Jeru The Damaja - W.A.R.s Thoughts

Today I popped in Jeru The Damaja’s first joint “The Sun Rises in the East” and an epiphany came. It’s funny how you don’t realize how dope something is until you listen to it with more mature ears. It was that classic vibe of one producer and one MC…the perfect vibe.

I guess way back in 1994, being a senior in high school, I didn’t realize the shear nuggets Jeru was spitting. Back then I was still soaking in the mere dopeness of Primo’s boombap and never paid that much attention to what this man was saying. Now, almost 20 years later, I realized that this man was a thinker in every sense of the word.

The album was a complete album. Witty wordplay, skits interweaved into rhymes, history lessons, philosophy, and a somewhat eerie prophecy of
what we are glorifying in hip-hop today.

Every single song had a purpose, a lesson if you will. Either Jeru was
teaching the solution to our grim reality or preaching his dopeness as
an MC, and even that was minimal. Simply put, Jeru summarized the
plight of black men, societal woes, heritage, and hood commentary in a
mere 13 tracks.

Songs like: Can’t Stop The Prophet was a vivid account of Jeru playing
the role of a superhero committed to saving the black man from traps
set by government and even the community. Ain't The Devil Happy was a
masterfully executed lyrical thesis on how we have become our own
worst enemy, done in a reverse psychological fashion that makes anyone
listening take an introspective look at themselves and society.

I could go on and on. However, I began to ponder another element. We
had Jeru, Rakim, KRS, and Public Enemy to teach us. Who do the youth
have today?  Gucci Mane, Rick Ross, OJ Da Juiceman, and a host of
other rappers/druglords who cannot decide which profession they want
to stick with.

Jeru spoke of ridding the community of crack. Gucci speaks of flooding
the said community with crack. It’s a dynamic that is sad yet widely
accepted in hip-hop.  I could go on and on but I think the viewing of
these 2 videos will explain it perfectly. Evaluate the difference.
Till next time…Think about it.

Take a look for yourself.

Jeru- Cant Stop The Prophet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBQDWsBewSs
Gucci Mane- Street Niggas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNsCxa4BZB8&feature=channel



Contributor:

W.A.R.