Today in Hip-Hop: Gang Starr Drop ‘Moment of Truth’

On this day, March 31, in hip-hop history...

1998: On March 31, 1998, hip-hop duo Gang Starr released their fifth LP Moment of Truth. Four years after releasing their previous album Hard to Earn in 1994, MC Guru and producer DJ Premier stepped into the studio once again to craft what would be their second to last album. The project, which features the likes of Bumpy Knuckles, M.O.P., Big Shug, Scarface, Inspectah Deck and more, boasts a different vibe from the Boston-formed duo than their previous jazz-heavy work. Moment of Truth was seen as the duo's comeback at the time and asserted more of a hardcore hip-hop sound.

The album was lead by the single "You Know My Steez," which would go on to become one of Gang Starr's most popular songs. The track is about Guru being one of the best rappers out, which he was. With lyrics like "Subtracting all the rappers who lack over Premier's tracks/Severe facts have brought this rap game to near collapse," he was on to something. "So as I have in the past, I whoop ass/Dropping lyrics that be hotter than sex and candlewax," Guru rapped, later in the song. "You Know My Steez" peaked at No. 5 on the Hot Rap Singles chart in 1997.

Moment of Truth was the most group's most successful album, debuting at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts and eventually being certified gold by the RIAA. This is one of Gang Starr's most-loved albums, and further solidified their place in hip-hop's hall of fame.

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