Brooklyn bred emcee Truth produces a solid effort with his debut album “The Streets Want Their Music Back”. While his lyrical content supplies the obligatory rhymes about guns, women, and drug dealing, Truth also delivers introspective verses about his rough childhood living in group homes and dealing with the deaths of friends and neighbors. The ominous instrumental on “Watch Your Step Kid” sets the tone for the album. Truth expresses his violent side on this track, reminding us that messing with him equals a one way ticket to the grave. Despite the prevailing aggressive subject matter, Truth is able to touch on social issues such as drug addiction with lyrics like “You got babies comin’ from wombs with a couple of pounds, parents comin’ from detox you better sit your ass down”.

The standout track on the album is “Bring The Pain For BK”, with its smooth, horn laden beat and catchy hook. Truth rides the beat with ease and his poignant, clever lyrics make for an undisputed hood anthem. “Money Is The Ruler of All Evil”, a synthesizer heavy track, is where Truth’s skill as an emcee is on full display. He shows amazing breath control as his quick-fast rhymes invoke images of a young Twista. A surprising gem is the heartfelt track “Dear Mom”. This slow, somber tune plays out as an expression of the lessons Truth has learned from his mother and provides an update for how his life has been going. Truth may be at his best when delving into his personal experiences and getting lost in his thoughts, because the result is his moniker, truth.

The album suffers from a few bad decisions as far as production and audio quality. “Party Like the 60’s” has the potential to be an instant hit, but the fuzzy vocals sound as if they were recorded through a telephone. Other missteps include the annoying Juvenile knockoff “Ahh!!”, the generic “Shake Your Apple Bottoms”, and the shouting of “Stop Acting Up”. With twenty tracks on the album, there is a decent amount of fat that can be trimmed, which would make for a more potent overall effort. Despite its flaws, “The Streets Want Their Music Back” is a stylish introduction to the complicated world of Truth, a talented up and coming rapper unafraid to convey his innermost thoughts and feelings.