Gang Starr
Moment Of Truth

THE REVIEW

"Moment Of Truth" is the fifth album by the living monument known as Gang Starr, a historic duo comprised of MC Guru and the stellar producer DJ Premier, who have gifted us some of the finest chapters in rap history. "Moment Of Truth" was released in 1998, after a four-year silence following the absolute masterpiece "Hard To Earn," and it does nothing but confirm the abilities and skills of the two heavyweights, Keith Elam and Chris Martin, delivering to their fans an excellent and cohesive album, rich in anthology-worthy tracks that add to their already considerable group of classics.

It's hard not to nod your head when listening to stellar tracks like the opening "You Know My Steez," "Work," "Royalty" featuring K-Ci & JoJo, "Above The Clouds," with a very Wu Tang sound, featuring Guru and Inspectah Deck on the microphone, and then the explosive "B.I. & Friendship" with the ever-angry MOP, the legendary "The Militia," the deep "What I'm Here 4" with its engaging piano loop, the moving "Make 'Em Pay" accompanied by a marvelous verse from Krumbsnatcha, the very slow "Betrayal" with Scarface, up to the heartfelt concluding "In Memory Of...," where they remember all those who've passed, all the rap stars lost in "battle," now shining only in the sky...

"Moment Of Truth," in short, does not disappoint the expectations created after a four-year wait. It may not reach the level of its predecessor, but it remains a beautiful album, where DJ Premier's raw beats perfectly complement Guru's warm and smooth flow for an expected success, yet another demonstration of the consistency of our artists who, despite money and success, continue to produce great music without selling out to the highest bidder, as unfortunately often happens, not only in the world of rap. Buy it and listen to it, you won't be disappointed. Rating: 4.5