Jeru the Damaja - Wrath of the Math

Not Your Average Math & Science (Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars)

Back in '94, Jeru The Damaja dropped his classic debut LP The Sun Rises in the East which was full of classic production, curteosy of DJ Premier, one of the best producers in hip hop. It's a blessing having an entire album produced by Premo, let alone two of them. That is what Jeru's sophomore album is nothing less of, banging Premo production. And Jeru still comes in in the lyrical department with no problem what so ever.

Almost every song stands out in my opinion. "Black Cowboy" and "Whatever" shows Jeru's lyrical gymastics behind the microphone. The latter song vibes with the production damn near perfectly. "Revenge Of The Prophet (Part 5)" is an excellent follow up to the story on his previous album. "Not Your Average *****" is another banging lyrical track intertwined with some hot production. "Me Or The Papes" is sort of a sequel to the song "Da *******" from his previous album as well. "How I'm Living" & "Too Perverted" are other excellent songs that are enjoyable. The album closes off with a fast paced "Invasion".

A few tracks I didn't like was "Physical Stamina" with Afu-Ra. It just didn't live up to the "Mental Stamina" status, as on the previous album. Also sometimes, Jeru seems to be focused on what other rappers were doing (ie Biggie and Puffy), and shows it on "One Day", and "The B.S." (a little less on the latter). I don't mind him disliking the pop rap influences back in '96, but I believed he should have went in that direction, and kept doing what he did best, dropping some science on these tracks.

Overall, "Wrath Of Math" is a hot album. As you can tell, Jeru tried to recreate his classic debut, and has exceeded during the most part, by creating a few sequels from there. The production here bangs, and the lyrics are teaching as usual. Reviewer Ashley Blanchard made a few valid points in her review: If Jeru would have had the production that was on Livin' Proof, the results could have been amazing. Also The Source gave a lot of bogus reviews back in '96 (see Poor Righteous Teachers, Da Bush Babees, Kwest Tha Madd Lad, etc.). So something like this bangin' album only receiving 3 mics shouldn't really be a suprise. Anyway get this album, I gurantee you will like it. Peace!

Lyrics: A+
Production: A+
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: A-

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Whatever
2. Invsaion
3. Not Your Average *****
4. How I'm Livin'
5. Black Cowboy

Honorable Mention:
1. The Frustrated *****
2. Me Or The Papes February 3, 2008

Another classic

underground doesnt get better then this right here... The purest form of hip hop is Jeru and every song this guy has is straight classic... Dj primer is one of the best producers of all times besides rza in my opinion and if you sound wack wit tight beats ? Dat ain good but Jeru does his job beter then alot of wack mc's and he's outshines most of them. Whatever is my fav track on the album besides his hit yo playin yo self. Sick as hell. June 10, 2007

real underground Hip Hop

ONe of his best album. Real underground album as usual !! not bling bling at all !!! Grab this one before the others !!!! September 28, 2006

The Prophet Strikes Again!

Hip Hop music is mainly shown to the public in video format. One might blame MTV, BET, or Hype Williams for artists blinging their way across tv screens, rather than putting substance into music. Since there is a market for it, there is no stopping a majority of commercial artists from making dough while flashing cash catering to a saturated watered down sound. It's unfair to critique some artists in the mass media cause they do have some talent, but in 1996, artists dumbed their sound down to a lazier audience. Die hard hip hop fans were fed up with the direction the music was heading and needed a savior. Swimming against hip hops ignorant current of money, cash, hoes came Jeru Da Damaja with "Wrath of the Math."
Once again, "The Frustrated N*****," has Primo backing him, so expect some incredible beats with some crazy turntable techniques. Songs that stood out for me is the stripped down, rhythmic bass of "Ya Playin' Yaself." Everytime I hear a wack song on the radio, that single slaps the bad taste out my mouth. I love the line, "You only call yourself a player cause you be playin' yourself." "Me of the Papes," has a great jazzy piano loop where dirty rotten talks about how money hungry girls are becoming. "Back in the days Biz said it was the Vapors, now I realize it's the papers," vents an angry Jeru towards the glamours and glitz.
My biggest complaint is that Jeru spends a little too much time criticizing mainstream hip hops demise. What could have been a masterpiece turns out to be one big glob of disrespect. However, he does it creatively with the hardcore parody on, "The B.S.," and on the name-drop dissin' "One Day." Over Primo's melancholy violins, Jeru faults Puffy for kidnapping hip hop and gets it back from Suge Knight on a trip to L.A. Could you also imagine what this record would be like if Primo shoveled Group Home's "Livin' Proof" beats over to Jeru. DAMN!
It should come to no surprise that the Source gave this record a mediocre 3 mics. Think about it? God forbid a big magazine for praising a record that challenges others to step their games up. As long as big hip hop publishers have a Puffy or a 50 Cent in their pocket, their gonna make a lot more money. Thank god I don't work for a big magazine breathin' down my neck telling me to change my opinions on music. Anyhow, this isn't as compelling as "Sun Rises In The East," because it sounds more like a sequel to the debut records classic tracks. However, this would be the last notable work in Jeru's collection before the heartbreaking split with Primo, ensuring it's timeless quality! April 20, 2006

Primo Touched It

With an album produced exclusively by DJ Premier, you can't lose. Primo's production has been known to take lyricists to the next level - a level some of them don't even deserve to be on.
Jeru holds his own on these Primo tracks. His lyrics run deep and his delivery is on point throughout. Basically, though, I find that the beat determines whether I felt the tracks moreso than the rhymes did. Tracks like "The Frustrated Ni**a", "One Day", "Scientifical Madness" and "Me Or the Papes" would be good regardless of who was on them. Jeru does them all justice though.
Not every song is a banger, but this is an album that I can listen to all the way through. Solid production and good rhymes. Bordering on classic status. October 20, 2005

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