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.

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. 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. Pitchfork also ranked it as the 16th best album of 1998.

In popular culture

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 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

#TitleProducerPerformer 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 & JoJo5:11
5"Above the Clouds"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, Inspectah Deck3:41
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 Foxxx4:48
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 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 Guru, Krumb Snatcha4:21
17"The Mall"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, G-Dep, Shiggy Sha3:40
18"Betrayal"DJ Premier, GuruGuru, Scarface5:29
19"Next Time"DJ Premier, GuruGuru3:06
20"In Memory Of…"DJ Premier, GuruDJ Premier, Guru3:50

Chart positions

Album

Singles

Chart positions from Billboard magazine
YearSongBillboard Hot 100Hot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsHot Rap SinglesDance/Electronic Singles Sales
1997"You Know My Steez"761552
1998"The Militia"59197