albert Dailey
- "Capricorn" by George Duke
Work
- "Prove Your Love" by Fleetwood Mac
- "Devil in the Dark" by The Manhattans
- "Closer to God" by Krumb Snatcha
Royalty
- "Let's Do It in Slow Motion" by Latimore
Above the Clouds
- "I Didn't Come Rhythm" by George Clinton
- "Two Piece Flower" by John Dankworth
JFK 2 LAX
- "It's Time to Break Down" by The Supremes
Itz a Set Up
- "Coldblooded" by James Brown
- "Beyond Yesterday" by Les McCann
Moment of Truth
- "Let's Fall in Love All Other" by Billy Paul
B.I. vs. Friendship
- "Come Live With Me" by Isaac Hayes
The Militia
- "Stop and Check Yourself" by Garnet Mimms
- "Windmills of Your Mind" by Barbara Lewis
The Rep Grows Bigga
- "Come Dancing" by Jeff Beck
What I'm Here 4
- "R.S.V.P." by Nat Adderley
She Knowz What She Wantz
- "Sunnin' and Funnin'" by MSFB
- "Itzsoweezee (HOT)" by De La Soul
New York Strait Talk
- "It's My Thing" by EPMD
My Advice 2 You
- "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" by Cold Blood
- "Metal Thangz" by Street Smartz feat. O.C. and Pharoahe Monch
Make 'Em Pay
- "Repent Walpurgis" by Procol Harum
- "You're Something Special" by Five Special
- "Livin' Proof" by Group Home
The Mall
- "Rainmaker" by The 5th Dimension
- "Ain't No Stoppin' Us (Special Disco Version)" by McFadden & Whitehead
Betrayal
- "Queen of Downs" by Giant (Funk Band)
- "Deliver the Word" by War
Next Time
- "A Good Man Is Gone" by Monk Higgins feat. Barbara Mason
- "I Shot Ya (Remix)" by LL Cool J
In Memory Of...
- "Here's That Rainy Day" by The Paul Horn Quintet
- "You're Nobody (Til' Somebody Kills You)" by The Notorious B.I.G.