Today in Hip-Hop: Tru Drop ‘True’ Album
On this day, July 25, in hip-hop history...
1995: Before Master P’s No Limit Records became a rap game juggernaut, it was a middling record label looking for a big break. True, which was the third album from the Master P-featuring group Tru, became that break.
Released near the peak of G-Funk and outright gangsta rap, True served as the LP that broke P’s losing streak that began with three solo albums he dropped to middling success—if that. After releasing a few of his own solo projects (MP and a couple LPs with Tru, which was comprised of himself, King George, Big Ed the Assassin, C-Murder, Silkk the Shocker, Cali G, Sonya C, Chilee Powdah and Milkm.
While there are plenty of slappers on True, the LP is ultimately defined by its breakout single, "I'm Bout It, Bout It," a raucous banger that proved to be No Limit's biggest record to date. Draped in the P's rugged vocals and distinctively New Orleans southern drawl, the track went on to become one that helped P and No Limit get to the big time.
While True didn't earn gold or platinum status, and it didn't end up becoming the clique's best album, it was a release that set the groundwork for bigger drops from the ascendant No Limit. Two years later, the crew would unload their Tru 2 da Game LP, a project that was eventually certified twice platinum. The success of that album began with True, an album that saw the New Orleans clique grab success and never look back.
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