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Biography
Infobox musical artist|name = Jeru the Damaja|image = Jeru the Damaja 4.jpg|caption = In Atlanta, Georgia , in March 2008.|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Kendrick Jeru Davis|birth_date = birth date and age|1972|2|14|origin = East New York, Brooklyn , New York |genre = Hip hop music|Hip hop |years_active = 1986& ndash;present|label = Payday/FFRR/ PolyGram Records Know Savage Records Ashenafi Records|associated_acts = Gang Starr , Gang Starr Foundation , Afu-Ra , Group Home Kendrick Jeru Davis , known as Jeru the Damaja (born February 14, 1972) is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru (rapper)|Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr , whom he has known since high school.
Biography
Jeru the Damaja was born February 14, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York , and spent his early years in that borough's East New York neighborhood, where he began rhyming at block party|block parties as a youth. He first showcased his hardcore Brooklyn style to audiences on "I'm the Man," a track from Gang Starr's 1992 album Daily Operation .cite web|last=Bush |first=John |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jeru-the-damaja-p44749/biography |title=Jeru the Damaja |publisher=AllMusic |date=1972-02-14 |accessdate=2011-10-15cite web|url= http://www.thesituation.co.uk/us_interviews/jeru_the_damaja/jeru_the_damaga.html |title=Jeru The Damaja Interview |publisher=Thesituation.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2011-10-15 The following year he released his first single, "Come Clean," which was produced by DJ Premier and became an instant underground hit.
His first album, The Sun Rises in the East , was released in 1994 and produced entirely by DJ Premier. The album was well-received but Jeru was criticized by the Fugees for his lyrics, particularly for the song "Da Bitchez". Fugees member Pras lightly mentioned Jeru on the track "Zealots," from the group's landmark 1996 album The Score (album)|The Score , with the line "No matter who you damage, you're still a false prophet," referencing Jeru's single "You Can't Stop the Prophet." Jeru responded lightly in the intro of the track "Me or the Papes" and also on the track "Black Cowboys."
Jeru followed up in 1996 with his second album. Wrath of the Math , again produced solely by DJ Premier. The album was also widely acclaimed, although not on the same level as his debut. Like on his first album, Jeru was accusatory of commercial hip hop artists and record labels such as Death Row Records and Bad Boy Entertainment , which he criticized on the concept track "One Day." After the release of Math , Jeru reportedly had a falling-out with DJ Premier and Guru (rapper)|Guru (however, Jeru has dismissed this and claimed that they wanted to go in different directions), and was missing from the scene until 1999, when he released his third album, Heroz4Hire , released together with Mizmarvel, which was his first album without production from DJ Premier and also his first under his then-newly created KnowSavage Records. It featured the single "99.9 Pa Cent," which was a verbal attack on his former affiliates Gang Starr. The album was less critically acclaimed than his last.Citation needed|date=January 2011 In 1999, he collaborated with the Spanish hip hop group Violadores del Verso in the track "Solo quedar consuelo."
His next album, Divine Design (album)| Divine Design , released in 2003, was the first album under his new record label, Ashenafi Records. The album received little attention and mixed reviews. The latest Jeru album, titled Still Rising , was released on October 16, 2007. On April 2, 2007, during a La Coka Nostra concert at the Gramercy Theatre in New York, Jeru the Damaja came out for a surprise appearance to perform his song "D Original".
In 2009 Jeru started to collborate with Drum & Bass Producers. In 2009, he is featured on Kabuki's track "Watch Your Step.", produced by Mainframe. Jeru also collaborated with Group Home in 2010 for a song dedicated to the late rapper Guru. The song is titled "G.U.R.U.". Recently Jeru confirmed he will drop a new album in 2011 with production from 90's legends JuJu , Pete Rock , Large Professor & old time collaborator (their problems since reconciled) DJ Premier .cite web|url= http://www.djpremierblog.com/2011/03/08/jeru-the-damaja-upcoming-album-featuring-dj-premier-pete-rock-large-professor/ |title=Jeru the Damaja Upcoming Album Featuring DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor, The Beatnuts & More |publisher=DJ Premier Blog |date=2011-03-08 |accessdate=2011-10-15
In 2011 Jeru The Damaja featured in the song "Oddalbym" on the album "Reedukacja" of Polish hip-hop group Slums Attack (Peja, Dj Decks). In addition to Jeru The Damaja, a Polish rap star O.S.T.R. also featured. The album was a great success in Poland, and sold out in the first couple of days.
Discography
Album information
The Sun Rises in the East
Released: May 24, 1994
Billboard 200 chart position: #36
R& B/Hip-Hop chart position: #5
Singles: "Come Clean"/"D Original"/"You Can't Stop the Prophet"
Wrath of the Math
Released: October 15, 1996
Billboard 200 chart position: #35
R& B/Hip-Hop chart position: #3
Singles: "Ya Playin' Yaself"/"One Day"/"Me or the Papes"/"The Bullshit"
Heroz4Hire
Released: September 7, 1999
Billboard 200 chart position: -
R& B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
Singles: "99.9 Pa Cent"/"Verbal Battle"/"Black Love"
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p44749|label=Jeru The Damaja
http://www.thesituation.co.uk/us_interviews/jeru_the_damaja/jeru_the_damaga.html Interview on Divine Design from The Situation
http://www.myspace.com/JERU Myspace of Jeru The Damaja
http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx? csid1=137& csid2=946& fid1=41541 "Interview with Neil Acharya" at Exclaim!
http://rapdungeon.blogspot.com/2007/06/jeru-damaja-collection.html Jeru The Damaja Collection (All non-album tracks and guest appearances)
Jeru the DamajaGang Starr Persondata | NAME = | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = February 14, 1972 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Brooklyn, New York | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = Category:1972 births Category:African American rappers Category:American vegetarians Category:Living people Category:People from Brooklyn Category:Rappers from New York City
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