Gang Starr's "Moment of Truth" 10 years later ... and more 1998 music
It's hard for me to believe that one of my favorite albums of all time -- Gang Starr's "Moment of Truth" -- dropped on this day 10 years ago. I've been bumping this today and it's taking me back to being 18, being in my first year of college and working at The Wherehouse. It was one of the few edited hip-hop CDs we had at the store, so whenever I worked, it was in our CD changer.
The album holds up well -- "You Know My Steez," "Above the Clouds", "The Militia" and "Work" are still unquestionable bangers and "Next Time," "Moment of Truth" and "JFK 2 LAX" still reek of DJ Premier's genius production.
To this day, '98 is one of my favorite years for hip-hop -- with this, Big Pun's "Capital Punishment" (April 28), Outkast's "Aquemini" (Sept. 29) and Mos Def/Talib Kweli's "Black Star" (Aug. 25) all hitting stores.
For those who also want to reminisce, check out thse other notable 1998 releases: "Wide Open Spaces," Dixie Chicks (Jan. 27), "Ray of Light," Madonna (March 3) "*NSYNC" (March 24), "Before These Crowded Street," Dave Matthews Band (April 28), "System of a Down" (June 30), "Devil Without a Cause," Kid Rock (Aug. 18), "Follow The Leader," Korn (Aug. 18), "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," Lauryn Hill (Aug. 25), "Mechanical Animals," Marilyn Manson (Sept. 15), "Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life," Jay-Z and "Believe," Cher (Nov. 10).
Gang Starr bonus: Here's the video for "You Know My Steez" ...
Comments:
Good year in deed. You forgot The Roots Things Fall Apart up there too.
Posted by: Justa at March 31, 2008 11:02 PM
don't forget DMX's "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" and "Flesh of my Flesh, Blood of my Blood". DMX was the top dogg that year.
Posted by: mdub420 at March 31, 2008 11:09 PM
AHHHHHH YES! The golden age era of hip hop. When the rhymes were the centerpeice of each and every track and the sounds and beats were just gravy. Good gravy though I might I add. Thanks oZ!
Posted by: Anthony Molina at April 1, 2008 7:17 AM
1998! It was a great year for music. Cheers to a decade of great tunes!
Posted by: JJ Brown at April 1, 2008 8:02 AM
Ahhhhhh Lauryn Hill! That's one of my favorite albums.
Posted by: Cristobal at April 1, 2008 8:32 AM
That Roots album dropped in 99, actually.
As for DMX, I just never really liked him. I bought that first album mostly because it came with the free Def Jam Survival of the Illest sampler that had LL's "The Ripper Strikes Back" diss to Canibus.
Canibus' debut album also came out in 98, but that guy's ended up being such a joke, I didn't list him. That was highly anticipated for me, though. Just no follow through.
Posted by: Mike Oz at April 1, 2008 8:48 AM
The last GREAT time I had with hip-hop was around this time. Props for recognizing and spreading the good word! I'll be digging through my CDs this weekend....
Posted by: Brodiemash at April 1, 2008 9:42 AM
Ahh, Moment of Truth, the album that solidified The Jon's and Mike Oz's friendship.
And sorry, 1998 was not the golden age era of hip hop. Youngsters.
Posted by: The Jon at April 3, 2008 2:37 PM
Post a comment
(read the comment policy before posting)