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.
Whatyagonnado
Jeru the Damaja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
3 Brooklyn fiends is scheming on your chain
Mad blunts and licks to the head, you red[?]
Better sober up quick or you might get dead
There's no one around so ain't no reason to scream out
Here's your chance to be a gangsta nigga, back that thing out
The next move you make will decide your fate
Will it be die on the train or live life behind the gate
Your heart skip a beat and you select upstate
It's on, you get a lump in your throat, niggaz weapons are drawn
You so shook, you shoot straight through your coat
2 down, 1 boogie[?] but before you gone
The train stops and one of New York City's Finest jumps on
"Whatchu gonna do.." [sound of da police, shoots]
2:30 in the morning on a friday night
It's one of those types of nights that everything's goin right
In a club, fishing for bitches, anything tryin to bite
Then the one that you want gets caught in your sight
Face - picture perfect, big titties and fat ass
She's asked if she want to drink and she kindly pass
Her response let you know she's not the average stunt
She asks "do you got a dutch", you say "yeah", she roll a blunt
Weed[?] and conversation good, you fill the evening with laughter
Then Shorty like: "yo, whatchu doing after"
She continues what she's doing is outta character
But, she live's alone and she wants you to smash her
You bug, you can't believe that she tryin to fuck
You like: "let's bounce", then you think "Lady Luck"
You exit the club, hop up in your truck
But when you get to Brooklyn East New York, you get stuck up
"Whatchu gonna do.." [sound of da stick up]
1 a.m. - you in the studio, dropping verses about how you flip kilos
Get paper commit murder and pimp on hoes
Crazy ice around your neck with the thugged out flows
But it sounds like game to the street wise pro's
Cause you be blabbing the [??] that you don't even know
Straight pillow talking, I hope you walk the walk
And be doing all the shit that's blasting out of shortie's walkman
The last verse is laid, your men is like [??] dope fiend
All of a sudden the sound [???] wide open
3 niggaz come in, screaming "where the cash"
And you know the shit is real cause they ain't rocking masks
They rocking big ass canons dawg, you better think fast
Do you run what's yours or go for yours and blaaast..
"whatchu gonna do.." [sound of da stick up]
The song, Jeru the Damaja's "Whatyagonnado," narrates three different scenarios that can lead to a similar outcome of violence and the struggle to make a decision. In the first verse, a person rides the train at 3 am when three drug addicts try to steal his chain. He has to decide whether to pull out a gun and be a gangster or die. In the second verse, a man meets a woman in a club and goes back to her place, and when he is on his way home to Brooklyn, he gets mugged. Finally, in the third verse, a rapper records in the studio as three robbers with guns rush in, and he is faced with the same dilemma once again. These three situations all share the common thread of the singer facing a critical decision regarding their life or death.
Throughout this song, we see a variety of themes from Dealing with adversity, making crucial decisions, and struggling in low-economic communities. The song highlights the vulnerability of living and surviving in the inner city of New York City. At a young age, young black men are often compelled to carry weapons or defend themselves and their belongings. The song also bitterly addresses police brutality and lack of support available in low-income communities.
Line by Line Meaning
3 in the morning, you hop on the train
You are getting on the train at 3 AM
3 Brooklyn fiends is scheming on your chain
Three addicts from Brooklyn are trying to rob you
Mad blunts and licks to the head, you red[?]
You are high on marijuana and feeling paranoid
Better sober up quick or you might get dead
You need to be alert or you may get killed
There's no one around so ain't no reason to scream out
No one is nearby so there is no benefit to yelling for help
Here's your chance to be a gangsta nigga, back that thing out
You have the opportunity to act tough and show your weapon
The next move you make will decide your fate
Your next decision will determine whether you live or die
Will it be die on the train or live life behind the gate
You could either be killed on the train or go to prison
You framing[?] minor[?] [??], you contemplate prison rate
You are considering the consequences of getting locked up
Your heart skip a beat and you select upstate
You make the decision to go to prison upstate
It's on, you get a lump in your throat, niggaz weapons are drawn
Things escalate quickly and you are scared
You so shook, you shoot straight through your coat
You are so afraid that you accidentally shoot yourself
2 down, 1 boogie[?] but before you gone
You shoot two of the robbers, but one is still alive
The train stops and one of New York City's Finest jumps on
The police arrive at the scene
'Whatchu gonna do..' [sound of da police, shoots]
The sound of police sirens and gunshots
2:30 in the morning on a friday night
It is 2:30 AM on a Friday
It's one of those types of nights that everything's goin right
Things are going well
In a club, fishing for bitches, anything tryin to bite
You're in a club trying to find a woman
Then the one that you want gets caught in your sight
You see the woman you want to talk to
Face - picture perfect, big titties and fat ass
She is extremely attractive
She's asked if she want to drink and she kindly pass
She declines your offer of a drink
Her response let you know she's not the average stunt
She's different from most women you meet at the club
She asks 'do you got a dutch', you say 'yeah', she roll a blunt
You provide weed and she rolls a joint
Weed[?] and conversation good, you fill the evening with laughter
You smoke, talk and have a good time
Then Shorty like: 'yo, whatchu doing after'
She asks if you want to go somewhere else
She continues what she's doing is outta character
She confesses that she doesn't usually act this way
But, she live's alone and she wants you to smash her
She invites you to have sex with her
You bug, you can't believe that she tryin to fuck
You're surprised she's interested in having sex with you
You like: 'let's bounce', then you think 'Lady Luck'
You agree to leave with her and feel fortunate
You exit the club, hop up in your truck
You leave the club and get in your truck
But when you get to Brooklyn East New York, you get stuck up
You get robbed when you arrive in Brooklyn
'Whatchu gonna do..' [sound of da stick up]
The sound of a robbery taking place
1 a.m. - you in the studio, dropping verses about how you flip kilos
You're in the recording studio rapping about selling drugs
Get paper commit murder and pimp on hoes
You boast about making money, killing and pimping
Crazy ice around your neck with the thugged out flows
You have expensive jewelry and a tough image
But it sounds like game to the street wise pro's
Your lyrics are not impressive to experienced listeners
Cause you be blabbing the [??] that you don't even know
You're revealing information you don't have actual knowledge of
Straight pillow talking, I hope you walk the walk
You're telling all your secrets, hopefully you can follow through
And be doing all the shit that's blasting out of shortie's walkman
You should be living up to the expectations in your music
The last verse is laid, your men is like [??] dope fiend
You've finished recording and your friends are excited
All of a sudden the sound [???] wide open
You hear a loud noise
3 niggaz come in, screaming 'where the cash'
Three men enter demanding money
And you know the shit is real cause they ain't rocking masks
They aren't wearing masks, indicating they are serious
They rocking big ass canons dawg, you better think fast
They are carrying large guns, you need to act quickly
Do you run what's yours or go for yours and blaaast..
Decide whether to run or shoot back
'Whatchu gonna do..' [sound of da stick up]
The sound of a robbery taking place
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KENDRICK JERU DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind