Jeru The Damaja’s The Sun Rises In The East album has to be the most underrated album in Hip Hop/Rap history! The Sun Rises In The East contributed to the revival of interest in East Coast rap music due to the catchy saccharine jazzy sound. His in-depth intricate lyricism, along with the gritty sound of NYC hip hop, helped make this album a classic “must have” staple for DJ’s and music collectors. This album is easily 100 greatest hip-hop albums of all time.

DJ Premiere’s dope production skills on the album from start to finish. He is nearly all over the album. DJ Premiere was at a high point in the 90s and early 00s. Jeru’s debut album has that dope 90s sound to it because nearly all the tracks are sample crazy as a lot Hip Hop/Rap albums were in the 80s and 90s. No filler tracks and no filler material. You don’t get albums like this anymore! I can’t believe this fell off the radar! This is a must have!

Jeru wrote the song “My Mind Spray” because he wanted to show how ill he was and he wanted to take that to the next level. My Mind Spray is one of the best songs on the album along with Brooklyn Took It, You Can’t Stop The Prophet, Come Clean, Jungle Music, and Mental Stamina. My Mind Spray is one of the most memorable hip hop/rap songs with quotable dialogue. Jeru said the most quotable shit in this song. Premier does his thing again like only he can.

Jeru annihilates as he articulates words of power. Your rhymes are unconfounding so death’s your fate. Jeru is an ostentatious genius of rapping. He is here to take hip hop back. That’s what’s happening. With proficiency and ingenuity. His formula’s deadly. Jeru is droppin’ his rhyme science like he is Imhotep. Application of mind over matter. Emcees try to touch the Damaja but just can’t win because he is excellent with the word play. Lyrically he can’t be stopped.

There is thunder on your Dome with no help from Mad Max. Lyrics like hype tattoos go over the dope tracks. We know the intentions of MC kleptomaniacs. Rap brainiacs have cardiacs soon after the attack. When it comes to rhymin’, Jeru the Damaja slams harder than Shaq. He is more complex than an almanac.

These were some of the most quotable lyrics that he said during the song.

I annihilate, as I articulate
Words of power, your rhymes are unconfounding so death’s your fate
Ostentatious genius, of rappin
Is mentally clappin to take hip-hop back, thats what’s happenin
Proficiency and ingenuity

Emcees try to touch the Damaja but you just can’t win
Excellent with the word play, you lay
Face down, when my, mind spray

Droppin’ my rhyme science like I’m Imhotep
Application of mind over matter
Made fools scatter, rhymes fatter, minds splatter

Reach into my bag of darkness and spark this like an arsonist
Blow it up like a terrorist

Lyrics like hype tattoos go over the dope tracks
When it comes to rhymin’, I slam harder than Shaq
Mentally you can’t talk to me, hear me, or see me
From, street blocks to cell blocks, my vo-cals rock
If your honey’s a Queen, I’ll sex her
More important the mind strikes, like the nine strikes
A priest by May, you reach for your uz-ay, when my mind spray
Your girl bend over and over and over
Lyrical kung-fu so do your kung-fu if you know kung-fu
Shoot up jams without the aid of lead projectiles
Complex yet simple like Mixelplix
Reach into my bag of darkness and spark this like an arsonist

Jeru the Damaja talks about how the borough of Brooklyn keeps on taking over the hip hop/rap scene and dominating the charts on Brooklyn Took It. Jeru came here to tell us that Brooklyn is back on the map. At this time rappers such as KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Dana Dane, Lil Kim, Queen Pen, Just-Ice, and AZ were taking over the charts in the music industry in the mid-90s. You know the saying. Brooklyn keeps on taking it. Jeru’s rhymes on beats strategically. He can melt any MC.

Brooklyn’s back on the map. Jeru the Damaja is not bragging. Brooklyn has been banging making noise from the US to Russia causing havoc. You couldn’t stop it even if you wanted. Record companies are on it. So niggas be having mad maws and shit because Brooklyn stole the show like a grand larcenist. Brooklyn took land from town to town. (Crooklyn took land from town to town.) Brooklyn keeps on taking it.

This one is for Brooklyn.. Land of the crooks. Home of his game. Here’s the remedy for all your cornball raps. Jeru the Damaja is defeating all foes as he stomps out the last dragon. MCs set them all on fire scooping up the fly ladies. Round his microphone like a Mercedes. Jeru the Damaja holds his own on the street and the microphone. Chicks gravitate towards the crooked streets and grimey sounds of Brooklyn, New York. If your props are gone, then Brooklyn took it.

You Can’t Stop The Prophet is one of the most memorable hip hop/rap songs with quotable dialogue. Jeru said the most quotable shit in this song. Those lyrics get people every time. The lyrics and the delivery are out of this world. The song also displayed his storytelling ability using a range of emotions and concepts.

These were some of the most quotable lyrics that he said during the song.

When the clippers touched my hair, they blew the fuck up
After the explosion there was no one left

One day I got struck by Knowledge of Self
It gave me super-scientifical powers

Then I hit ’em in the heart with sharp steel bookmarks
Ignorance hates when I drop it
But no matter what he do he can’t stop the Prophet

When I awoke I was locked in the barber’s shop
Trapped in the barber’s chair
Oh no, they’re gonna try and cut my hair
But that can’t stop the Prophet

One day I got struck by Knowledge of Self
Then I hit ’em in the heart with sharp steel bookmarks
He had babies havin’ babies – and young niggas sellin’ crack
Ignorance hates when I drop it
I can smell it, but Ignorance is runnin’ rampant
Let’s continue the saga, mad mad drama
But no matter what he do he can’t stop the Prophet
After the explosion there was no one left
So I hops up on the A-Train, I’m bein’ followed
And he brought a mob along, it’s the same old song
When I awoke I was locked in the barber’s shop
When the clippers touched my hair, they blew the fuck up
I hear a hissin’ sound, I smell a funny smell

I rate this album 5/5*****!!