Moment of Truth (Gang Starr album)

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. It is widely regarded as Gang Starr's magnum opus, and one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

Moment of Truth
Studio album by Gang Starr
Released	March 31, 1998
Recorded	1997–98; D&D Studios New York City
Genre	East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, jazz rap[1]
Length	78:37
Label	Noo Trybe, Virgin
Producer	DJ Premier, Guru
Gang Starr chronology
Hard to Earn (1994) Moment of Truth (1998) Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr (1999)
Singles from Moment of Truth
"You Know My Steez" Released: November 18, 1997[2] "The Militia" Released: July 28, 1998[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Chicago Tribune	[4]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[5]
Houston Chronicle	[6]
Los Angeles Times	[7]
Muzik	7/10[8]
NME	8/10[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[10]
The Source	4.5/5[11]
USA Today	[12]

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. It went on to sell over 500,000 copies and was certified Gold by the RIAA on May 7, 1998.[13] 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.[14] Pitchfork also ranked it as the 16th best album of 1998.[15]

In popular culture

The album's title track was featured in the 2011 Matthew McConaughey film The Lincoln Lawyer.[16][17][18] 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

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

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[19]	14
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[20]	51
French Albums (SNEP)[21]	70
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22]	94
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[23]	28
UK Albums (OCC)[24]	43
US Billboard 200[25]	6
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[26]	1

Singles

Chart positions from Billboard magazine

Year	Song	Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	Hot Rap Singles	Dance/Electronic Singles Sales
1997	"You Know My Steez"	76	15	5	2
1998	"The Militia"	59	19	7	–

See also

• List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 1998

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Moment of Truth – Gang Starr". AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/you-know-my-steez-mw0000031550
3. https://www.allmusic.com/album/militia-mw0000933900
4. Baker, Soren (April 10, 1998). "Gang Starr: Moment of Truth (Noo Trybe)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
5. Tyehimba, Cheo (April 24, 1998). "Moment of Truth". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
6. Jam, Billy (March 29, 1998). "Gang Starr, Moment of Truth, Noo Trybe". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
7. Johnson, Brett (April 26, 1998). "Gang Starr, 'Moment of Truth,' Noo Trybe/Virgin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
8. McPhail, Pete (June 1998). "Gang Starr: Moment of Truth (Cooltempo)". Muzik (37): 82.
9. Batey, Angus (April 11, 1998). "Gang Starr – Moment of Truth". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
10. McLeod, Kembrew (2004). "Gang Starr". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 322. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
11. "Gang Starr: Moment of Truth". The Source (104): 145. May 1998.
12. Jones, Steve (March 31, 1998). "Gang Starr returns for a big 'Moment'". USA Today.
13. "Gold & Platinum - Gang Starr". RIAA. May 7, 1998.
14. "Spin Magazine's The 20 Best Albums of 1998". Rocklist. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
15. "The 50 Best Albums of 1998". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
16. Barone, Matt (March 18, 2011). "Review: "The Lincoln Lawyer" (Starring Matthew McConaughey)". Complex. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
17. "The Lincoln Lawyer - Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
18. Jagernauth, Kevin. "'The Lincoln Lawyer' Soundtrack Features Erik B. & Rakim, Gang Starr, deadmau5 & More". IndieWire. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
19. "Gang Starr Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Gang Starr – Moment of Truth" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
21. "Lescharts.com – Gang Starr – Moment of Truth". Hung Medien.
22. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
23. "Swedishcharts.com – Gang Starr – Moment of Truth". Hung Medien.
24. "Gang Starr | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
25. "Gang Starr Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
26. "Gang Starr Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.