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(Waxpoetics<\/strong>) Fistfights. Improper farewells. Alcoholism. Guns in suitcases. The agonizing emotional depth from which Moment of Truth<\/em> emerged was unlike anything seen in Gang Starr\u2019s<\/strong> previous decade of work. According to DJ Premier:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve never been as depressed while making an album.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The pair had just come off a successful run of celebrated works, Daily Operation<\/i> and Hard to Earn<\/i>, both of which helped forge a style that would forever define the East Coast\u2019s sonorous aesthetic. Gang Starr<\/strong> still spoke to New York\u2019s rap coterie but, this time, more of the world was listening. Guru<\/strong> deconstructed his handle to an acronym\u2014Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal<\/strong>\u2014while Preemo<\/strong>\u2019s cuts and flagship production aided (and in many cases, anchored) projects by Group Home<\/strong> and Jeru the Damaja,<\/strong> respectively. Minus a handful of cuts and lead singles, Moment of Truth<\/i> was overall a subdued effort, shook, and inward, directly introspective. \u201cRobin Hood Theory,\u201d \u201cWhat I\u2019m Here For,\u201d \u201cJFK 2 LAX,\u201d<\/em> and others all have an undeniable sunken quality to them.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a feeling of tenseness woven throughout, all of which was wholly due to the state of Preemo<\/strong> and Guru<\/strong>\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI left the recording sessions during the making of this because Guru\u2019s drinking had gotten out of hand,\u201d says Preemo.<\/p>\n \u201cGuru 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\u2019t doing this anymore. He agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou gotta understand,\u201d Premier continues, \u201cyou cannot make project after project with someone you don\u2019t love. If we had bad energy, our music wouldn\u2019t have come out right. We\u2019d literally punch each other in the face, but next thing you know, we\u2019d be at the bar with our arms around one another.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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