Moment of Truth | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by Gang Starr | ||||
Released | March 31, 1998 | |||
Recorded | 1997–1998; D&D Studios New York City |
|||
Genre | East Coast hip hop, jazz rap | |||
Length | 78:37 | |||
Label | Noo Trybe, Virgin | |||
Producer | DJ Premier, Guru | |||
Gang Starr chronology | ||||
|
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Chicago Tribune | |
Entertainment Weekly | B+ |
Los Angeles Times | |
NME | 8/10 |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
The Source | 4.5/5 |
Moment of Truth is the fifth album by 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.
Released four years after its 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. Lyrically, the album is more emotional and socially conscious than previous installments.
The album features more guest artists than previous Gang Starr releases. Collaborations include songs with Inspectah Deck, Scarface, G-Dep, Freddie Foxxx, K-Ci & JoJo, M.O.P. and more.
Production on the album features heftier, more melodic, and more mature beats from DJ Premier.
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. 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 appearance in 1997, peaking at #76. Spin magazine ranked it as the #16 album of 1998.
The album's title track was featured in the 2011 Matthew McConaughey film The Lincoln Lawyer. The title track also appeared in the soundtrack of the 2001 video game Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2. The song Work appears on ESPN promos for SC6 with Michael/Jemele.