DJ Premier Speaks About The Difficult Task Of Making Gang Starr’s ‘Moment Of Truth’

(Waxpoetics) Fistfights. Improper farewells. Alcoholism. Guns in suitcases. The agonizing emotional depth from which Moment of Truth emerged was unlike anything seen in Gang Starr’s previous decade of work. According to DJ Premier:

“We’ve never been as depressed while making an album.”

The pair had just come off a successful run of celebrated works, Daily Operation and Hard to Earn, both of which helped forge a style that would forever define the East Coast’s sonorous aesthetic. Gang Starr still spoke to New York’s rap coterie but, this time, more of the world was listening. Guru deconstructed his handle to an acronym—Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal—while Preemo’s cuts and flagship production aided (and in many cases, anchored) projects by Group Home and Jeru the Damaja, respectively. Minus a handful of cuts and lead singles, Moment of Truth was overall a subdued effort, shook, and inward, directly introspective. “Robin Hood Theory,” “What I’m Here For,” “JFK 2 LAX,” and others all have an undeniable sunken quality to them.

There’s also a feeling of tenseness woven throughout, all of which was wholly due to the state of Preemo and Guru’s working relationship. Not only did future projects hinge on a looming court case, but years of collaboration were slowly being drowned by years of addiction.

“I left the recording sessions during the making of this because Guru’s drinking had gotten out of hand,” says Preemo.

“Guru was also about to go to jail, and the trial came up, so we made sure the album cover would match in case he was actually locked up while it was released. There were moments during the making of this where we stopped speaking to each other. I told him unless he gets his alcoholism under control, we ain’t doing this anymore. He agreed.

“You gotta understand,” Premier continues, “you cannot make project after project with someone you don’t love. If we had bad energy, our music wouldn’t have come out right. We’d literally punch each other in the face, but next thing you know, we’d be at the bar with our arms around one another.”

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