True Master

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True Master (born Derek Harris) is an American hip-hop producer and very occasional rapper. He is closely affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan and an original member of it's production team, sometimes referred to as Wu-Elements. He derives his rap nom de plume from the martial arts movie of the same name. His production company is called Persian Legacy.

[edit] Biography

After starting as an associate of Guru of Gang Starr (he made a rare rapping appearance on Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2 project and his only released solo track ever, "Who's The Truest" appeared on a Guru sampler CD which also included "Hi-Energy", a song he produced for Fabidden), True Master joined up with the Wu-Tang and was mentored by RZA before gradually increasing his profile with standout tracks on Wu-Tang albums ("Brooklyn Zoo", "Heaterz", "Fish") and was to become extremely prolific and a crucial member of the Wu-Tang production crew during its busy 1997-2000 period. Much like Mathematics, he has generally adhered to the traditional Wu-Tang sound, while RZA ventured into cleaner, "Digital" territory with a limited use of samples and the inclusion of synthesizers and live instrumentation. True Master briefly tried his hand at more compositional productions featuring keyboards in lieu of his signature sample-based take on the Wu-Tang sound on the Gravediggaz album Nightmare in A Minor.

[edit] Production credits

(* = also raps)
"Looking Through Darkness", "Medicine" *, Guru, Jazzmatazz Volume II: The New Reality (1995);
"Who's The Truest" * (solo track), ""Hi Energy" (by Fabidden), Guru Presents Illkid Records compilation (1995);
co-produced "Brooklyn Zoo", Ol' Dirty Bastard, Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version (1995);
"Fish", Ghostface Killah, Ironman (1996);
"It's In The Game", Method Man & Ricky Watters, NFL Jams compilation (1996);
"The M.G.M.", "Heaterz", Wu-Tang Clan, Wu-Tang Forever (1997);
"Da Bomb", "Pit Of Snakes" (co-produced with RZA), "Hidden Emotions" *, Gravediggaz, The Pick, The Sickle & The Shovel (1997);
"One Step", "Cross My Heart", "If You Don't Know", Killah Priest, Heavy Mental (1998);
"Slang Editorial", "Supa Ninjaz", "Splish Splash", "Milk The Cow", "South Of The Border" (rumored to be miscredited as a True Master produced track, when it was in fact RZA who produced it. The liner notes credit D. Hill (Cappadonna) and R. Diggs (RZA)) "Dart Throwing", Cappadonna, The Pillage (1998);
"Tragedy" (co-produced with RZA), RZA, Rhyme & Reason soundtrack (1997);
"Collaboration '98" *, "Flaming Swords", "Intellectuals", "Next Up", "The Grandz", Sunz Of Man, The Last Shall Be First (1998),
"Dangerous Grounds", "Grid Iron Rap", "Killin' Fields", "Party Crasher" (The version of this song that appears on this album is actually a RZA remix. True Master provided the original beat, but it was later replaced. In an interview, Method Man expressed his wish to have the album released with the original True Master beat once all the copies of the first retail pressings were sold. The full instrumental of the original version of "Party Crasher" is available on a white label release of instrumentals from Tical 2000: Judgement Day.) "Sweet Love", "Torture", Method Man, Tical 2000: Judgement Day (1998);
"Longevity", "Lovin' You", "R.E.C. Room" (according to rumor, this song is actually produced by RZA. However, because the sampled material came from True Master's collection, credit was given to him instead.) Inspectah Deck, Uncontrolled Substance (1999);
"Nightshift", Inspectah Deck, Uncontrolled Substance outtake (1999),
"All In Together Now", Ol' Dirty Bastard, Nigga Please (1999);
"Dat's Gangsta", "Rumble", "Turbulence", U-God, Golden Arms Redemption (1999);
"Big Acts Little Acts", Afu-Ra featuring GZA/Genius, Body of the Life Force (2000);
"The Abduction", Wu-Tang Clan, Tony Touch - The Piece Maker compilation (2000);
"What You In Fo'", Wu-Tang Clan, Oz soundtrack (2001)
"La Rhumba", RZA, Digital Bullet (2001);
"Super Model", Cappadonna, The Yin & The Yang (2001);
"Burn Baby Burn", "Man Only Fears", "Nightmare In A Minor", Gravediggaz, Nightmare In A Minor (2001);
"Y'all Been Warned", Wu-Tang Clan, Iron Flag (2001);
"Dangerous Language", Afu-Ra featuring RZA, Life Force Radio (2002);
"Slang Killaz", 9th Prince featuring Killarmy, Grandaddy Flow (2003);
"Biscuits", Ghostface Killah, The Pretty Toney Album (2004);
"Secret Rivals", "Queen", "Silverbacks", Masta Killa, No Said Date (2004).

It is also rumored that, although RZA is credited as producer, "Long Kiss Goodnight" from the Notorious B.I.G. album Life After Death was actually produced by True Master.