| Product Summary | | Label: Emd/virgin | | UPC: 00724384558529 | | Release Date: 3/31/1998 | | Buy.com Sku: 60074535 | | Item#: MP943N | | Buy.com Sales Rank: 25140 | Format:  CD |
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| Song Listing |  |
(C) Noo Trybe
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| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | Gang Starr: Guru (rap vocals); DJ Premier (spoken vocals, keyboards, drum programming, scratches). | | Additional personnel: Elijah Shabazz (spoken vocals); K-Ci, JoJo (vocals); Inspektah Deck, Hannibal, M.O.P., Big Shug, Freddie Foxxx, G-Dep, Shiggy Sha, Scarface, Krumb Snatcha (rap vocals); DJ Premier (scratches). | | Recorded at D&D Studios, New York, New York. | | Personnel: DJ Premier (keyboards, drum programming, scratches); Mark Spier (sampler). | | Audio Mixer: DJ Premier. | | Recording information: D & D Studios. | | Photographer: Daniel Hastings. | | By the release of Moment of Truth in the spring of 1998, Gang Starr were rap veterans, having spent nearly ten years as professionals. That elapsed time meant that the album was positioned as something of a comeback, since the duo had been inactive for four years, and it had been even longer since they had a hit. They knew they had to come back hard, and Moment of Truth almost accomplishes their goals. Retaining the swing of their jazz-rap fusions, Gang Starr nevertheless have their rhythms hit at a street level, and Guru's rhymes are his best in years. It may not have the thrill of discovery that made their first albums so exciting, and it does suffer from a few slow spots, but on the whole it's a successful return. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine | | On their fifth album MOMENT OF TRUTH, Gang Starr solidifes their position in the hip-hop arena. Lyrically and musically, Guru and DJ Premier have always been head and shoulders above the rest, but with MOMENT OF TRUTH, the duo's experience is both obvious and rewarding. Since their debut in 1989, Gang Starr have remained true to themselves, and as a result, prove to be one of the most street-credible rap groups around. | | With Premier's amazingly creative production tactics and Guru providing lyrical education, Gang Starr can't lose. Premier's track record shows that any MC lucky enough to work with him automatically earns props, while Guru's monotone style forces listeners to pay close attention. See songs like "Above The Clouds" and "B.I. Vs. Friendship" to be schooled. No phony gimmicks, just raw straight-up hip-hop. |
| | Compilation Appearances |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 03/31/1998 | | Original Release Date : 1998 | | Catalog ID : 45585 | | Label : Noo Trybe | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00724384558529 |
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| | Professional Reviews | | Spin (1/99, p.91)
- Ranked #16 on Spin's list of "Top 20 Albums of '98."Entertainment Weekly (4/24/98, p.78)
- "...Guru's gravel-mouthed admonitions to wannabe MCs and first-hand insight into court battels are as evenly matched to DJ Premier's coveted turntable orchestrations as Satchmo's voice was to his horn..." - Rating: B CMJ (1/11/99, p.4)
- "...Observe and acknowledge the way true hip-hop was meant to sound - raw yet refined, with beats powerful enough to blow your back out at the drop of a needle..." The Source (5/98, p.145)
- 4.5 Mics (out of 5)
- "This is the record that hip-hop purists who have long been tired of the artform's commercial tendencies and lack of creativity have been savoring for....MOMENT OF TRUTH delivered the antidote to hip-hop afflictions..." Melody Maker (4/11/98, p.44)
- "...Gang Starr come over like the wise old uncles who've updated their sound, but softened it with interspersed bursts of swingbeat." NME (Magazine)
(4/11/98, p.39)
- 8 (out of 10)
- "...Rapper Guru and DJ Premier's reunification finds them returning refreshed to their original blueprint, making peerless hip-hop of class and quality..." |
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