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, 1972 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
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Kendrick Jeru Davis (born February 14, 1972), known as Jeru the Damaja, is an American rapper and music producer. His stage name is pronounced JAY-roo thuh DAM-ih-juh.
He is famous for his 1993 song "Come Clean." This song was on his first album, The Sun Rises in the East. Editors at About.com later called this album one of the 100 greatest hip-hop albums ever. Jeru has worked a lot with Guru and DJ Premier from the group Gang Starr. He has known them since he was in high school.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Jeru the Damaja was born on February 14, 1972. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in an area called East New York. When he was young, he started rapping at local block parties. This is where he first showed off his rhyming skills.
Music Career Highlights
Starting Out in Hip Hop
Jeru Davis first shared his unique rapping style in 1992. He was featured on a song called "I'm the Man." This track was on Gang Starr's album, Daily Operation. He also appeared on their album Hard to Earn with the song "Speak ya Clout."
In 1993, Jeru released his very first single, "Come Clean." DJ Premier produced this song. It quickly became a popular underground hit.
First Albums and Their Impact
Jeru Davis released his first album, The Sun Rises in the East, in 1994. DJ Premier produced every song on this album. Many people liked the album a lot.
In 1996, Jeru released his second album, Wrath of the Math. This album was also produced entirely by DJ Premier. It was also well-received by fans and critics. On this album, Jeru continued to share his views on commercial hip-hop music.
Later Projects and Collaborations
After Wrath of the Math, Jeru took a break from releasing new music. In 1999, he released his third album, Heroz4Hire. He released this album with Mizmarvel. It was his first album under his new record label, Know Savage Records.
His next album, Divine Design, came out in 2003. This was the first album released under his new label, Ashenafi Records. In 2007, he released another album called Still Rising.
Jeru started working with drum and bass music producers in 2009. He was featured on Kabuki's song "Watch Your Step." He also worked with Italian producer Fabio Musta on "Open Up Their Eyes." In 2010, he collaborated 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. It was supposed to feature production from famous artists like JuJu from the Beatnuts, Pete Rock, Large Professor, and DJ Premier. However, this album was not released. He also appeared on a song called "Oddałbym" with Polish hip-hop group Slums Attack.
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 2014, Jeru released an EP (a shorter album) called The Hammer.
In 2019, Jeru reunited with DJ Premier. He was featured on the song "From a Distance" from Gang Starr's final album, One Of The Best Yet. Jeru the Damaja also has a home in Berlin, Germany.
Jeru's Legacy in Hip Hop
Jeru the Damaja's first album, The Sun Rises in the East, is considered a very important hip-hop album. 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 essential '90s hip-hop albums."
In 2022, Rolling Stone magazine also recognized its importance. They named The Sun Rises in the East as one of the '200 Greatest Rap Albums Of All Time.' This shows how much his music has influenced the hip-hop world.
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
