TEAM RNS PRESENTS

ARTIST: Terror Squad

TITLE: True Story

LABEL: Universal Records

RIPPER: Team RNS

193kbps avg - Rap
0hr 43min total- 63.3mb

RELEASE DATE: 2004-07-27
RIP DATE: 2004-07-12

01 Nothing's Gonna Stop Me        2:43
02 Yeah, Yeah, Yeah               3:07

05 Take Me Home                   3:30
06 Streets Of NY                  3:14
07 Bring 'Em Back (Feat. Big      4:26

08 Yes Dem To Def                 3:49

10 Let Them Things Go             4:05
11 Thunder In The Air             3:18

KRS-One once talked about "bringing
back that ol' New York rap," and that's
exactly what the Terror Squad intend to do
with their sophomore LP, True Story.
"We're taking hip hop back to where it
started," says Joe, explaining the
album's sound, "We're taking it back to
the Bronx." And though there is nothing
throwback about the album, as it pushes
the envelope of contemporary production,
as far as attitude is concerned, Joe
couldn't be more right. Proud and
defiant, yet calm cool and collected,
Terror Squad represent exactly what
makes hip hop so damn fresh.

Terror Squad, the brainchild of veteran
Latino Bronx rapper Fat Joe, began when
Joe found his protΘgΘ and fallen
superstar, Big Punisher in '96. Together
the two made platinum magic on Pun's
two classic albums, Capitol Punishment
and Yeaah Baby!, and introduced the world
to their BX-based crew, with their
critically hailed, self-titled debut.
Though Pun passed in 2000, as an
unfortunate result of his obesity, Fat
Joe has persevered against all odds both
as a soloist, experiencing his greatest
commercial success with his fourth
album, '01's Jealous Ones Still Envy,
and as a leader, holding Terror Squad
together in spite of haters and skeptics
who predicted a collapse after Pun's

"In between every album people want to
count me out," says Joe, "but I'm not
going no where and this new album is the
proof." In an exciting twist Fat Joe
decided to add female battle rap champ
Remy Ma (Pun's personal talent find) and
R&B singer and heart throb, Tony Sunshine
to T.S.'s lineup of Prospect and
Armageddon. "I feel like my squad is
better than ever right now, as far as
lyrics," says Joe, "and I think that
the addition of Remy and Tony really
just gives us the diversity that we were
missing last time."

Though all members shine on True Story,
everyone in the crew agrees that the album
is Remy's in its essence. "I didn't go
into this trying to dominate the
album," the surprisingly gentle thug
princess says, "but I'm honored that
the guys feel like I did such a good
job, because I really used all the energy
and creativity that I'd been saving up
when I recorded." With the most verses
on the LP, other than Joe, Remy Ma, a
Bronx native who was discovered and
recruited by Pun, has been waiting in
the wings since 2000 when she signed to
the now out-of-business Loud Records
(and actually made an LP, which was
sadly shelved). "I'm actually glad that
things didn't work out with that first
album," she says with a surprisingly
upbeat tone "because I still had a lot
of growing up to do, as an artist and a
person, and now I'm finally ready." Remy
recently lit up New York this spring
with her crushing defeat of another
female rapper, Lady Luck, at a
closed-door battle. "I still don't
think that beating her was that big a
deal," says the 23 year-old, "but ever
since I did that, I've been hearing my
name all over the place: on radio, in
magazines." Backed by her staring turn
on the T.S. single, and negotiations with
several interested major labels, Remy is
sure to continue hearing her name all

Adding a unique flavor to the album,
which sets it apart from its predecessor,
Tony Sunshine, who also recorded a
shelved LP for Loud, also stands tall
in the mix. "I've been singing basically
as long as I can remember," says the
soft-spoken, thoughtful Sunshine, "but I
really started out singing Latin music
as a child, and it wasn't until high
school that I discovered Motown and
Stevie Wonder, which was the music
that's become my passion." And it's that
supple blend of Latin flavor and R&B
soul that the 24 year-old BX native
Sunshine lends to True Story. "For me
it's all about balance," he says, "because
people want to assume that because you
sing you're soft, so I didn't want to
live up to that, but at the same time,
I knew I wanted to make something that
the ladies could relate to." Evidence of
this balance can be found on Tony's
emotive solo song "Streets of New York",
as well as on the hilarious "Nothing's
Gonna Stop Me" in which Tony actually
rhymes while an off-key Fat Joe belts out
the melody. In addition to lacing True
Story, Tony Sunshine has also been
putting the finishing touches on his
Terror Squad/Epidemic Music/Jive solo
album, which is produced by Miami
heat-makers, Cool & Dre. "It's so crazy
for me right now, because I got the
Terror Squad album bubbling at the same
time that radio is starting to play my
first single "Oh My God" with P. Diddy and

Not to be eclipsed by the newcomers
Prospect and Armageddon both
demonstrate new energy and a renewed
approach on the new album. "I have
nothing but trust for Joe," says
Prospect, "so I just keep workin',
yaknawmean? And I come through and play
my part, just like on the first album,
'cause I know my time is coming sooner
or later." And it is with that
soldier-like attitude that Pros wrecks
havoc on the mic throughout True Story,
adding his sharp lyrical barbs wherever
Joe felt they were needed. And
Armageddon, who Fat Joe describes as
"the deepest lyricist in the crew,"
finds new life on the LP contributing
not just rhymes this time, but also beats.
"I been making beats for a couple of
years now," says 'Geddy, as they
affectionately call him, "but I really
started taking it more serious
recently, 'cause I see it as another way
to add on creatively." Sticking strictly
to samples, which suits Geddy's no
nonsense demeanor, he gives the LP it's
dark side, the Yin to the somewhat
upbeat Yang provided by big name
beatmakers like Scott Storch, Buckwild
and Lord Finesse.

"This summer is gonna be known as the
summer of T.S.," Fat Joe proclaims, when
asked what his goal for the LP is.
"People don't even know what's gonna hit
them when they hear this record. And
this is just the beginning." Indeed,
after just over a decade in the game,
slowly cultivating his loyal fanbase and
growing his team, naturally, and at
their own pace, Fat Joe is ready to
begin anew, as both his team's
franchise player, coach and owner. And
as unlikely as it sounds, Joe's Bronx
tale is no doubt, a true story.