The Truth

“The Truth” is the debut studio album by Beanie Sigel, released on February 29, 2000, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam.

The story

Sigel signed with Roc-A-Fella in 1998 and built his profile with verses on Jay-Z’s “Reservoir Dogs” (1998) and “Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)” (1999). His own album was originally scheduled for a fall 1999 release but was pushed back to February 2000. Roc-A-Fella surrounded him with its own roster and a few outside names. Guests included Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Amil, Eve and Scarface.

Sound and production

The production draws on a wide group of producers, among them Just Blaze, Kanye West, Rockwilder, Buckwild, Bink, Sam Sneed, T-Mix and Lofey. Their beats frame Sigel’s gruff delivery and plain accounts of South Philadelphia street life. The title track was released as the lead single and reached No. 81 on the R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart and No. 23 on the rap chart. “Remember Them Days,” featuring Eve, reached No. 69 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and No. 33 on the rap chart. The album also includes “Anything,” a track performed by Jay-Z.

Legacy

“The Truth” debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling more than 155,000 copies in its first week, and the RIAA certified it gold. Reviews were mixed to positive, with NME rating it 8 out of 10 and Pitchfork 7.8. Its success made Sigel Roc-A-Fella’s main representative in Philadelphia, and later in 2000 he became the leader of State Property, a collective of Roc-A-Fella artists from the city. His second album, “The Reason,” followed in June 2001 and also debuted at No. 5 with 151,000 copies, and “The B. Coming” (2005) went higher, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. “The Truth” opened Philadelphia’s run on the Roc-A-Fella roster in the early 2000s, a period in which State Property also introduced Freeway to a national audience.

Released February 29, 2000. More from hip hop in 2000.