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Wrath of the Math

 
Album Review: Wrath of the Math

  • Artist: Jeru the Damaja
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: October 15, 1996
  • Total Time: 51:46
  • Type: Contains explicit content
  • Genre: Rap

Review

Jeru reunited with DJ Premier for this slightly sprawling second record, though fans must have been delirious with joy to find it was similar to -- and usually just as strong as -- his debut. Though it's clear Jeru isn't as hungry a rapper as he was two years earlier, he has just as much to say, and he's just as angry with the state of hip-hop and black life in general. Jeru goes into metaphysical drama once again with "One Day," wherein commercial rappers (including Puff Daddy and Foxy Brown) kidnap hip-hop, and continues his comic-book battles with the evils of rap amidst the backdrop of the Big Apple on "Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)." Jeru also spends plenty of time directly addressing real-life issues, dissecting the crass, money-hungry hip-hop scene on "Scientifical Madness," running a sequel to "Da Bichez" called "Me or the Papes," and preaching more knowledge on "Ya Playin' Yaself." His version of the classic braggadocio track comes with "Not the Average" and "Whatever," where he uses knowledge as well as immense skills to foil anyone who's testing him. Though Wrath of the Math did sound similar to Jeru's debut, Premier was even more wide-ranging for his backing tracks, ranging from the comparatively atmospheric ("Invasion") to a succession of momentary samples from out of nowhere ("Physical Stamina"). Unfortunately, it was their last time together; perhaps a bit jealous of Premier's sizable profile, Jeru began producing himself with his next record, Heroz4hire. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Wrath of the Math Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (:57)
The Frustrated Nigga Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (3:11)
Black Cowboys Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (3:43)
The Bullshit Jeru the Damaja, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (2:00)
Whatever Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (3:16)
Physical Stamina Kendrick Jeru Davis, A. Phillips, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (3:05)
One Day Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (2:15)
Revenge of the Prophet, Pt. 5 Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (4:05)
Scientifical Madness Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (4:14)
Not the Average Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (4:24)
Me or the Papes Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (4:26)
How I'm Livin' Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (4:23)
Too Perverted Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (3:20)
Ya Playin' Yaself Kendrick Jeru Davis, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (3:47)
Invasion Curtis Mayfield, Jeru the Damaja, Chris E. Martin Jeru the Damaja (4:40)

Credits

Guru (Executive Producer), Jeru the Damaja (Main Performer), Norty Cotto (Engineer), DJ Premier (Producer), DJ Premier (Executive Producer), DJ Premier (Mixing), Eddie Sancho (Engineer), Louis Tineo (Assistant Engineer), Tony Dawsey (Mastering), Max Vargas (Assistant Engineer), Daniel Hastings (Art Direction), Daniel Hastings (Photography), Julian Alexander (Cover Design)
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Wikipedia: Wrath of the Math
Top
Wrath of the Math
Studio album by Jeru the Damaja
Released October 15, 1996
Recorded 1996
Genre Hip Hop
Length 51:47
Label PayDay/FFRR/PolyGram Records
124 119 United States
828 846 (international)
Producer DJ Premier
Professional reviews
Jeru the Damaja chronology
The Sun Rises in the East
(1994)
Wrath of the Math
(1996)
Heroz4Hire
(1999)

Wrath of the Math is the second album by hip hop artist Jeru the Damaja.

Contents

Album information

The album was completely produced by DJ Premier and continues the themes of Afrocentricity, preserving hip-hop culture, and more about the harms of materialism that were discussed on The Sun Rises in the East.

In its liner notes, it even says, "This album was created to SAVE hip-hop and the minds of the people who listen to it."[1] One significant track that intends to uphold Jeru's vision of hip hop is "One Day," where Jeru tells a story of Puff Daddy, Foxy Brown, and Bad Boy Records kidnapping somebody named Hip-Hop.[1] The Notorious B.I.G. took offense to the song, being that he was signed to Bad Boy Records, and closely affiliated with Puff Daddy and Foxy Brown, and responded back in the diss song "Kick in the Door" (which was also aimed at other rap artists as well.)

It contains many tracks that are sequels to songs on Jeru's debut album such as "Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)," "Me or the Papes," and "Physical Stamina," featuring Afu-Ra, the one guest emcee, as he was on Jeru's debut album.

Reception

It was well-received, but was not as critically acclaimed as his debut album. John Bush of Allmusic is one of the few critics who felt that it was "usually just as strong as" Jeru's debut album.[2]

Entertainment Weekly (1/10/97, p. 58)—"Combined with DJ Premier's head-bobbing minimalist funk, Jeru tells it like it is like no other." Rating: B+

Vibe (11/96, p. 153)—"Armed with a prophet's sense of social responsibility, Webster's vocab, and the best beats in the business....Jeru's at his best...when he fights playa-ism with its most potent weapon: sharply visual, action-packed narrative."

The Source (12/96, p. 126)—3 Mikes: Good—"Returning with an unabashed intolerance for the artistic moves of some well-known rap figures...Jeru The Damaja proves that his musical compositions are too mentally stimulating to be ignored."

Melody Maker (12/21-28/96, pp. 66–67)—Ranked #43 on Melody Maker's 1996 list of Albums of the Year.

Track listing

# Title Songwriters Producer(s) Performer (s)
1 "Wrath of the Math" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier *Interlude*
2 "The Frustrated Nigga" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
3 "Black Cowboys" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
4 "Tha Bullshit" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
5 "Whatever" K.J. Davis, C. Martin, M. Small Jr. DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
6 "Physical Stamina" K.J. Davis, A. Phillips, C. Martin DJ Premier Afu-Ra, Jeru the Damaja
7 "One Day" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
8 "Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
9 "Scientifical Madness" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
10 "Not the Average" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
11 "Me or the Papes" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
12 "How I'm Livin'" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
13 "Too Perverted" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
14 "Ya Playin' Yaself" K.J. Davis, C. Martin DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja
15 "Invasion" K.J. Davis, C. Martin, C. Mayfield DJ Premier Jeru the Damaja

Samples

Wrath of the Math

The Frustrated Nigga

Black Cowboys

Whatever

Physical Stamina

  • (Unknown)

One Day

Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)

  • "Get out My Life, Woman" by Q65

Me or the Papes

How I'm Livin'

Too Perverted

Ya Playin' Yaself

Invasion

Album singles

Single cover Single information
"Ya Playin' Yaself"
  • Released: September 23, 1996
  • B-side: "One Day"
"Me or the Papes"
  • Released: March 11, 1997
  • B-side: "Tha Bullshit," "Me, Not the Paper"

Album chart positions

Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1996 Wrath of the Math #35 #3

Singles chart positions

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1996 Ya Playin' Yaself - #57 #20 #6
1997 Me or the Papes - #78 - -

References


 
 
Learn More
Afu-Ra (Rap Artist, '90s, 2000s)
Jeru the Damaja (Rap Artist, '90s, 2000s)
Still Rising (2007 Album by Jeru the Damaja)

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wrath of the Math" Read more