Album: The Sun Rises in the East
Artist: Jeru the Damaja
Release Date: May 24, 1994
Genre: Hip Hop
Length: 0:39:33
Label: Payday Records
Producer: DJ Premier
1,001 Album Book: Yes
Brings East Coast hip hop back from the dead...
East Coast hip hop artist, Jeru the Damaja with his debut album. Produced by the legend, DJ Premier, The Sun Rises in the East helped revive a dying hip hop scene in the East and helped form the New York hip hop sound of the 90s. The album peaked at #36 on the US Billboard 200 and #5 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
A classic sound within the hip hop world of the 90s, The Sun Rises in the East utilizes a perfect balance of technology and acoustic instruments. The song "D. Original" starts off with the drummer chipping away at the hi-hat, a hollow snare drum sound and a heart stomping bass drum, while a notorious 90s record scratches, and a mysterious piano plays irregular chords behind it all. The song features a voice in the background constantly saying "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" which alludes to some prior history Jeru the Damaja had with another R&B group, making this song a slight diss-track. The lyrics imply that Jeru the Damaja is better than the other group and the confidence that exudes is one of the reasons this album revived a dying East Coast scene.
Jeru the Damaja has a talent for taking complex rhythms, syncopations and melodies and precisely rapping over it. The flow and style in his voice, and the intonation after every line, bring the album to be the powerhouse it is, especially shown during "Brooklyn Took It". The power behind the bass resonates within your entire body and grabs the listener's attention, forcing them to pay attention to the messages behind this song and every song on the album.
The song "Da Bichez" opens up with this intensity from the bass, but also adds a trumpet melody which wasn't seen throughout the beginning bits of the record. The song has Jeru the Damaja rapping about girls that take advantage of men by sucking them dry of their money. With multiple lines utilizing graphic imagery, "Da Bichez" is as much meaningful as it is humorous.
The song with the most storytelling on The Sun Rises in the East, "You Can't Stop the Prophet" tells a story of a prophet, performed by Jeru the Damaja, and his journey to save the world of ignorance, hatred, jealousy and envy. An almost hip hop superhero, he articulately tells a story about saving the world from these people, which could be an allusion to common 90s hip hop oppositions in the police, rival gangs, hip hop competitors and the record industry moguls.
The most popular song on the album, "Come Clean" brings forth sounds that aren't typical in hip hop albums, or music in general for that matter. Utilizing a more aquatic, echoey sound, the melody carried throughout this track brings an alluring aspect and splendidly ignites the listeners love of the song right off the bat.
Every track in The Sun Rises in the East has an impeccable balance of bass hits, melodic jabs, and emotional lyrics. Contrary to West Coast rap albums released around the same time, Jeru the Damaja is able to make every line something easy to hear, understand and process. They may imply multiple things that the majority of listeners wouldn't know about, but the ease of comprehension among a significant amount of the lyrics is rare for 90s hip hop.
The Sun Rises in the East is easily one of the most impressive hip hop albums I've listened to in awhile. The disjointed flow Jeru the Damaja uses, alongside the heaviness of each beat, while still being able to produce a song that gets your head moving, heart pumping and mind thinking, this album cannot be recommended enough. The only bad songs are "Intro/Life" and "Perverted Monks In Tha House (Theme)" and that's only because they are just too short. The sustenance in all of the other songs is refined to the point of perfection, and that in itself is reason to introduce this album to your ears...
Favorite Songs: "You Can't Stop The Prophet", "Come Clean", "Da Bichez"
Least Favorite Songs: "Ain't The Devil Happy"
Production Quality:
Mix = 9.5/10
Innovation = 8.5/10
Songwriting Quality:
Arrangement = 6.5/10 (Amazing songs, but not very surprising)
Lyricism = 9/10
Instrumentation Quality:
Vocal Timbre = 10/10
Instrumental Timbre = 9/10
Group Chemistry = 4/10 (Just Jeru the Damaja and DJ Premier, not much of a band feel)
Overall Likability:
My Personal Rating = 9.5/10
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Any confusion on how the rating is weighted/calculated, please look at my "About" page.
Remember this is all my opinion! Let me know if you agree, disagree or have any comments!