Moment Of Truth
Gang Starr - Topic Lyrics


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No matter what we face
We must face the moment of truth, baby

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
The same sheisty cats that you hang with, and do your thang with
Could set you up and wet you up, nigga, peep the language
It's universal, you play with fire it may hurt you
Or burn you, lessons are blessings you should learn through
Let's face facts, although MC's lace tracks
It doesn't mean behind the scenes there ain't no dirt to trace back
That goes for all of us, there ain't nobody to trust
It's like sabotage, it's got me ready to bust
But I can't jeopardize, what I have done up to this point
So I'ma get more guys, to help me run the whole joint
Cultivate, multiply, motivate, or else we'll die
You know I be the master of the who, what, where and why
See when you're shining, some chumps'll wanna dull ya
Always selfish, jealous punks, will wanna pull ya
Down, just like some shellfish in a bucket
'Cause they love it, to see your ass squirm like a worm
But just as you'll receive what is coming to you
Everybody else is gonna get theirs too
I ain't no saint, therefore I cannot dispute
That everyone must meet their moment of truth

Actions have reactions, don't be quick to judge
You may not know the hardships people don't speak of
It's best to step back, and observe with couth
For we all must meet our moment of truth

Sometimes you gotta dig deep, when problems come near
Don't fear, things get severe for everybody everywhere
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Seems that life is just a constant war between good and evil
The situation that I'm facin' is mad amazin'
To think such problems can arise from minor confrontations
Now I'm contemplatin', in my bedroom pacin'
Dark clouds over my head, my heart's racin'
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 scandalous 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
So like they say, every dog has its day
And like they say, God works in a mysterious way
So I pray, rememberin' the days of my youth
As I prepare to meet my moment of truth

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free"

Yo, I got one lyric pointed at your head for start
Another one, is pointed at your weak-ass heart
Now if I pull the trigger, on these fully loaded lines
You're gonna wish I woulda pulled a black nine, I mack dimes
Crack the spines of the fake gangsters
Yeah, the bitin'-triflin' niggas, and the studio pranksters
Yo, lookin' at the situation plainly, will you remain G?
Or will you be looked upon strangely?
I reign as the articulator, with the greater data
Revolvin' on the TASCAM much doper than my last jam
While others struggle to juggle tricky metaphors
I explore more, to expose the core
A lot of emcees act stupid to me
And we have yet to see if they can match our longevity
But anyway, it's just another day
Another fake jack I slay with my spectac' rap display
Styles, smooth but rugged, you can't push or shove it
You dig it and you dug it 'cause like money you love it
The king of monotone, with my own throne
Righteously violent prone, my words bring winds like cyclones
Stormin' your hideout, blockin' out your sunlight
Your image and your business were truly not done right
Throw up your He Allah Now Divine Saviors
You got no hand skills, there's no security to save ya
No pager, no celly, no drop-top Benzy
I came to bring your phony hip-hop to an ending
My art of war will leave you sore from the abuse
'Cause you must meet your moment of truth

They say it's lonely at the top in whatever you do
You always gotta watch motherfuckers around you




No one is untouchable, no man is bulletproof
We all must meet our moment of truth

Overall Meaning

The song "Moment of Truth" by Gang Starr talks about the importance of facing the truth in every situation, especially when it seems difficult or unpleasant. The opening lines: "No matter what we face, we must face the moment of truth," set the tone for the song that is about the inevitability of the consequences of one's actions. At the same time, the song also reflects on the challenges of staying true to oneself when faced with temptations and betrayals from others.


The lyrics further discuss the fact that fame and success have their own dangers, and it becomes essential to be cautious about whom you trust. "It's lonely at the top, in whatever you do, you always gotta watch motherfuckers around you," the lyrics further emphasize the need for self-preservation for survival. Gang Starr speaks about the importance of being self-aware and realistic while reminding listeners that actions have reactions and that the truth shall always set you free.


Line by Line Meaning

No matter what we face
Regardless of the challenges that come our way,


We must face the moment of truth, baby
We must confront the inevitable reality and consequences of our actions.


They say it's lonely at the top, in whatever you do
It's often isolating to achieve success in any field.


You always gotta watch motherfuckers around you
You need to be wary of those in your vicinity, as not everyone has good intentions.


Nobody's invincible, no plan is foolproof
Everyone has vulnerabilities, and no strategy is without flaws.


We all must meet our moment of truth
Ultimately, everyone will face critical realizations and revelations about themselves.


The same sheisty cats that you hang with, and do your thang with
Those untrustworthy individuals you associate and collaborate with,


Could set you up and wet you up, nigga, peep the language
Could betray you or harm you; be aware of the signs and intentions.


It's universal, you play with fire it may hurt you
This is a universal truth: tampering with danger can lead to pain.


Or burn you, lessons are blessings you should learn through
It can cause significant harm; yet, every negative experience can offer valuable lessons.


Let's face facts, although MC's lace tracks
We must acknowledge reality; even successful rappers create impactful music,


It doesn't mean behind the scenes there ain't no dirt to trace back
that doesn't imply there aren't hidden issues or scandals in their past.


That goes for all of us, there ain't nobody to trust
This applies universally; trust is scarce among individuals.


It's like sabotage, it's got me ready to bust
It feels like betrayal, leaving me on edge and ready to explode.


But I can't jeopardize, what I have done up to this point
However, I won't sacrifice all my hard work and achievements so far.


So I'ma get more guys, to help me run the whole joint
So I’ll enlist more people to support and manage our endeavors.


Cultivate, multiply, motivate, or else we'll die
We must nurture, expand, and inspire each other, or we risk failure.


You know I be the master of the who, what, where and why
I pride myself on understanding the essential details of any situation.


See when you're shining, some chumps'll wanna dull ya
When you succeed, some jealous individuals will try to undermine you.


Always selfish, jealous punks, will wanna pull ya
These selfish and envious people will attempt to bring you down.


Down, just like some shellfish in a bucket
Dragging you down like crab in a bucket, where they pull each other down to prevent anyone from escaping.


'Cause they love it, to see your ass squirm like a worm
These individuals thrive on seeing you struggle and fail.


But just as you'll receive what is coming to you
Just as you will reap what you sow,


Everybody else is gonna get theirs too
Others will also face the consequences of their actions.


I ain't no saint, therefore I cannot dispute
I’m not perfect, and thus cannot argue against this reality.


That everyone must meet their moment of truth
Everyone will eventually have to confront their own realities and reckon with their actions.


Actions have reactions, don't be quick to judge
Every action has consequences; avoid jumping to conclusions about others.


You may not know the hardships people don't speak of
You may be unaware of the silent struggles and challenges others face.


It's best to step back, and observe with couth
It's wiser to take a step back and observe with respect and understanding.


For we all must meet our moment of truth
Ultimately, we all will face our own critical realizations.


Sometimes you gotta dig deep, when problems come near
At times, you must search within yourself for strength when facing difficulties.


Don't fear, things get severe for everybody everywhere
Don’t be afraid; tough times affect everyone, no matter where they are.


Why do bad things happen to good people?
It's a perplexing reality that misfortune often befalls those who least deserve it.


Seems that life is just a constant war between good and evil
Life appears to be an ongoing struggle between right and wrong.


The situation that I'm facin' is mad amazin'
The challenges I'm encountering are incredibly striking and noteworthy.


To think such problems can arise from minor confrontations
It’s surprising how serious issues can stem from seemingly trivial disputes.


Now I'm contemplatin', in my bedroom pacin'
Now I'm deep in thought, pacing in my room, reflecting on these matters.


Dark clouds over my head, my heart's racin'
I feel a heavy burden of worry and anxiety weighing on me.


Suicide? Nah, I'm not a foolish guy
Though I've had dark thoughts, I am not reckless enough to consider ending my life.


Don't even feel like drinking, or even gettin' high
I have no desire to escape reality through substances.


'Cause all that's gonna do really is accelerate
Indulging in those things would only worsen my current mental state.


The anxieties that I wish I could alleviate
It would intensify the troubles I'm trying to diminish.


But wait, I've been through a whole lot of other shit before
However, I remind myself that I have survived much worse challenges in the past.


So I oughta be able to withstand some more
Thus, I should be strong enough to endure additional hardships.


But I'm sweatin' though, my eyes are turnin' red, and yo
Yet I'm feeling the pressure; I can feel my anxiety manifest physically.


I'm ready to lose my mind, but instead I use my mind
I’m on the brink of losing control, but I consciously choose to think rationally.


I put down the knife, and take the bullets out my nine
I choose to reject violence, letting go of harmful thoughts and intentions.


My only crime, was that I'm too damn kind
The only fault I acknowledge is being excessively compassionate.


And now some scandalous motherfuckers wanna take what's mine
And yet dishonest individuals are attempting to exploit my kindness for their gain.


But they can't take the respect that I've earned in my lifetime
However, they can never strip away the respect I have worked hard to achieve.


And you know they'll never stop the furious force of my rhymes
And it's guaranteed that they cannot diminish the impact of my music.


So like they say, every dog has its day
As the saying goes, everyone will have their moment of triumph.


And like they say, God works in a mysterious way
And similarly, divine forces often operate in ways we cannot comprehend.


So I pray, rememberin' the days of my youth
Thus, I seek solace through prayer, reflecting on my past and the simpler times.


As I prepare to meet my moment of truth
As I get ready to confront my own reality and consequences.


"You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free"
Understanding and confronting the truth leads to liberation.


Yo, I got one lyric pointed at your head for start
Consider this line as a direct challenge or confrontation.


Another one, is pointed at your weak-ass heart
And this line aims to strike at your vulnerabilities.


Now if I pull the trigger, on these fully loaded lines
If I unleash the full power of my words,


You're gonna wish I woulda pulled a black nine, I mack dimes
You’d prefer a physical threat over the verbal onslaught I deliver.


Crack the spines of the fake gangsters
I’ll expose and break down those who pretend to be tough.


Yeah, the bitin'-triflin' niggas, and the studio pranksters
Those imitation artists and tricksters in the industry will be laid bare.


Yo, lookin' at the situation plainly, will you remain G?
Considering the circumstances clearly, will you stay true to your identity?


Or will you be looked upon strangely?
Or will you be seen as a phony or an outsider?


I reign as the articulator, with the greater data
I hold a position of power in verbal expression, equipped with profound knowledge.


Revolvin' on the TASCAM much doper than my last jam
Creating music that surpasses my previous works, using advanced recording techniques.


While others struggle to juggle tricky metaphors
While many artists falter with complicated wordplay,


I explore more, to expose the core
I delve deeper into themes to reveal the fundamental truths.


A lot of emcees act stupid to me
Many rappers come off as foolish or disingenuous in my view.


And we have yet to see if they can match our longevity
They've yet to prove if they can sustain success over time like we have.


But anyway, it's just another day
Regardless, it’s another typical day in my life.


Another fake jack I slay with my spectac' rap display
I continue to defeat another phony rapper with my impressive lyrical prowess.


Styles, smooth but rugged, you can't push or shove it
My style is both refined and tough, unwavering and resilient.


You dig it and you dug it 'cause like money you love it
You appreciate it and have embraced it, as it’s as sought-after as wealth.


The king of monotone, with my own throne
I dominate the straightforward style of rap, commanding my own space.


Righteously violent prone, my words bring winds like cyclones
While I wield my art with purpose, my impactful words can create a storm.


Stormin' your hideout, blockin' out your sunlight
I invade your space, overshadowing your presence and dominating the environment.


Your image and your business were truly not done right
Your reputation and actions have been mismanaged and poorly executed.


Throw up your He Allah Now Divine Saviors
Glorify those figures or beliefs that represent ultimate truth and salvation.


You got no hand skills, there's no security to save ya
You lack the talent needed to protect yourself—there’s no backup to rely on.


No pager, no celly, no drop-top Benzy
You have no connections, no means of communication, or luxury to back you up.


I came to bring your phony hip-hop to an ending
I’m here to put an end to your inauthentic representation of hip-hop.


My art of war will leave you sore from the abuse
My lyrical conflict will cause you pain due to how hard-hitting my message is.


Cause you must meet your moment of truth
You, like everyone else, will ultimately have to confront your own realities.


They say it's lonely at the top in whatever you do
People claim that achieving success is a solitary experience in any endeavor.


You always gotta watch motherfuckers around you
You must remain vigilant and observant of those surrounding you.


No one is untouchable, no man is bulletproof
Everyone is susceptible to challenges; no one is immune to adversity.


We all must meet our moment of truth
Eventually, we all face our own crucial realizations and judgments.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Keith Elam, Christopher Martin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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