Moment of Truth

1998DJ Premier Gang Starr Guru Virgin East vs. West Brooklyn

Music videoGang Starr - You Know My Steez

Music videos Official videos via YouTube

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Gang Starr’s fifth album was released on March 31, 1998, by Noo Trybe and Virgin Records. DJ Premier and Guru produced it themselves, recording at D&D Studios in New York City across 1997 and 1998. Guests included Inspectah Deck, M.O.P., Freddie Foxxx, Scarface, G-Dep and K-Ci & JoJo, who appear on “Royalty.”

The album was made under strain. Guru was facing a gun charge that could have carried a five-year sentence, and tension over his drinking led Premier to step away from the project for a time before the two reconciled. The title track addresses those real-life struggles directly, and much of the record takes a reflective, grown tone.

Moment of Truth was the group’s biggest commercial success. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of about 97,000, and was certified gold by the RIAA on May 7, 1998. Singles included “You Know My Steez,” “The Militia” and “Royalty.” Spin and Pitchfork both placed it at No. 16 among the albums of 1998.

See the Gang Starr artist page for the full story, videos and discography.

Tracklist & credits

A1
Intro
A2
You Know My Steez
A3
Royalty
A4
Work
A5
What I'm Here 4
A6
B.I. Vs Friendship
A7
Next Time
A8
New York Strait Talk
A9
Outro
B1
Intro
B2
You Know My Steez
B3
Royalty
B4
Work
B5
What I'm Here 4
B6
B.I. Vs Friendship
B7
Next Time
B8
New York Strait Talk
B9
Outro

Tracklist and producer credits: Discogs. Gear credits: Breakbeat Archive, sourced on each credit.

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Released March 31, 1998. More from hip hop in 1998.

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