Moment of Truth (Gang Starr album)

Last updated
Moment of Truth
Gangstarrmomentoftruth.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 31, 1998
Recorded1997–1998
Studio D&D (New York City)
Genre East Coast hip hop, conscious hip hop, jazz rap, [1] hardcore hip hop
Length78:37
Label Noo Trybe, Virgin
Producer
Gang Starr chronology
Hard to Earn
(1994)
Moment of Truth
(1998)
Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr
(1999)
Singles from Moment of Truth
  1. "You Know My Steez"
    Released: November 18, 1997 [2]
  2. "The Militia"
    Released: July 28, 1998 [3]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [5]
Houston Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Muzik 7/10 [8]
NME 8/10 [9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]
The Source 4.5/5 [11]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [12]

Moment of Truth is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo Gang Starr, released on March 31, 1998, by Noo Trybe Records and Virgin Records. Gang Starr recorded Moment of Truth in sessions at D&D Studios. It is widely regarded as Gang Starr's magnum opus, and one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Commercial performance

The album 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. The album sold 97,000 copies in its first week. [13] It went on to sell over 500,000 copies and was certified Gold by the RIAA on May 7, 1998. [14] The lead single, "You Know My Steez," became the duo's second Billboard Hot 100 appearance in 1997, peaking at #76. Spin magazine ranked it as the #16 album of 1998. [15] Pitchfork also ranked it as the 16th best album of 1998. [16]

The album's title track was featured in the 2011 Matthew McConaughey film The Lincoln Lawyer . [17] [18] [19] The title track also appeared in the soundtrack of the 2001 video game Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 as well as an episode during the third season of the television show Mr. Robot. The song Work appears on ESPN promos for SC6 with Michael/Jemele . Work also appeared in the 1998 movie Caught Up starring Bokeem Woodbine and was included on the soundtrack.

Track listing

#TitleProducer(s)Performer(s)Length
1"You Know My Steez"DJ Premier, GuruGuru4:07
2"Robbin Hood Theory"DJ Premier, GuruGuru3:44
3"Work"DJ Premier, GuruGuru2:57
4"Royalty"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, K-Ci & JoJo 5:11
5"Above the Clouds"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, Inspectah Deck 3:41
6"JFK 2 LAX"DJ Premier, GuruGuru3:34
7"Itz a Set Up"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, Hannibal Stax3:49
8"Moment of Truth"DJ Premier, GuruGuru4:07
9"B.I. vs Friendship"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, M.O.P. 4:37
10"The Militia"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, Big Shug, Freddie Foxxx 4:48
11"The Rep Grows Bigga"DJ Premier, GuruGuru4:55
12"What I'm Here 4"DJ Premier, GuruGuru2:45
13"She Knowz What She Wantz"Guru, DJ Premier (co produced)Guru3:00
14"New York Strait Talk"DJ Premier, GuruGuru4:14
15"My Advice 2 You"DJ Premier, GuruGuru2:31
16"Make 'Em Pay"Guru, DJ Premier (co produced)Guru, Krumb Snatcha4:21
17"The Mall"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, G. Dep, Shiggy Sha3:40
18"Betrayal"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, Scarface 5:29
19"Next Time"DJ Premier, GuruGuru3:06
20"In Memory Of…"DJ Premier, GuruDJ Premier, Guru3:50

Charts

Singles

Chart positions from Billboard magazine

YearSong Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot Rap Singles Dance/Electronic Singles Sales
1997"You Know My Steez"761552
1998"The Militia"197

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [29] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [30] Gold500,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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