Tru Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
Master P's No Limit -- be it the old or new No Limit -- has always been accused of being stuck in a rut and releasing albums that are more of the same thugging and swaggering. But thugs just coming to know No Limit through Tru's The Truth have it better than old-school fans thanks in large part to Drumma Boy. He's the producer behind every great track on the album, and if it weren't for his work, The Truth would be a tedious failure. It may have been six years since the last Tru album, and the lineup of Master P's group may have changed, but when it comes to the volatile thug numbers, lyrically nothing has changed. This would be fine if Tru was filled with top-notch rappers, but they're only fair when it comes to flowing during the verse, a bit better when chanting a chorus. The album is overstuffed with rousing calls to arms, all with militaristic beats and that synth-horn P loves, but with the hypnotic and horribly catchy loops Drumma Boy lays under these tired rhymes, The Truth ends up being a lot better than expected. The sleazy numbers fare much better since it seems P and the boys are more moved by booty than warfare, while a guest appearance by an inspired C-Murder straight from his jail cell adds value to the album. No Limit detractors can take justified shots at The Truth, but in the hands of Drumma Boy, Tru's same-old, same-old style might not sound fresh, but it's more exciting than expected. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
When Tru released their second album, the cleverly titled Tru 2 da Game, in early 1997, its mastermind Master P was on the verge of superstardom. Nobody knew it at the time, of course, he was just one of the biggest figures in the Dirty South. That summer, Master P broke big, taking No Limit along with him. Of course, this was also good news for his fellow Tru colleagues, Silkk tha Shocker and C-Murder, who became stars in their own right. Of course, this built up expectations for Da Crime Family, Tru's third album and their first since stardom. But, as the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Tru may be big stars now, but they haven't taken that as an opportunity to expand or develop their music -- they simply made the same album anybody on No Limit (with the notable exception of Snoop Dogg) made in the two years following Master P's elevation to stardom. In other words, Da Crime Family feels identical to Tru 2 da Game, with the same sort of recycled beats, hooks, and lyrics that graced that record. At least that album had some grit and (maybe) some element of surprise. Here, the trio feels as if they're putting their gangsta suit on and going to work. Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that an album by a man who's more notorious for his business practices than his music sounds so workmanlike, but it's nevertheless amazing how rigid and formulaic this sounds. There are no surprises: the rhymes, rhythms, hooks, and skits all fall into place exactly where they should. To some, that may be a blessing, since that's all they're looking for from a No Limit record, but discerning listeners may start to wonder why they have a shelf full of discs that are all essentially the same. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Understanding the Criminal Mind'
Release Date 3/10/1998
Tracks 11
Label No Limit
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This album is full of cliché themes and lyrics that talk about the gangster life. It was important to No Limit Records, however, because it contains the song "Bout It Bout It," which became a hit not only in the south but on the East and West Coasts as well. It provided the break that No Limit needed. The company went on to become a very popular record label in the mid- to late '90s. ~ Dan Gizzi, All Music Guide
