“And if you thought we lost our niche in this rap shit, you’re way wrong.”

I haven’t listened to this album in a long time. Gang Starr’s Moment Of Truth. I think it’s because it’s too personal to me. Reminds me of too much. Takes me back. Way back. To D&D Studios with Guru. Where after cracking a bad joke about him nappin’ on the studio couch, we chopped it up. It was for an ego trip cover story while at the same time I was the Music Editor of The Source. Yup, in charge of how many mics the duo’s first album in four years was gonna get. No pressure.

As a fan and a rookie in the rap journalism game, I was pissed at The Source who gave Daily Operation 3-and-a-half mics in 1992. Did they really listen to it or just skim through it? And them niggas had some audacity—giving Spice 1 a 4 on the same page. My East Coast blood was boiling! Like its predecessor, 1991’s Step In The Arena, it was an undisputed classic in my book. I snickered when I heard Chris Wilder who wrote the initial review was ejected from their album release party. That Jon and the crew did a do over by assigning Ronin Ro a cover story around 1994’s Hard to Earn. That cover image in the NYC subway was classic to me.

But now the shoe was on my foot. Fresh in the post Biggie-Pac era, I wasn’t sure, where exactly does Gang Starr fit in again? It didn’t help that even back then there were rumors of tension in the group. And Guru had a real-life assault change hanging over his head that he would later thankfully be acquitted of. I hoped the record would be good. I wanted it to be great. I wanted to keep my convo with Guru goin’ so I didn’t have to go into the B room to hear Preemo play it for me. I wasn’t ready.

So Keith told me about his frustration with past record sales. He was tired of being disappointed. In his mind, they had never capitalized off their accidental smash, “Dwyck”. He just wanted his group to go gold. He talked about he and Preem’s outside projects and why it was so important for them to get back together. He told his favorite story about his early beginnings, leaving Boston with no money and heading to the Big Apple on the day after Christmas. Of course, the car broke down.

Still time waits for no man and it was time to face the music. Thankfully, it was so fuckin’ good. Preem played raw mix after raw mix of the core of the album: “You Know My Steez,” “My Advice 2 You”, “JFK 2 LAX”, “Make Em Pay”. He admitted that the next joint was a lil different for his group and then he blasted the K-Ci & Jo Jo-featured “Royalty”. I was so happy inside. Then a funny thing happened, in walks Jay-Z, who politely interrupts the session to let Premier know he finished layin’ a vocal down in another room. Does it get any better than that?

Back at Dave Mays’ place, I fought for a five. They wanted a four. It got a four-and-a-half. Truth be told, I felt no connection to 2003’s Ownerz. I always like to look back at artists catalogues and try to decide what was their last great single or album. How does the movie end? What song is playing? Fittingly, with the sadness of Guru’s passing, the right joint has been elected. “Above The Clouds”. The fifth song on Gang Starr’s fifth album. Should’ve got five mics.

Respect The Empire Ladies: Vikki Tobak. Shani Saxon-Parrish. Sarah K. Honda.