Jeru The Damaja’s seminal 1994 rap classic The Sun Rises in the East has received an expansive reissue, which is out now. The new collection includes a version of standout “Come Clean” as well as instrumentals of DJ Premier’s iconic productions for the record.
The creation of The Sun Rises can be traced back to the boroughs of New York City in the early 90s, when the golden era of hip-hop began proliferating across The Big Apple. Stars from the 1980s MTV had brought early rap into mainstream consciousness, and young artists like Jeru The Damaja were watching, listening, and practicing.
The Brooklyn MC went from student to teacher in the transition from the 80s to 90s, bringing those aspirational notebooks filled with rhymes. to the recording booth. His first break came when he secured a feature on “I’m The Man” from Gang Starr’s exalted 1992 album Daily Operation. Two years later, he dropped the highly regarded, entirely DJ Premier-produced The Sun Rises In The East.
Speaking to UDiscover a few years ago from his home in Berlin, Jeru remembered those early days, selling books alongside future icons of the form, and gaining recognition. “It was me, the GZA from Wu-Tang Clan, True Master, Masta Killa, my man Afu – we used to sell books in the city … During the week, we’d set up in the Village on John Street. So I was out there one day, and some dude comes by and he’s singing my verse. I’m like, ‘Yo, what you listening to?’ And he’s like, ‘I’m listening to that new Gang Starr album. Some dude Jeru The Damaja. This shit is crazy!’ I’m like, ‘Word?! I gotta get that!’ [Laughs.] It felt good. That’s when I knew it was officially on.”
Fast forward 30 years, and the impact of that first verse, and Jeru the Damaja’s subsequent explosive debut, remain as powerful as ever.
Buy or stream The Sun Rises in the East (30th Anniversary Edition).
