The Sun Rises in the East

The Sun Rises in the East
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 24, 1994 (1994-05-24)
Recorded1993–1994
StudioD&D (Manhattan, New York City)
GenreEast Coast hip hop
Length39:33
Label
ProducerDJ Premier
Jeru the Damaja chronology
The Sun Rises in the East
(1994)
Wrath of the Math
(1996)
Singles from The Sun Rises in the East
  1. "Come Clean"
    Released: October 26, 1993
  2. "D. Original"
    Released: May 3, 1994

The Sun Rises in the East is the debut album by American hip hop rapper Jeru the Damaja, released May 24, 1994, on Payday Records. It was produced by DJ Premier. The album features fellow Gang Starr Foundation member Afu-Ra. The album cover depicts the World Trade Center on fire only one year after the 1993 bombing of the North Tower.[1][better source needed]

The Sun Rises in the East was well received by most music critics upon its release. The album has been considered by critics to be Jeru the Damaja's best work.[1]

"You Can't Stop the Prophet" is featured on the soundtrack of the video game NBA 2K16. The soundtrack was partially curated by DJ Premier.[2]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(1-star Honorable Mention)[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB[5]
The Indianapolis Star[6]
NME7/10[7]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[8]
RapReviews10/10[9]
The Source[10]

Melody Maker named The Sun Rises in the East "bloody essential", calling it "hypnotic and chilling as a blues party on Pluto" and "another step forward for hip hop."[11] NME said that "Jeru is more original than most [rappers]",[7] while The Source remarked that "the music both contrasts and complements his disjointed flow and deep poetical lyricism."[10] The Indianapolis Star wrote, "Skeletal, basic and tough, this rap disc ... is exciting for its directness, lacking only in its failure to take full hold of its theme promoting Brooklyn as the mecca of rap knowledge."[6]

Track listing[edit]

# Title Length Songwriters
1 "Intro (Life)" 0:50 K.J. Davis, C. Martin
2 "D. Original" 3:36 K.J. Davis, C. Martin
3 "Brooklyn Took It" 3:24 K.J. Davis, C. Martin
4 "Perverted Monks in Tha House (Skit)" 1:15 K.J. Davis, C. Martin, A. Phillip, W. Garfield, C. Clay
5 "Mental Stamina" (featuring Afu-Ra) 2:21 K.J. Davis, C. Martin
6 "Da Bichez" 3:52 *Uncredited*
7 "You Can't Stop the Prophet" 3:53 K.J. Davis, C. Martin
8 "Perverted Monks in Tha House (Theme)" 1:02 *Uncredited*
9 "Ain't the Devil Happy" 3:45 K.J. Davis, C. Martin
10 "My Mind Spray" 3:45 K.J. Davis, C. Martin, B. James
11 "Come Clean" 4:57 K.J. Davis, C. Martin, C. Parker, F. Scruggs, K. Jones, T. Taylor
12 "Jungle Music" 3:51 *Uncredited*
13 "Statik" 3:07 K.J. Davis, C. Martin

Singles[edit]

Single information
"Come Clean"
  • Released: October 21, 1993
  • B-side:
"D. Original"
  • Released: January 29, 1994
  • B-side:
"You Can't Stop the Prophet"
  • Released: April 6, 1994
  • B-side:

Charts[edit]

Singles[edit]

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1993 Come Clean 88 53 10 6
1994 D. Original - 74 22 6
You Can't Stop the Prophet - - 45 19

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "The Sun Rises in the East at CDUniverse.com". Retrieved December 20, 2006.
  2. ^ Nunneley, Stephany. (July 24, 2015). "Get your groove on with the official NBA 2K16 soundtrack". VG247. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  3. ^ Bush, John. "The Sun Rises in the East – Jeru the Damaja". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Jeru the Damaja: The Sun Rises in the East". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-24560-2. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  5. ^ Bernard, James (July 29, 1994). "The Sun Rises in the East". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Miley, Scott L. (Aug 19, 1994). "Jeru the Damaja 'The Sun Rises in the East'". The Indianapolis Star. p. C10.
  7. ^ a b "Jeru the Damaja: The Sun Rises in the East". NME. June 18, 1994. p. 34.
  8. ^ Warikoo, Nirai (August 26, 1994). "Jeru the Damaja, The Sun Rises in the East (Payday)". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 20. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  9. ^ Juon, Steve "Flash" (June 10, 2003). "Jeru the Damaja :: The Sun Rises in the East :: PayDay/FFRR". RapReviews. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  10. ^ a b Oh, Minya "Shortie" (August 1994). "Jeru the Damaja: The Sun Rises in the East". The Source. No. 59. p. 86.
  11. ^ Columnist. "Review: The Sun Rises in the East". Melody Maker: 33. August 13, 1994.
  12. ^ "Jeru The Damaja Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Jeru The Damaja Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2021.

External links[edit]