Truth – “Nostalgia ThEraPy 2” review

Brand new EP from Queens, New York emcee Truth. Formerly of the trio Gods’Illa, he would start to build up a solo discography for himself the year after the group’s full-length debut Believe in Gods’Illa however with From Ashes to Kingdom Come. He later followed it up 3 years later by dropping the sophomore effort The Fight for Survival as well as For All Intents & Purposes. The latter of which was also produced by Da Beatminerz fully as was Nostalgia ThEraPy, running it back with DJ Evil D & Mr. Walt for a sequel.

“Painful Truth” set up shop with a gully boom bap instrumental suggesting to try fuckin’ with him in a battle just to see what would happen until “Want It Back” dustily talks about his desire for New York to take it back to it’s roots dismissing “mumble rap” when I feel like we’ve been past that phase for a grip already. “Redrum Seen” brings a murderous vibe from the beat to the relentless penmanship while “Cause for Concern” featuring Psycho Les & Tragedy Khadafi comes together for a lyrical onslaught.

The song “Done Did It” kicks off the 2nd half of Nostalgia ThEraPy 2 by having Truth hopping over some horns mixed with kicks & snares talking about doing this rap shit with ease while “Check It Out” unloads a couple of razor-sharp 16s with more authority than the MTA on top of an aggressive backdrop. “Get to It” featuring Royal Flush finishes the EP with both of them over a soul sample refusing to slow down until they get what’s owed to them.

Hungrier than ever, the 3rd dosage of potent east coast boom bap from Truth & Da Beatminerz continues the former Gods’illa member’s elevation as a solo artist that began nearly 4 years ago with For All Intents & Purposes alongside the original Nostalgia ThEraPy EP celebrating it’s 2-year anniversary in only a couple months. Everything regarding the latter being elevated throughout its follow-up from DJ Evil D & Mr. Walt’s production to the sharp lyricism.

Score: 4/5

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Truth – “Nostalgia ThEraPy” review

Queens emcee Truth formerly of the trio Gods’Illa teaming up with Da Beatminerz for his solo debut EP. The year after the group’s full-length debut Believe in Gods’Illa however, he would start to build up a solo discography for himself with From Ashes to Kingdom Come. He then followed it up 3 years later by dropping the sophomore effort The Fight for Survival as well as For All Intents & Purposes. The latter of which was also produced by Da Beatminerz fully & was not only my personal introduction to Truth’s music, but one that I found myself enjoying more than his previous work too. So with that in mind, I was sure I was gong to enjoy Nostalgia ThEraPy as much if not more than that previous LP.

“Truth Is” really sets the tone of what‘s to come by laying battle bars down over dusty boom bap production whereas “Lock & Load” works in an eerie loop with kicks & snares aiming for the kill. “Spit It” featuring Al Skratch & Kurious finds the trio over a bloodcurdling boom bap beat encouraging to speak your thoughts just before “Here & Now” brings in the horns boasting that he’ll tear down any stage anywhere.

To start the 2nd leg of the EP, “Da Beatminerz Sound” has to be my personal favorite track off the whole thing as Truth reminds that him matched with Mr. Walt & DJ Evil D is a deadly combo on top of this raw ass instrumental that they’re known for prior to “Won By One’s Will” taking the symphonic route telling y’all to kneel down to the pharaoh. “Queens Carnivores” featuring Royal Flush begins the encore with this bluesy sample repping their stomping grounds & “Calling” ties everything up with a soulful flip by getting busy.

Even as a 9-song EP running at 27 & only 3 features, Da Beatminerz continue to bring the best out of Truth because this is another pretty impressive body of work from them. It’s like a warm dish of hip hop comfort food that just so happens to incorporate some new herbs & spices courtesy of the chefs involved, all by design as Truth continues to evolve lyrically over the traditional east coast boom bap sound.

Score: 4/5

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Truth – “For All Intents & Purposes” review

This is the 3rd full-length album from Queens emcee Truth. Coming up as 1/3 of Gods’Illa, it wouldn’t be until the year after the group’s full-length debut Believe in Gods’Illa where he would start to build up a solo discography for himself with From Ashes to Kingdom Come. He then followed it up 3 years later by dropping the sophomore effort The Fight for Survival & now with the 3 year anniversary of that coming up next month, Truth is enlisting Da Beatminerz to produce For All Intents & Purposes in it’s entirety.

After the “Power of Truth” intro, the first song “Let’s Do It” is a dusty boom bap opener encouraging those who want problems to pursue it whereas “Duck Dodge Hide” takes a more blood-curdling route talking about watching your step around him. “Where You At?” goes into a more orchestral direction getting on his Queens shit just before “Listen Up” sends a chilling warning to anyone who wants to step to him in a battle referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion The Iron Sheik.

Meanwhile on “Aim to Kill”, we have Truth delivering some deadly battle raps leading into “Fistory in the Making” following it up with a full-blown fight anthem. “Stomped Out” picks up where the previous cut left off topically except it works in some pretty cool horns, but then “Brutality” samples “I’m Alive” by Johnny Thunder to talk about his rapping prowess. “Attack” has some funky undertones into the production to rap circles around his opposition once more while “Take ‘Em Down” goes into bluesier turf talking about never letting up.

The penultimate song “Entourage” with Joe Fatal, Large Professor, Ras Kass, Tragedy Khadafi & Treach is an absolutely stellar posse cut with a haunting yet relaying vocal loop & after the “Pardon the Disruption” interlude, “The Eternal Forces” ends the album with a beautiful ode to those in his life who couldn’t be here today.

If you ask me, this is easily the best thing that Truth has put out yet & it exemplifies why he could be the illest of the Gods’illa camp. He & Da Beatminerz all take it back to the essence on here from the rugged lyrical content to the raw boom bap sound that the production duo blew up off of 3 decades ago & even the scratch hooks.

Score: 4/5