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.
Queens
Jeru the Damaja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shinin' star but not a movie actress
Mind refined, skintone many shades of blackness
And every man want to have this, because she's the baddest
And her booty it got the fatness
Many come with excess bagage from broken homes
To heal her dome I wrote these poems
And most love to talk on the phone
Act childish even though they fullgrown
Some jump badge you gotta be like: shorty watch ya tone
Causin' commotion cause the species deal with emotion
No matter how dope they are they put you through the motion
Some move real fast and others in slow motion
The ones that's upset they have they granny fix some love potion
Some love flowers most smell like baby lotion
Some so ill they have a player talkin' love and devotion
The ones that been done wrong watch how you approach 'em
And save those phoney lines they can tell if you genuine
No matter how un-coachable I can coach you
I need to form my team...my black queen
[Hook - Jeru][2X]
"The-the-the-the Queens" (3X)
not "The bitches"
[Verse 2 - Jeru The Damaja]
Mother of mankind body a shrine black sunshine
God's most exquisit design wish they all were mine
The way she walk get me caught up everytime
Damn honey mad fine on some Sade shit is it a crime
The way she shake doubletape makes you break ya neck
Women little or nothing talkin' about she want respect
You gettin' weak she eat you up and gingerly step
But if it's tight then you just might get her in check
But come correct and don't have the wrong one have ya baby
Ask her how many niggaz she want she'll probably say three
Some love to love you some love to spend money
I'm crazy tight with my loot but she can get all my honey
My man doin' life behind ears and that ain't funny
And the sky is the limit if they find themselves a dummy
Most like exquisit gear but they crib look mad bummy
Believe in T.V. with no concept of reality..my black queen
[Hook][2X]
[Verse 3 - Jeru The Damaja]
Ancient universal symbol of fertility, black soil
Wicked royal and loyal her skin mask moves from baby oil
She makes my temper boil I'm bound of her duty
Whether she got a real fat, or real flat booty
Due love the now man woman and child she makes me smile
All those show her conference try to copy her style
Mothers watch my sisters and nieces
As I grow older my respect for her increases
If she a hoe I scoop up and teach her like Jesus
My excistance without her is meaningless
My goal is more than to get her undressed
I mentally caress this goddess, pittoresque the nubian princess
See I once called her a bitch but she is a empress
And I can't live without her this I must confess
And thought sometimes she fills my life with stress
Nevertheless I love her to death...my black queen
[Hook][2X]
Jeru the Damaja's song "Queens" speaks to the beauty and complexity of African-American women. In the first verse, he acknowledges their desirability and the baggage that many carry from difficult backgrounds. He notes that the strongest women will either love you or leave you alone and can see through fake lines. In the second verse, he elevates black women to the status of a goddess, with a body that is a shrine, and celebrates their strength, intelligence, and beauty. Finally, in the third verse, he acknowledges the societal pressures and expectations placed on black women and expresses his love and appreciation for them despite the stress they often face.
Line by Line Meaning
Shinin' star but not a movie actress
She is a bright and radiant personality who stands out, but not in the way of a celebrity actor
Mind refined, skintone many shades of blackness
Her thoughts and intelligence reflect a well-cultured person; her skin tone varies among darker hues
And every man want to have this, because she's the baddest
All men desire to be with her because she is the best in many aspects
And her booty it got the fatness
Her curves are attractive, especially in her buttocks
Many come with excess bagage from broken homes
Many people have emotional wounds from a difficult upbringing
To heal her dome I wrote these poems
He wrote these lyrics to help heal her emotional wounds and improve her mental state
And most love to talk on the phone
She enjoys talking to people on the phone, especially her close friends
The real ones they either love you or they leave you alone
Genuine people either genuinely love you or they keep their distance, but they do not pretend to care
Act childish even though they fullgrown
Some people behave in immature ways even though they are adults
Some jump badge you gotta be like: shorty watch ya tone
Some people provoke others, so be careful how you respond
Causin' commotion cause the species deal with emotion
Emotions can cause conflict among humans
No matter how dope they are they put you through the motion
Even the most impressive people can sometimes cause frustration
Some move real fast and others in slow motion
People have different paces in life
The ones that's upset they have they granny fix some love potion
Some people try to fix their emotional problems with false remedies, such as a love potion from their grandmother
Some love flowers most smell like baby lotion
Some people like flowers while others prefer sweet fragrances like baby lotion
Some so ill they have a player talkin' love and devotion
Some people are so attractive that they make players start talking about love and commitment
The ones that been done wrong watch how you approach 'em
People who have been hurt before are cautious about future relationships
And save those phoney lines they can tell if you genuine
Avoid using fake and insincere phrases, because genuine people can tell
No matter how un-coachable I can coach you
No matter how unteachable someone may seem, he can still try to help them improve
I need to form my team...my black queen
He wants to build a team of strong and intelligent people, particularly his dream black queen
"The-the-the-the Queens" (3X)
not "The bitches"
She is not just some promiscuous woman, but a woman to be respected and revered as a queen
Mother of mankind body a shrine black sunshine
She is the mother of humanity, and her body is a sacred vessel like a temple, and she radiates a beautiful dark light
God's most exquisit design wish they all were mine
She is one of God's finest creations, and he wishes he could have them all
The way she walk get me caught up everytime
Her walk is so captivating that he gets lost in it every time
Damn honey mad fine on some Sade shit is it a crime
She is extremely attractive like the singer Sade, and he wonders if it's illegal to be as beautiful as her
The way she shake doubletape makes you break ya neck
Her dance moves are so alluring that it makes you break your neck trying to catch her every move
Women little or nothing talkin' about she want respect
Many women talk about wanting respect, even those who haven't accomplished much in life
You gettin' weak she eat you up and gingerly step
If you show vulnerability, she will take advantage of your weakness before stepping away
But if it's tight then you just might get her in check
If you're strong and confident, you might attract her attention and respect
But come correct and don't have the wrong one have ya baby
Act properly and don't anger her, or you might meet an untimely end
Ask her how many niggaz she want she'll probably say three
She might not want to settle down with just one person, and will entertain the possibility of being with multiple people
Some love to love you some love to spend money
Some women love to give love while others love to spend money
I'm crazy tight with my loot but she can get all my honey
He is careful with his money but he is willing to give her everything he has to offer
My man doin' life behind ears and that ain't funny
One of his close friends is serving a life sentence in prison, and it's not a laughing matter
And the sky is the limit if they find themselves a dummy
She can have endless opportunities if she finds a foolish person to take advantage of
Most like exquisit gear but they crib look mad bummy
Many women like expensive clothes, but their living situation is very poor
Believe in T.V. with no concept of reality..my black queen
Many people believe what they see on TV without understanding reality, but his black queen is different
Ancient universal symbol of fertility, black soil
She is an ancient and universal symbol of fertility and prosperity, like the black soil that cultivates life
Wicked royal and loyal her skin mask moves from baby oil
She is both mischievous and deeply loyal, and her skin seems to shimmer like oil on a baby's skin
She makes my temper boil I'm bound of her duty
She can be frustrating at times, but he is compelled to serve her and do right by her
Whether she got a real fat, or real flat booty
He loves her regardless of her body type
Due love the now man woman and child she makes me smile
She deserves unconditional love from men, women, and children because of how happy she makes people
All those show her conference try to copy her style
Others try to imitate her confidence and way of life
Mothers watch my sisters and nieces
He encourages mothers to keep a close eye on their daughters to make sure they are safe and respected
As I grow older my respect for her increases
The older he gets, the more he appreciates and respects his black queen
If she a hoe I scoop up and teach her like Jesus
If she is promiscuous or has made mistakes, he will still help her and guide her like Jesus would
My excistance without her is meaningless
He feels like his life would have no purpose without his black queen
My goal is more than to get her undressed
His end goal is not simply to have her as a sexual conquest
I mentally caress this goddess, pittoresque the nubian princess
He cherishes her mentally, like a goddess, and sees her as a picturesque Nubian princess
See I once called her a bitch but she is a empress
He used to speak about her disrespectfully, but now he understands that she is a powerful and respected figure
And I can't live without her this I must confess
He needs his black queen in his life
And thought sometimes she fills my life with stress
She can cause him stress at times, but he still loves her
Nevertheless I love her to death...my black queen
Despite any hardships, he loves his black queen dearly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KENDRICK JERU DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Can Esmer
That man is a fuckin genius. He playin with words like his toys. Damn East Coast is the HARDEST.
Jewelz Infinite
Much luv & RAspect 2 my brutha Jeru..... very important track right here-- my people need to be jam'n to music like this. This is positive right here!!! _BIG TUNE_