Jeru the Damaja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeru the Damaja
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Davis performing at the Out4Fame-Festival 2016 in Hünxe
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| Born | February 14, 1971 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
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Kendrick Jeru Davis (born February 14, 1971), known as Jeru the Damaja, is an American rapper and music producer. He is famous for his 1993 song "Come Clean". This song was from his first album, The Sun Rises in the East. Editors at About.com later called this album one of the top 100 hip-hop albums ever. Jeru has worked a lot with Guru and DJ Premier from the group Gang Starr. He knew them since he was in high school.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Jeru the Damaja was born on February 14, 1971. His birthplace was Brooklyn, New York City. He grew up in the East New York area of Brooklyn. As a young person, he started rapping at local block parties. This is where he first showed his unique style.
Music Career Highlights
Jeru Davis first shared his special rapping style in 1992. He appeared on a song called "I'm the Man" from Gang Starr's album Daily Operation. He also featured on "Speak ya Clout" from their album Hard to Earn. In 1993, he released his very first song as a solo artist. This song was "Come Clean". DJ Premier produced it, and it became a big hit in the underground music scene.
First Albums and Collaborations
Jeru Davis's first album, The Sun Rises in the East, came out in 1994. DJ Premier produced every song on this album. Many people liked the album. However, the group Fugees criticized some of its lyrics. A member of the Fugees, Pras, mentioned Jeru in their 1996 album The Score. Jeru later responded to this in some of his own songs.
In 1996, Jeru released his second album, Wrath of the Math. Again, DJ Premier produced all the tracks. This album also received good reviews. On this album, Jeru continued to speak out against commercial hip-hop artists. He also criticized the record labels that supported them. After Wrath of the Math, Jeru and DJ Premier went in different directions for a while. However, they later reconnected in 2002.
Later Works and New Labels
Jeru Davis took a break from releasing music for a few years. In 1999, he released his third album, Heroz4Hire. This was his first album under his own new record label, Know Savage Records. The album included the song "99.9%". His next album, Divine Design, came out in 2003. This was the first album released under his second new label, Ashenafi Records.
On April 2, 2007, Jeru made a surprise appearance at a concert in New York. He performed his song "D. Original". His album Still Rising was released later that year, on October 16, 2007.
Recent Projects and International Work
Starting in 2009, Jeru began working with producers of drum and bass music. He was featured on Kabuki's song "Watch Your Step" in 2009. He also appeared on "Open Up Their Eyes" by Fabio Musta. In 2010, he worked with Group Home on a song called "Guru". This song was a tribute to the late rapper Guru.
In 2011, Jeru announced plans for a new record. He mentioned working with famous producers like JuJu from the Beatnuts, Pete Rock, and Large Professor. He also planned to work with his old friend DJ Premier again. However, this album was not released. That same year, he was featured on a song called "Oddałbym". This song was on the album Reedukacja by the Polish hip-hop group Slums Attack. The album was very popular in Poland.
In 2012, Jeru was featured on "The Mourning Son". This song was on the album Remix with the Sun by the French trip hop group Chinese Man. In July 2013, Jeru said he would soon release a new EP. This EP would feature production from Large Professor and others. On June 17, 2014, Jeru released an EP called The Hammer. It was available for digital download.
In 2019, Jeru reunited with DJ Premier. He was featured on the Gang Starr song "From a Distance". This song was on Gang Starr's final album, One Of The Best Yet. Jeru the Damaja has a home in Berlin, Germany.
Legacy and Impact
Jeru the Damaja's first album, The Sun Rises in the East, is highly regarded. In 2013, editors at About.com ranked it as one of the 100 greatest hip-hop albums of all time. They called it "one of the quintessential '90s hip-hop albums."
In 2022, Rolling Stone magazine also recognized the album's importance. They named The Sun Rises in the East as one of the '200 Greatest Rap Albums Of All Time'. This shows how much impact Jeru the Damaja's music has had.
Discography
- Studio Albums and EPs
- The Sun Rises in the East (1994)
- Wrath of the Math (1996)
- Heroz4Hire (1999)
- Divine Design (2003)
- Still Rising (2007)
- The Hammer (2014)
See also
In Spanish: Jeru The Damaja para niños
