Let The Truth Be Told…
January 17th, 2007 at 1:23 pm (Uncategorized)
In 1999 Pharoahe Monch released his solo debut album, Internal Affairs, on the now defunct Rawkus record label. The album peaked at #41 on the Billboard Top 200 and #6 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Charts–quite impressive considering that Monch’s previous album while a member of Organized Konfusion peaked at 141 on the Top 200. Internal Affairs was at once both a commercial and critical success, producing club hits such as Simon Says and The Light while at the same time solidifying Monch’s reputation as one of hip hop’s most talented emcees.
Hidden at the end of Internal Affairs is what I consider to be one of the albums forgotten gems, a brilliant collaboration with fellow ‘conscious rappers’ Common and Talib Kwali entitled The Truth. Monch is an absolute technical wizard on Internal Affairs, constantly exhibiting his enormous skill and dexterity–and out of the dust of Monch’s lyrical whirlwind rises The Truth. A harp slowly fades in, and the string-laced production rises effortlessly only to float by in an instant. A track that is in its message unlike any I have ever heard, The Truth is not only about the beauty of truth, but also the difficulty we all have facing it.
Despite Monch’s brilliant work on Internal Affairs it is Common, an emcee know for his insight and thoughtful lyricism who is the highlight of The Truth, delivering what I believe to be one of the most profound verses of his career:
See it everywhere, gotta recognize it Let the truth be told from young souls that become old From days spent in the jungle, where must one go To find it, time is real, we can’t rewind it Out of everybody I met, who told the truth? Time did We find kids speakin cuz it’s naturally in us But the false prophets by tellin us we born sinners Venders of hate, got me battlin my own mind state At a divine rate, I ain’t in this just to rhyme great See the truth in the thighs of a stripper, the eyes of my nigga If it’s only one, then why should it differ So constantly I seek it Wonderin why I gotta drink a six pack to speak it Took a picture of the truth and tried to develop it Had proof, it was only recognized by the intelligent Took the negative and positive, cuz niggas got to live Said I got to get more than I’m given Cuz truth’ll never be heard in religion After searchin the world, on the inside what was hidden It was the truth
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songstory said,
January 17, 2007 at 1:42 pm
For some reason when you play the song off the site it play really slow. Everyones voice sounds deep and tired. I suggest you download it and listen to it until I can figure out what the fuck is wrong.
Bryce said,
January 17, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Check out the info on this event happening in next couple weeks. Should be good. I’d like to go. Anybody else? Sorry Dave this has nothing to do with Monch’s “The Truth,” which is definitely a great song from a now hard to find album. Im just using Songstory as a means for mass communication.
AIN’T NO JOKE featuring DJs Lil’ Jaz, k-os & Justin Peroff
R.E.M.G. is proud to announce the first of many parties called Ain’t No Joke, aimed at bringing back the party-rocking to hip hop.
Ain’t No Joke aims to take hip-hop back to the dance-floor where it all started. In an era where hip-hop’s cultural influence on many is driven by style over substance, where the blurred lines between sincerity and irony become increasingly thick, Ain’t No Joke is a serious and FUN endeavour. Conceived by a group of people whose memories of the golden-era amplify off one another, this party is an experiment in opening up a new generation of hip-hop heads to the sidelined element of party-rocking. The same kids from more than a decade back, who scraped together whatever money they could find to buy records or lace up some new Air Jordan’s, see many of the same elements emerging from a new breed of youngsters. The Ain’t No Joke series of parties is heavily focused on making sure the new jacks know where hip-hop’s been, so it can stay fresh with where it’s going. It’s where the old school becomes the new school and everything comes together as the true school.
Ain’t No Joke is the vision of three Toronto based musicians. With styles ranging from hip-hop to indie rock and everything in between, these three highly acclaimed individuals will come together to rock the party like no other. If you’ve done your homework you’ll be sure to know that Lil’ Jaz has more than earned his stripes as one of the nation’s top DJs. Formerly a member of the Turnstylez crew, Jaz now plays a major role as a member of k-os’ phenomenal live band. k-os has been a prominent figure in the Toronto hip-hop scene for years, with a sound and passion that remains comparable to none. Though he’s an artist whose style spans and crosses many genres, k-os’ deeply rooted love for hip-hop culture always serves as the foundation to his music. Justin Peroff is the drummer for the Toronto-based and internationally-renown indie rock band, Broken Social Scene. His love for hip-hop has never been a secret, and he’s been showcasing his love for the music in DJ sets throughout Toronto for some time now.
AIN’T NO JOKE featuring DJs Lil’ Jaz, k-os & Justin Peroff Friday January 26, 2007 Stones Place (1255 Queen St. W.) Tickets are $10.00 are are available at the door only. 19+ Event, Doors @ 10:00pm
Bryce said,
January 17, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Oh yeah, special guest at “Ain’t no Joke” is DJ Serious. Should be some quality music.
H said,
January 19, 2007 at 3:43 am
I do declare this to be a strollin’ down the avenue number.
adam said,
January 20, 2007 at 11:41 pm
greasy you’re doing a wicked job with this blog man.
around the time that line, “i aint no joke” came-out in 1986, this group called the fat boys had just earned a gold record … the story is that rakim thought hiphop was turning into a joke, and had to declare that he wasn’t a joke too … i’m kinda curious to hear what the fat boys sound like, what, back then (at a time we call the golden era), was considered a threat to real hiphop …
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