Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Jeru the Damaja - Wrath of the Math (1996)



















"this album was created to SAVE hip-hop and the minds of the people who listen to it"

so it says in the liner notes and so i introduce the sophomore album of Jeru the Damaja produced entirely by the amazing DJ Premier. Premo laces up some funk nuggets on this album which Jeru thoroughly rips apart, torches and smokes. Like his debut album Jeru brings the conscious lyrics and never settles into any hip-hop stereotypes. Premier brings those characteristic boom bap drums and from listening to the beats on the album it is easy to see why Premo is Premo. Diving in...

First five tracks are all great especially, "The Frustrated Nigga" & "Whatever."

On "The Frustrated Nigga" when that guitar, or whatever that is, kicks a second after Jeru starts flowin theres not much you can do but let that head start noddin. Flowin without fear because yaa know

"nothin can scare a nigga, after 400 years of this shit."

"Bullshit" is one of many tracks on this album throwing some satire at money grubbing, materialism but on this track Jeru does it by rapping as if he has become what he most loathes in some kind of funky nightmare soundtracked by DJ Premier.

"Whatever" has a mellow ass beat with the topic of not getting dragged down by all the wackness. Whatever ya do make it clever. I mostly just like that vocal sample Premo uses "and to all ya'll crews.... whatever" good ass diss stinging like nettle

I got to say that my least favorite track on this album is pretty easy for me to choose. I just can't get into the beat for "Physical Stamina (ft. Afu-Ra)" it's a little robotic and eclectic for me.

"One Day" is about how puff daddy kidnapped "hip-hop"

Pretty much the sole reason I made this post about this album is because I've been diggin "Me or the Papes" so damn much. This beat right here is ridiculous and that piano loop just drives me nuts all day. from just thinking in my head how it sounds, it gets me smiling and thinking about some silly ass chick tryin to use me and me just laughing her away from me. silly imaginary skanks. if you gain anything from this album let it be that if you play this song when I'm around I'll melt.

Ending with "invasion" about racial profiling cops. even though I love cops to death, I somehow still like this track. especially because of that outro beat with that nice orchestral loop or wind section or something.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Jeru the Damaja - Wrath of the Math (1996)

or support the artist and:

buy it here

1 "Wrath of the Math"


2 "The Frustrated Nigga"


3 "Black Cowboys"


4 "The Bullshit"


5 "Whatever"


6 "Physical Stamina"


7 "One Day"


8 "Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)"


9 "Scientifical Madness"


10 "Not the Average"


11 "Me or the Papes"


12 "How I'm Livin'"


13 "Too Perverted"


14 "Ya Playin' Yaself"


15 "Invasion"