As an interesting side note, the album cover shows the World Trade Center on fire only one year after the 1993 bombing of the North Tower. The album featured Jeru's signature conscious lyrics, however he was criticized by The Fugees for his explicit lyrics particularly, in the song "Da Bichez". Fugees member Pras lightly mentioned Jeru on the track "Zealots", from the group's landmark 1996 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 lightly responded in the intro to the track "Me or The Papes".
Jeru followed up in 1996 with his sophomore album Wrath of the Math again produced solely by DJ Premier. The album was also widely acclaimed, though not on the same level as his debut. Like on his first album, Jeru was accusatory of commercial hip hop artists and record labels (Death Row, Bad Boy), who he criticized on the concept track "One Day". After the release of Wrath of the Math, Jeru had a falling out with DJ Premier and Guru, and was missing from the scene until 1999, when he released his third album, Heroz4hire, released together with Mizmarvel. Heroz 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. Heroz4hire was less critically acclaimed, due mostly to Premier's absence. His latest 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. A new Jeru album, tentatively titled Still Rising was released in 2007.
Kick Rocks
Jeru the Damaja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry, so sorry
Please accept my apology
Damn son, you getting tight?
I ain't mean it, it was a joke, damn
You, you, you can't take a joke?
I'm sorry I ain't the hero that you need in your life
I'm sorry but sometimes I tend to live thrive
I'm sorry I can't say what you want me to say
I'm sorry I'm bound to flip up on any given day
I'm sorry y'all seem conceded but I know my shit's fly
I'm sorry I lost my temper and punched you in the eye
I'm sorry I can't live up to your expectations
I'm sorry if how I move causes you frustration
I'm sorry that a brother have all type of hang ups
I'm sorry I quit smoking 'cause now I drink too much
I'm sorry I make mistakes that I can't take back
Like busting guns and selling crack
I'm sorry to all the cats that I hit in the head
I'm sorry I get violent when I get real fed
I'm sorry I couldn't be your better friend
But I do the right thing if I could do it again
I'm sorry I couldn't be there when you needed help
I'm sorry but I was busy tryin' to help myself
I'm sorry, that life is filled with all type of hard knocks
But if you can't handle it, then, kick rocks
I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry if you think that I'm a dirty such and such
I'm sorry I got a big mouth and talk too much
I'm sorry my first album couldn't save the world
And if at any point in life, I hit your girl
I'm sorry if sometimes I'm contradictory
I'm sorry MC's try hard but they can't see me
I'm sorry I don't work with your favorite producer
I'm sorry I can't quit 'cause I'm not a loser
I'm sorry but I have to walk with my head high
I'm sorry my mind state is not just getting by
I'm sorry for things I said 'cause I know I offend
I'm sorry but I call it like I see it my friend
I'm sorry if we met and you thought I was rude
But I make it a habit not to hang with duds
I'm sorry if I generically signed you autograph
I'm sorry if you feel I ain't bring the heat since the wrath
I'm sorry if I ignored you tryin' to spit to some chick
I'm sorry but sometimes I think with my dick
I'm sorry for knowing the godly but dealing with earth
This is a formal apology for what it's worth
I'm sorry but life is filled with all type of hard knocks
And if you can't handle it, pssst, kick rocks
I'm sorry, so sorry
I'm sorry, so sorry
Please accept my apology
Is that good enough? You feel better now? Listen
I'm sorry I'm not the man that you want me to be
I'm sorry I don't understand and you can't understand me
I'm sorry for all the feelings that I hurt in the past
If you thought it was gonna be more than me tapping that ass
I'm sorry if we kicked it and we got too close
I can't deal with commitment so I'm sorry I'm ghost
I'm sorry I got honeys all over the place
I'm sorry that I learned to lie with a poker face
I'm sorry to all the chicks that I gassed on tour
Told'em I keep in touch but I don't see them no more
I'm sorry we was involved and you got your heart broken
I'm sorry it went down like that I ain't joking
I'm sorry it had to be that way
I'm sorry for all the games I felt I had to play
I'm sorry if I was grimy and I hit your friend
And even though I'm sorry I'd probably do it again
I'm sorry sometimes I only think of myself
I'm sorry I ain't warned you before we dealt
I'm sorry, shorty said I was her favorite rapper
I'm sorry I had no self control and had to tap her
I'm sorry life is filled with all type of hard knocks
And if you can't handle it, shorty, kick rocks
The lyrics to Jeru the Damaja's song Kick Rocks is a sincere apology of the artist to all the people he has hurt in the past. Jeru reflects upon his past mistakes and regrets and apologizes for his shortcomings. The song is a confession of his wrongdoings and an attempt to make amends for them. In the first verse of the song, Jeru apologizes to all the persons he has hurt in the past and asks them to accept his apology.
As the song progresses, Jeru continues his apology by acknowledging his flaws and regretful actions. He apologizes for not being the hero that others needed, for losing his temper and hurting others, for not being able to live up to expectations, and for causing frustration. He also apologizes for certain personal flaws such as smoking and drinking too much, making mistakes that he cannot take back, and being violent at times.
In the latter part of Kick Rocks, Jeru apologizes for hurting others emotionally and being insensitive towards them. He acknowledges his own selfish behavior and the pain it has caused others. He ends the song by accepting the fact that life is tough at times, and if anyone cannot handle it, they should "kick rocks."
Line by Line Meaning
I apologize to all persons that I have hurt in the past
I am sorry for any pain I may have caused anyone in the past
Damn son, you getting tight?
Are you getting upset?
I'm sorry I ain't the hero that you need in your life
I apologize for not being the person you needed me to be
I'm sorry y'all seem conceded but I know my shit's fly
I apologize if I come across as conceited, but I know my abilities are top-notch
I'm sorry that a brother have all type of hang ups
I apologize for having my own set of personal struggles
I'm sorry to all the cats that I hit in the head
I apologize to anyone I may have physically harmed
I'm sorry I couldn't be there when you needed help
I apologize for not being available to offer help when you needed it
I'm sorry if you think that I'm a dirty such and such
I apologize if you think badly of me
I'm sorry if sometimes I'm contradictory
I apologize if at times I contradict myself
I'm sorry but I have to walk with my head high
I apologize, but I must keep my confidence and self-respect
I'm sorry if we met and you thought I was rude
I apologize if our introduction came off as unpleasant
I'm sorry for all the feelings that I hurt in the past
I apologize for causing emotional harm in the past
I'm sorry if we kicked it and we got too close
I apologize if we got too close and I had to distance myself
I'm sorry to all the chicks that I gassed on tour
I apologize to any women I may have misled while on tour
I'm sorry it had to be that way
I apologize for the way things turned out
I'm sorry if I was grimy and I hit your friend
I apologize if I acted unethically by pursuing your friend
I'm sorry sometimes I only think of myself
I apologize for being self-centered at times
I'm sorry life is filled with all type of hard knocks
I apologize for the hardships that life brings
Contributed by Jake L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.