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.
Professional ratings 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 ".
Title Producer(s) 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
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
^ 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.