Today in Hip-Hop: Beanie Sigel Drops ‘The Truth’

On this day, Feb. 29, in hip-hop history...

2000: Philly rapper and Roc-A-Fella Records signee Beanie Sigel released his debut album, The Truth, on Feb. 29, 2000.

Beanie Sigel's signing to Roc was a part of the label's new millennium expansion by Dame Dash so rap fans at the time were curious to see and hear what the young Philly MC brought to the table. Fueled by the singles "The Truth" and "Remember Them Days" Bean's debut was his official coming out at as a Roc-A-Fella pillar. Hip-hop fans identified with Beans' cool, calm and collected demeanor and no-nonsense "arsenic flow."

The Truth features guest verses from fellow Roc Boys Memphis Bleek and Jay Z as well as Scarface and Eve and dope production from the likes of Kanye West and Just Blaze, who were also new to the label at the time. The Truth reached its peak on the Billboard 200 at No. 5. Though not his biggest critical success, Sigel went on to drop six albums to date, four of which were under Roc-A-Fella, and build his name as a voice of Philadelphia.

Through raps beefs, jail bids and periods of obscurity, Beanie has come back with a vengeance. He and Jay officially squashed their 2009 beef in the summer of 2015 and Beans appeared at Jay Z's B-Sides concert in May.

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