"You Know My Steez" starts off with Guru talking about Gangstarr's formula which is basically dope beats by DJ Premier and lyrics by him.. Then the beat kicks in and the scratching takes place. No one can touch DJ Premier's golden touch of slicing and scratching lyrics from other songs... Maybe Pete Rock... The Chocolate Boy Wonder Soul Brother #1 does come very close...  Still, by using Das Efx and other samples just in the begining, it shows diversity and strength. The melody of the beeping tones is reminicent of "Mass Appeal". It has the potential to be another classic. Though it's no where near as cool sounding as "Mass Appeal", it's still cool.... It flows with ease, Guru's rhymes and Premier's beat and then the chorus is scratched by Premier's collection of other record's lyrics: '"You know my steez" - Method Man then.. "Let em know, do your thing God" - "Keep it live"..'  Here, Guru''s lyrics flow very gracefully yet there is still aggression and anger underneath for an energetic feel. What's even cooler is that the song ends with a cool flow from Guru and no need to repeat the chorus: "...I stay up, I stay on, shine bright, like neon -Your song's, pathetic, synthetic, like ray-on- Fat beats, they play on, want dope rhymes, put me on- Word is bond....you know my steez..."

Then, the second song slows it down with Guru talking to one of his Islamic brothers about the youth in "Robbin Hood Theory" The chorus relies on Guru's vocals and rhymes than Premier's scratching: "...Now that we're gettin somewhere, you know we got to give back- For the youth is the future no doubt that's right and exact- Squeeze the juice out, of all the suckers power- And pour some back out, so as to water the flowers- This world is ours, that's why the demons are leary -It's our inheritance; this is my Robbin Hood Theory... Robbin Hood Theory..." See, Gangstarr has always been down with revolution but leave The Coup to steal from the rich and give to the poor. This is a slower song that has good sentiments but just doesn't hit as hard as it could.  "Work" is fast, pimped out bounce fest with a piano loop. This is a dope, short song that was on the "Caught Up" soundtrack too. Guru's rhymes flow with a hardcore grace while Premier uses dope scratches over a dope beat.  The chorus displays strength as well as a street slang...: "..Aiyyo I'm gonna be on ti-dop, that's all my eyes can see- Victory is mine, yeah surprisingly- I've been laying, waiting for your next mistake- I put in work, and watch my status escalate..." This song is dope.. just short enough to hit hard and not get boring while bouncy enough to get down to.

"Royalty" uses scratches from the classic "DWYCK" where Greg Nice raps: "Gangstarr has got to be the sure shot!" Then, Prodigy's voice from Mobb Deep: "And it's like that..." The looping melody over the driving beat becomes hypnotizing. Guru's rhymes hit a universal touch on African-American people: "Whether you be holding on the block all day or you be puffin' lah out in the back hallway... or you be at school up in the library.. whether you are, baby pa, realize that your essence is divine son, and let it shine son, yo, this sh*t will blow your mind son, we're royalty.." Now, you know I hate R&B/rap songs but K-ci and Jo-Jo actually do a good job on this hook because their lyrics are good: "Where ever I go, what ever I do, I have to look no less than the best, What every I choose, I choose to do, I just want to stand out from all the rest.." This is a hip-hop song and it would be dope with or without the R&B hook. It is a modern Gangstarr classic.

"Above The Clouds" features Inspectah Deck from Wu-Tang Clan. Of course, Premier has tons of scratches of weird vocals, lyrics and movie clips. The beat is good but it's mellow. I think it tries too hard to be floating like clouds.... but hey, it's a cool song. Both Guru and Deck do a good job lyrically. Guru handles the chorus: "Above the clouds, above the crowds.. where the sounds are original... infinite thoughts create miracles... above the clouds, above the crowds raining down..." It's cool...

The next song has Guru rapping about his arrest in the airport on "JFK to LAX". The beat is really slow and mellow but it has a cool, sad feel to it. It is depressing though.. In the chorus, Guru says that "they" want to lock "them" up..."  "They wanna lock us all up, and throw away the key-Don't wanna see us come up, don't wanna see us makin G's- Long as we know this is the key to our destruction-Let's make moves no discussion..." Luckily, the chorus is not repeated.. The actual rhyme, the story telling carries the song but it's too depressing to listen to sometimes though the music sounds real cool and smooth.

"Itz A Set Up" features Hannibal who has a rough voice which sounds somewhat like Freddie Foxx but not as distinct. Together, Guru and Hannibal kick the chours: "..[Guru]    While they devise our demise, we grow wise- [Hann]    Upset the set up, the element of surprise- [both]    IT'Z A SET UP- [Guru]    It's time to upset the set up..." This is a cool song because it tells about the conspiraies that the world is drowning in. It could wake you up but Hannibal is not very prominent next to Guru. Premier does some cool scratching as he scratches "We got news for ya'..." It's short enough not to be boring but it's not one of the best... The next song can also be related to Guru's pressure of jail and involvement with the police.

On "Moment Of Truth", Guru's lyrics flow very well and graceful since they were well-thought out and Premier's beat is driving hard and yet mystical at the same time. One very cool thing about the song is that there are two choruses. This chorus is repeated in the begining and the end: " They say it's lonely at the top, in whatever you do-You always gotta watch motherfuckers around you- Nobody's invincible, no plan is foolproof- We all must meet our moment of truth..." There's a dope chorus in the middle too that is different. Guru's rhymes are hardcore but not violent at all. They are sobering and peaceful as he tries to better himself. His flow keeps it together: "...Suicide? Nah, I'm not a foolish guy-Don't even feel like drinking, or even gettin high-Cause all that's gonna do really, is accelerate-the anxieties that I wish I could alleviate-But wait, I've been through a whole lot of other shit, before-So I oughta be able, to withstand some more-But I'm sweatin though, my eyes are turnin red and yo- I'm ready to lose my mind but instead I use my mind-I put down the knife, and take the bullets out my nine- My only crime, was that I'm too damn kind- And now some skanless motherfuckers wanna take what's mine- But they can't take the respect, that I've earned in my lifetime- And you know they'll never stop the furious force of my rhymes..." Overall, this is a dope song. It's a wake up call and a revelation which should be experienced...

"B.I. Vs. Friendship" features M.O.P. is the next song which hits hard. It sounds much like a song off M.O.P.'s "First Family 4 Life" but Guru and M.O.P. do a dope job all the way through and in the chorus: "[MOP] If it's animosity? [Guru] Let Me know... If you're plotting to steal my doe? [MOP] Time to go! Gangdstarr - M.O.P., n*gga... If you were my man, you'd understand!..." This is a wild song which wakes you up musically as the previous song woke you up lyrically.

"The Militia" features Big Shug and Freddie Foxx is another dope and very energetic song. Everyone takes their tuen. Big Shug goes first with his very simple rhymes but he does a good job... Guru goes second and then, Freddie Foxx. In between, each time, Foxx does the chorus with an intense energy: "..Everybody's spittin it, the rhyme is hot- Cause it's Big Shug, Guru, and Freddie the Foxxx- When Premier bring the beats, no it just don't stop- It's The Militia ..." Premier's scratching is very dope too in the begining and throughout. The beat bounces and kicks.. pure hip-hop! Freddie Foxx kicks some dope rhymes too: "MC's are only recognized for their flows- I'm worldwide for the bitches, that I turned into hoes- You heard me spit it on Jew-elz, that's how it goes- For all them faking ass niggaz and how I bust up they nose- And while your, nose is drippin, and drainin blood- I be standing over you screamin, "Nigga, WHAT, WHAT?! Nigga WHAT!..." Foxx gives the song an energy that neither Guru or Shug could ever bring to the song. This is a dope hardcore jam!

"The Rep Grows Bigga" is another classic track which is the bare Gangstarr truth due to the fact that it's just Premier and Guru... I think there are too many guests on this album...well, two should not be there... Anyway, "The Rep Grows Bigga" is a perfect song! The beat is dope! It slams, flows, flies, bounces, and glides! The chorus is made up of scratches by Premier...Every line is from a different song! It's brilliant, very hard to do, and sounds dope! "The rep grows bigga... stay large... keep my workers under pressure... try and get the dough..... You can say I'm sort of the boss so get lost!.." Guru's flow and lyrics are top notch too. He tells the story of money making and hustling. It's kind of the continuation of "Just To Get A Rep"... Guru's lyrics glide along.."You do your first bid and dirt to get your name known, You never talk too much to get your spot blown- Now you're no longer just a face in the crowd-  You're gettin so much respect that niggaz might as well bow- And movin up with your hustle like you planned it- Rakin dough like the world's greatest bandit- Always got one eye open, for the stick-up kids postin- So much cream chumps they can't understand it...." This is a perfect Gangstarr song! It has the hardcore flava along with a dope beat, good rhymes, good flow, and tons of scratches! talent!

"What I'm Here 4" sounds like crap compared to the previous song. Don't get me wrong, it's kind of cool but it lacks energy and pizazz. It's too mellow and the chorus is nothing special... Though the piano loop is cool, It should have been a b-side. The chorus: "It's the message in the song that makes ya' rock on. Some people go to places where they don't belong. Whether wrong or right, alotta people fight, but I'm here to bless this mic, aiight?"

The next song, "She Knows What She Wants" is extremely mellow and reminds me of some of the Jazzmatazz stuff. The dreamy beat and melody sounds cool and almost etherial but Guru's lyrics lose the mystery of the song when he clearly defines that it's about a woman who is gold-digging... "She knows what she wants, She knows what she wants, She knows what she wants and just how to get it.." Premier does a dope job in the bridge where he scratches De La Soul's "Itzsoeezee" where Trugoy raps, "It's a lesson well learned.... it's going down..." This is a cool song... one of the better ones...

"New York Straight Talk" is a dope bouncy song which bigs up NY to the fullest. DJ Premier saves this song with the dope assortment of scratches in the chorus: ""From New York straight talk, America's best"-"Yo I'm not new to this I'm true to this" "Word up!" -"From New York straight talk... America's best" Gangstarr definitely does NY justice!

The next song is very condescending, "My Advice 2 You" has a chorus rapped by Guru but he only says it once so I guess it's not really a chorus. the main thing that is repeated is Premier's scratches:"Any man with the plan is precise with his life"-"Think twice"  He basically tells you to stop drinking and messing around and straighten up... Isn't he the one facing jail charges? Still, he's getting paid and doing his thing...

"Make 'Em Pay" features Krumb Snatcha and is another one of those filler type tracks. There's not really a chorus but Premier scratches someone saying "Make em' pay!" It's cool but nothing special compared to the dope tracks.

"The Mall"  featuring G-Dep and Shiggy Sha is the worst song on the album because it's about going shopping. The chorus actually has these grown men singing "Make money, money, money!Go shopping! Take money, money, money!  go shopping...No matter what the weather, winter spring or fall! We'll be doin it... "at the mall"" This song has a good beat but it lacks depth because it's all about getting fly clothes and crap...

"Betrayal" features Scarface from Geto Boys.. This is a good song but it's a little too long and a little too slow. The chorus, talked by Guru, is very honest as he wake ya' up to the world: "Scandalous, money greed and lust- In this trife life, there ain't nobody you can trust- Plus there's no justice, it's just us- In fact, watchin' yo back it be must- And each and everyday around the way gats bust- And jealous so-called friends'll try to set you up- It's called betrayal..." Scarface gives it a good feel too. He's a good rhymer and his pressence is felt stronger than Krumb Snatcha or any of the emcees on the previous track.

"Next Time" is a cool song with a cool horn loop. Premier scratches L.L.Cool J (I could do without that) during the chorus: Guru raps, "You though you brought your best lines but they couldn't touch mine, I rocked you in your knot, hope you have better luck next time...."  Then Premier scratches "Not this time but next time..." This is a cool song.

.Finally, the album ends with "In Memory Of.." which basically has Premier giving shout outs in the chorus. It's a sad but respectful way to end the album since death is the ultimate moment of truth.

Overall, Gangstarr made a very good album but it's no where near as tight and hard as the previous "Hard To Earn". Hey, it's pretty hard to make a perfect album twice... The beats are all dope in some way. There's not one weak beat at all. Though some of the beats are a little too slow, the music and melody and scratching make up for it. Premier has done excellent production. The scratches and samples are used perfectly giving respect to past hip-hop while creating fresh stuff. Lyrically, Guru does use a variety of topics. Though his flow is not too versitile since he talks his rap mostly. His voice is cool but he does not change it too much. He never yells but he does get very energetic. His lyrics and rhymes are always on point. He's a true urban poet. One problem is that where "Hard To Earn" was tough, "Moment Of Truth" tries to be diverse. Songs like "The Mall" bring the album down. "Hard To Earn" had no filler at all but this album does with songs like "My Advice 2 You" and "What I'm Here 4". The album does not flow as well as "Hard To Earn" either. Though the songs are short enough and there are some cool skits and interludes hidden inside the tracks, the filler songs slow the album down. Where "Hard To Earn", I could listen to in order song by song on a tape, "Moment Of Truth", I'm glad I have the cd to skip or play at random. In a hardcore sense, Guru has mellowed out. No more guns or smoking weed... He "takes the bullets out of his nine" and he doesn't want to "drink or get high"..This change may not sit well with certain hardcore fans..Guru's main weapon is his lyrics. Still, any hip-hop fan or Gangstarr fan will enjoy "Moment Of Truth". Life is crazy and we all face troubles and hardships.... maybe this album can help us deal with these truthful moments.
Beats: 9.5/10.
Lyrics: 9/10.
Production: 10/10.
Creativity/Originality: 9/10.
Album Flow: 8/10.
Hardcore Rating: 8/10.
[ Overall Rating: 9/10 ]