The Untold Truth is the only studio album by American rap duo Illegal, composed of rappers Jamal and Mr. Malik.[3] It was released on August 24, 1993, through Rowdy Records with distribution via Arista Records. The recording sessions took place from late Fall 1992 to mid-Summer 1993 at D.A.R.P. Studios in Atlanta, at Soundtrack Studios in New York City, and at BMV Digital Studios in Newark. The album was produced by Dallas Austin, Diamond D, Erick Sermon, Biz Markie, and Lord Finesse, among others.
| The Untold Truth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | August 24, 1993 |
| Recorded | 1992–1993 |
| Studio | |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Length | 50:36 |
| Label | |
| Producer |
|
| Singles from The Untold Truth | |
| |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| RapReviews | 6.5/10[2] |
The album peaked at No. 119 on the Billboard 200 and No. 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It spawned three singles: "Back in the Day", and the Kris Kross/Da Youngsta's diss tracks "Head or Gut" and "We Getz Busy".
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back in the Day" | Colin Wolfe | 5:12 |
| 2. | "Illegal Will Rock" | Diamond D | 5:01 |
| 3. | "Head or Gut" | Erick Sermon | 3:57 |
| 4. | "CrumbSnatcher" | Diamond D | 3:55 |
| 5. | "We Getz Busy" | Erick Sermon | 3:50 |
| 6. | "Stick 'Em Up" | Colin Wolfe | 4:26 |
| 7. | "Understand the Flow" | Dallas Austin | 4:48 |
| 8. | "On da M.I.C." | Lord Finesse | 4:50 |
| 9. | "Ban da Iggidy" | Dallas Austin | 4:14 |
| 10. | "Lights, Camera, Action" | Spearhead X | 5:03 |
| 11. | "Interlude" |
| 0:29 |
| 12. | "If U Want It" |
| 5:11 |
| Total length: | 50:36 | ||
Personnel
edit- Jamal Phillips – vocals
- Malik Edwards – vocals
- Joseph Kirkland – vocals (track 4), producer (tracks: 2, 4)
- Erick Sermon – vocals (track 5), producer (tracks: 3, 5)
- Robert Hall Jr. – vocals & producer (track 8)
- Andre Barnes – vocals (track 8)
- Colin Wolfe – producer (tracks: 1, 6)
- Dallas Austin – producer (tracks: 7, 9), executive producer
- Xavier Hargrove – producer (tracks: 10, 11)
- Melvin "E-Locc" Davis – producer (track 11)
- Marcel Theo Hall – producer (track 12)
- Vaughan Lee – producer (track 12)
- Alvin Speights – mixing & recording (tracks: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9)
- George Pappas – mixing & recording (tracks: 1, 10)
- Gregory Mann – mixing & recording (tracks: 3, 10)
- John Lawrence Byas – mixing & recording (track 4)
- Darin Prindle – mixing & recording (track 5)
- Troy Hightower – mixing & recording (track 8)
- Everett "Bizz-E" Ramos – mixing & recording (track 12)
- José L. Rodriguez – mastering
- Christopher Stern – art direction
- Danny Clinch – photography
Charts
edit| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[4] | 119 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] | 19 |
References
edit- ↑ Swihart, Stanton. "The Untold Truth - Illegal | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ↑ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (January 18, 2022). "Illegal The Untold Truth". RapReviews. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ↑ Stancell, Steve (1996). Rap Whoz Who: The World of Rap Music. Schirmer Books. p. 139.
- ↑ "Illegal Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ↑ "Illegal Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
External links
edit- Illegal – The Untold Truth at Discogs (list of releases)