The Sun Rises in the East is the debut album by American 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.
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.
"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.
Critical reception
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."Columnist. "Review: The Sun Rises in the East". Melody Maker: 33. August 13, 1994. NME said that "Jeru is more original than most [rappers]", while The Source remarked that "the music both contrasts and complements his disjointed flow and deep poetical lyricism." 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."
In 2022, Rolling Stone placed it at number 155 on their list of the 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. The magazine's writer Joe Gross said, "Jeru's debut is the platonic ideal of a certain kind of golden age hip-hop album: big beats, righteous lyrics, extremely serious vibe."
Track listing All songs produced by DJ Premier
#TitleLengthSongwriters1"Intro (Life)"0:50K.J. Davis, C. Martin2"D. Original"3:36K.J. Davis, C. Martin3"Brooklyn Took It"3:24K.J. Davis, C. Martin4"Perverted Monks in tha House (Skit)"1:15K.J. Davis, C. Martin, A. Phillip, W. Garfield, C. Clay5"Mental Stamina" 2:21K.J. Davis, C. Martin6"Da Bichez"3:52*Uncredited*7"You Can't Stop the Prophet"3:53K.J. Davis, C. Martin8"Perverted Monks in tha House (Theme)"1:02*Uncredited*9"Ain't the Devil Happy"3:45K.J. Davis, C. Martin10"My Mind Spray"3:45K.J. Davis, C. Martin, B. James11"Come Clean"4:57K.J. Davis, C. Martin, C. Parker, F. Scruggs, K. Jones, T. Taylor12"Jungle Music"3:51*Uncredited*13"Statik"3:07K.J. Davis, C. Martin
Singles 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
Weekly charts Chart (1994)Peakpositionscope="row" scope="row"
Year-end charts Chart (1994)PositionUS Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)84
Singles 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 Clean8853106 1994 D. Original -74226 You Can't Stop the Prophet - -4519
References
External links The Sun Rises in the East at Discogs Retrospect for Hip-Hop: A Golden Age on Record?