| Wrath of the Math | |
|---|---|
 Studio album by Jeru the Damaja | |
|
Released |
October 15, 1996 |
|
Recorded |
August 1995 - June 1996 |
|
Studio |
D&D Studios |
|
Genre |
East Coast hip hop, Conscious hip hop, Boom bap, Underground hip hop |
|
Length |
51:47 |
|
Label |
Payday Records / FFRR / Polygram Records |
|
Producer |
DJ Premier (also exec.), Guru (exec.) |
| Jeru the Damaja chronology | |
|---|---|
|
Previous |
The Sun Rises in the East (1994) |
|
Next |
Heroz4Life (1999) |
Wrath of the Math is the second studio album by American rapper Jeru the Damaja, released in October 15, 1996 on Payday Records. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios in New York City from August 1995 to June 1996. Production was handled completely by DJ Premier and continues the themes of Afrocentricity, preservation of hip hop culture, and more about the harms of materialism that were first discussed on Jeru's 1994 debut album The Sun Rises in the East. It contains many tracks that are sequels to songs on Jeru's debut album, such as "Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)", "Me or the Papes" and "Physical Stamina" featuring Afu-Ra, the only guest artist featured on the album.
In its liner notes, it states that the "album was created to SAVE hip hop and the minds of the people that listen to it." One significant track that intends to uphold Jeru's vision of hip hop is "One Day", where Jeru tells a story of Puff Daddy, Foxy Brown and Bad Boy Records kidnapping somebody named Hip-Hop. Bad Boy Records artist The Notorious B.I.G. took offence to the song, and retaliated by throwing subtle jabs at Jeru on the song "Kick in the Door", which featured attacks on other artists as well.
The album was well-received, but was not as critically acclaimed as his debut album. It peaked at #35 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Wrath of the Math spawned the singles: "Ya' Playin' Yaself" and "Me of the Papes".
Track listing[]
All songs produced by DJ Premier.
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wrath of the Math" | - | Davis, Martin | 0:57 |
| 2. | "The Frustrated N*!^a" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 3:11 |
| 3. | "Black Cowboys" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 3:43 |
| 4. | "Tha Bullshit" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 2:00 |
| 5. | "Whatever" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin, Small | 3:16 |
| 6. | "Physical Stamina" | Jeru the Damaja, Afu-Ra | Davis, Martin, Phillips | 3:05 |
| 7. | "One Day" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 2:15 |
| 8. | "Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 4:05 |
| 9. | "Scientifical Madness" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 4:14 |
| 10. | "Not the Average" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 4:24 |
| 11. | "Me or the Papes" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 4:26 |
| 12. | "How I'm Livin'" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 4:23 |
| 13. | "Too Perverted" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 3:20 |
| 14. | "Ya Playin' Yaself" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin | 3:47 |
| 15. | "Invasion" | Jeru the Damaja | Davis, Martin, Mayfield | 4:40 |
Samples[]
Wrath of the Math
- "Will O' the Wisp" by Miles Davis
- "El Shabazz" by LL Cool J
- "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" by Big Daddy Kane
The Frustrated N*!^a
- "Hit or Miss" by Odetta
- "The Further Adventures of Nick Danger" by Firesign Theatre
- "Flying Saucers" by Richard Pryor
- "My Thang" by James Brown
Black Cowboys
- "Leaving the Past" and "Spare Change" by The M.G.'s
- "Put It On" by Big L feat. Kid Capri
- "Hang 'Em High" by Sadat X
Tha Bullshit
- "El Lobo's March" by Ray Brown Orchestra
- "First Transformation (Primordial Regression)" by John Corigliano
Whatever
- "That's All Right With Me" by Esther Phillips
- "Soul Plan" by Lord Finesse feat. Roy Ayers
- "Here N' Now" by Onyx
Physical Stamina
- "Bodyguard" by George Clinton
- "Peter Piper" by Run-D.M.C.
One Day
- "Don't Misunderstand" by Ahmad Jamal
- "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down" by Brand Nubian
Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)
- "Get Out of My Life Woman" by Q65
- "Yes I'm Singing" by Lee Oskar
- "The Shit Is Real (DJ Premier Remix)" by Fat Joe
- "You Can't Stop the Prophet" by Jeru the Damaja
Scientifical Madness
- "Baby I'm for Real" by Esther Phillips
- "1, 2 Pass It" by D&D All-Stars
Not the Average
- "A Poem to Complement Other Poems" by Don L. Lee
Me or the Papes
- "Repent Walpurgis" by Procol Harum
- "I Love Music" by Ahmad Jamal Trio
- "Money" by Pink Floyd
- "Move Ya Body" by Mad Skillz
How I'm Livin'
- "Venus De Milo" by Miles Davis and His Orchestra
- "Labels" by GZA
- "Rugged-N-Raw" by PMD
- "3 Tha Hard Way" by Bahamadia
Too Perverted
- "Do Drop In" by Barry White, Love Unlimited and Love Unlimited Orchestra
- "Mental Stamina" by Jeru the Damaja feat. Afu-Ra
Ya Playin' Yaself
- "You Are What I'm All About" by The New Birth
- "Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas
- "Stakes Is High" by De La Soul
Invasion
- "Playland" by Jimmy McGriff
- "Stone Junkie" by Curtis Mayfield
- "Funky Stuff" by Kool & the Gang
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell" by Nas