The Prophet Strikes Again!

Hip Hop music is mainly shown to the public in video format. One might blame MTV, BET, or Hype Williams for artists blinging their way across tv screens, rather than putting substance into music. Since there is a market for it, there is no stopping a majority of commercial artists from making dough while flashing cash catering to a saturated watered down sound. It's unfair to critique some artists in the mass media cause they do have some talent, but in 1996, artists dumbed their sound down to a lazier audience. Die hard hip hop fans were fed up with the direction the music was heading and needed a savior. Swimming against hip hops ignorant current of money, cash, hoes came Jeru Da Damaja with "Wrath of the Math."

Once again, "The Frustrated N*****," has Primo backing him, so expect some incredible beats with some crazy turntable techniques. Songs that stood out for me is the stripped down, rhythmic bass of "Ya Playin' Yaself." Everytime I hear a wack song on the radio, that single slaps the bad taste out my mouth. I love the line, "You only call yourself a player cause you be playin' yourself." "Me of the Papes," has a great jazzy piano loop where dirty rotten talks about how money hungry girls are becoming. "Back in the days Biz said it was the Vapors, now I realize it's the papers," vents an angry Jeru towards the glamours and glitz.

My biggest complaint is that Jeru spends a little too much time criticizing mainstream hip hops demise. What could have been a masterpiece turns out to be one big glob of disrespect. However, he does it creatively with the hardcore parody on, "The B.S.," and on the name-drop dissin' "One Day." Over Primo's melancholy violins, Jeru faults Puffy for kidnapping hip hop and gets it back from Suge Knight on a trip to L.A. Could you also imagine what this record would be like if Primo shoveled Group Home's "Livin' Proof" beats over to Jeru. DAMN!
It should come to no surprise that the Source gave this record a mediocre 3 mics. Think about it? God forbid a big magazine for praising a record that challenges others to step their games up. As long as big hip hop publishers have a Puffy or a 50 Cent in their pocket, their gonna make a lot more money. Thank god I don't work for a big magazine breathin' down my neck telling me to change my opinions on music.

Anyhow, this isn't as compelling as "Sun Rises In The East," because it sounds more like a sequel to the debut records classic tracks. However, this would be the last notable work in Jeru's collection before the heartbreaking split with Primo, ensuring it's timeless quality!