View source for To Thine Own Self Be True

{{inadequate lead|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = To Thine Own Self Be True
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[La Coka Nostra]]
| cover      = La_Coka_Nostra_"To_Thine_Own_Self_Be_True"_cover.jpg
| border     = yes
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|2016|11|04|mf=yes}}<ref name="apple">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/to-thine-own-self-be-true/id1161809579|publisher=itunes.apple.com|title=To Thine Own Self Be True by La Coka Nostra on Apple Music|accessdate=November 16, 2016}}</ref>
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| length     = {{Duration|m=44|s=21}}
| label      = Fat Beats Records
| producer   = {{hlist|[[DJ Lethal]]|[[J57 (rapper)|J57]]|Leaf Dog|The Arcitype|[[Statik Selektah]]|[[Marco Polo (producer)|Marco Polo]]|Vherbal|Salam Wreck|ChumZilla}}
| prev_title = [[Masters of the Dark Arts]]
| prev_year  = 2012
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = RapReviews
| rev1score = 8.5/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Juon |first=Steve 'Flash' |date=November 8, 2016 |title=La Coka Nostra :: To Thine Own Self Be True :: SoulSpazm/Fat Beats Records |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2016_11_tothineownselfbetrue.html |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=www.rapreviews.com}}</ref>
}}
'''''To Thine Own Self Be True''''' is the third studio album by [[La Coka Nostra]] released on November 4, 2016, via Fat Beats Records.
==Background==
In 2012, La Coka Nostra released their second album, ''Masters of the Dark Arts''. It was the group's first project without [[Everlast (musician)|Everlast]] and also their most critically acclaimed project, featuring collaborations with [[Vinnie Paz]], [[Sean Price]] and production from [[DJ Premier]] and [[Statik Selektah]]. Since their debut, the group has become known for their energetic live performances and controversial subject matter, including on ''To Thine Own Self Be True''. "This album was created during a time of unique and individual transformation for each member of the group," [[Ill Bill]] stated. "Speaking for myself, it's been a heavy last couple of years. It's definitely the most personal record we've made under the La Coka banner and while we're still making music that's hard as fuck, there's a maturity to this latest batch of songs that makes it different from a lot of the older stuff. I notice the biggest reactions come from the songs our listeners can personally relate to and we needed to make a record like this right now, not only for the fans, but for ourselves. I got a lot off my chest on this one. Making music can be extremely therapeutic and making ''To Thine Own Self Be True'' was a rebirth and a re-ignition for me."{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} [[Slaine (rapper)|Slaine]] had a similar take on the project's therapeutic value: "You don't put as many years in the game as we have without having ups and downs. We all have gone through struggle and adversity-personally and professionally. This album was recorded as I walked out of a very dark time toward a place of truth and understanding. Music has been how I feed my family, my plane ticket around the world and a place I've built real friendships; but at the very core it's a tool I use to get through life. This album is a moment in time. It is visceral and real."{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} While [[DJ Lethal]] continues to oversee the production of ''To Thine Own Self Be True'', the group also enlisted Statik Selektah, Marco Polo, Salam Wreck and ChumZilla (from the [[Demigodz]]) and vocal contributions from extended family members such as Vinnie Paz, [[Apathy (rapper)|Apathy]], [[Q-Unique]], [[Psycho Realm|Sick Jacken]], SKAM2? & Rite Hook.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.amazon.com/Thine-Own-Self-Be-True/dp/B01M8F3ZCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479274723&sr=8-1&keywords=la+coka+nostra+to+thine+own+self+be+true |title=LA COKA NOSTRA – To Thine Own Self Be True |website=Amazon.com |accessdate=November 16, 2016}}</ref>
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Dark Day Road
| writer1 = {{hlist|[[Ill Bill|William Braunstein]]|[[Slaine (rapper)|George Carroll]]|[[J57 (rapper)|James Victor Heinz]]}}
| extra1 = [[J57 (rapper)|J57]]
| length1 = 2:46
| title2 = I Need Help
| note2 = featuring [[Sick Jacken]]
| writer2 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|[[Sick Jacken|Jack Gonzalez]]|James W. Leigh}}
| extra2 = Leaf Dog
| length2 = 3:38
| title3 = Waging War
| note3 = featuring Rite Hook
| writer3 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|Terrence C. Nugent|Janos Fulop}}
| extra3 = The Arcitype
| length3 = 2:45
| title4 = Murdered Tonight
| writer4 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|[[DJ Lethal|Leor Dimant]]}}
| extra4 = [[DJ Lethal]]
| length4 = 3:09
| title5 = Stay True
| writer5 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|[[Statik Selektah|Patrick Baril]]}}
| extra5 = [[Statik Selektah]]
| length5 = 2:51
| title6 = Blind
| note6 = featuring [[Q-Unique]] and Sadie Vada
| writer6 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|[[Q-Unique|Anthony Quiles]]|[[Marco Polo (producer)|Marco Bruno]]}}
| extra6 = [[Marco Polo (producer)|Marco Polo]]
| length6 = 4:42
| title7 = Crispy Innovators
| note7 = featuring [[Vinnie Paz]]
| writer7 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|[[Vinnie Paz|Vincenzo Luvineri]]|Kevin Elliott}}
| extra7 = Vherbal
| length7 = 4:06
| title8 = Archie Bunker
| note8 = featuring Nems
| writer8 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|Travis Doyle|Dimant}}
| extra8 = DJ Lethal
| length8 = 3:42
| title9 = High Times
| note9 = featuring Sick Jacken
| writer9 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|Gonzalez|Salam Nassar}}
| extra9 = Salam Wreck
| length9 = 4:12
| title10 = America
| note10 = featuring [[Apathy (rapper)|Apathy]]
| writer10 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|[[Apathy (rapper)|Chad Bromley]]|Dimant}}
| extra10 = DJ Lethal
| length10 = 4:01
| title11 = Now Or Never
| note11 = featuring SKAM2? and Rite Hook
| writer11 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|Kwesi Ogbourne|Nugent|Dimant}}
| extra11 = DJ Lethal
| length11 = 4:00
| title12 = To Thine Own Self Be True
| note12 = featuring Rite Hook
| writer12 = {{hlist|Braunstein|Carroll|Nugent|Adam Mathiason}}
| extra12 = ChumZilla
| length12 = 4:29
| total_length = 44:21
}}
==Personnel==
The following lists the personnel on the track:<ref name="discogs">{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/La-Coka-Nostra-To-Thine-Own-Self-Be-True/release/9260849|publisher=discogs.com|title=La Coka Nostra – To Thine Own Self Be True (CD, Album) at Discogs|accessdate=November 16, 2016}}</ref>
*[[Danny Boy (rapper)|Danny Boy O'Connor]] – art direction
*Treasure Little – art direction
*Randy Riggs – layout
*Peter Humphreys – mastering <small>(tracks: 1–12)</small>
*[[Statik Selektah]] – mixing <small>(track: 5)</small>
*Scott Stallone – Hohner melodica (track: 8), mixing <small>(tracks: 1–4, 6–12)</small>
*[[Eric Bobo]] – live percussion <small>(track 9)</small>
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|95|artist=La Coka Nostra|album=To Thine Own Self Be True|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 16, 2016}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|38|artist=La Coka Nostra|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 16, 2016}}
|}
== See also ==
* ''[[Hamlet]]'', Shakespeare's play in which the phrase "to thine own self be true" is famously spoken by [[Polonius]]
* "[[List of My Two Dads episodes#Season 3 (1989-1990)|To Thine Own Elf, Be True]]", a 1990 episode of ''[[My Two Dads]]''
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{La Coka Nostra}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2016 albums]]
[[Category:La Coka Nostra albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by J57]]
[[Category:Fat Beats Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by DJ Lethal]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Marco Polo]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Statik Selektah]]