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.
the prophet
Jeru the Damaja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Black Prophet
One day I got struck by Knowledge of Self
It gave me super-scientifical powers
Now I, run through the ghetto
Battlin my, arch nemesis Mr. Ignorance
He's been tryin to take me out since the days of my youth
He feared this day would come
Because he has an army, they always give me trouble
Mainly - Hatred, Jealousy and Envy they attack me
They think they got me
But I use my super-science and I twist all three
I see sparks over that buildin - they're shootin at me
I dip, do a backflip
Then hit em in the heart with sharp steel bookmarks
Ignorance hates when I drop it
But no matter, what he do.. he can't stop the Prophet
Yo Prophet, yo Prophet, come here real quick
Yo I just saw Ignorance downtown, let me put you on
Word, he down there buggin
He got them illin out, they shootin and everything else..
Let's continue the saga, mad mad drama
I met this chick, she said she knew where Ignorance was at
I said, "Where?"
She said, "Downtown"
He had babies havin babies - and young niggaz sellin crack
I think the bitch is lyin, it's a set up
I can smell it, but Ignorance is runnin rampant
Aight baby show me the exact spot
Meet me at Hoyt and Schermerhorn at 3 on the dot
So I hops up on the A-Train, I'm bein followed
My seventh sense senses danger
I turn around, it's Anger
and he brought a mob along, it's the same old song
Despair and Animosity got broke with the swiftness
I don't know what they think this is
I feel a sharp pain in my neck
Now I can't see, I'm like Hiram
They hit me with the dart filled with the pork chop serum
I tried to hold on but before long I dropped
When I awoke I was locked in the barber's shop
Trapped in the barber's chair
Oh no, they're gonna try and cut my hair
But that can't stop the Prophet
Yo Prophet!
Ignorance is tired of you followin him around
We about to put an end to that RIGHT NOW
Anamosity (YEA!) Despair (YO WHASSUP?) Get him!!
A few minutes passed by, I hear a buzzin noise
It was that chick with some of Ignorance's boys
She said, "Prophet, we got you beat;
by the way I'm Mr. Ignorance's wife, Deceit
But enough talk; now for your hair cut"
When the clippers touched my hair, they blew the fuck up
After the explosion there was no one left
Cause I know Dim Mak/poison hand/touch of death
My vision's still kinda blurry, but I see a clue
Ignorance is at the library
I hurry, with lightning speed like The Flash
He's at the big one, on Grand, Army Plaz'
When I get inside the doors shut and the lights go off
Damn, another trap
I hear a hissin sound, I smell a funny smell
I gasp, I can't breathe
Ignorance is laughin at me
Waitin on my downfall, but he can't stop the Prophet
The lyrics to Jeru the Damaja's song "You Can't Stop the Prophet" tell the story of the Black Prophet, who has gained super-scientifical powers after being struck by the Knowledge of Self, and is battling his arch-nemesis Mr. Ignorance in the ghetto. Ignorance has an army of Hatred, Jealousy, and Envy that attack the Black Prophet, but he uses his powers to twist them away. The song continues with the Prophet following leads to find Ignorance, only to be trapped and attacked by those working for him, but in the end, Ignorance cannot stop the Prophet. The lyrics are a metaphor for the power of knowledge and the constant struggle against ignorance and oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
I, leap over lies in a single bound
The Black Prophet
One day I got struck by Knowledge of Self
It gave me super-scientifical powers
Now I, run through the ghetto
Battling my, arch nemesis Mr. Ignorance
He's been tryin to take me out since the days of my youth
He feared this day would come
I'm hot on his trail, but sometimes he slips away
Because he has an army, they always give me trouble
Mainly - Hatred, Jealousy and Envy they attack me
They think they got me
But I use my super-science and I twist all three
I see sparks over that building - they're shooting at me
I dip, do a backflip
Then hit em in the heart with sharp steel bookmarks
Ignorance hates when I drop it
But no matter, what he do.. he can't stop the Prophet
I met this chick, she said she knew where Ignorance was at
I think the bitch is lyin, it's a set up
Aight baby show me the exact spot
Meet me at Hoyt and Schermerhorn at 3 on the dot
My seventh sense senses danger
I turn around, it's Anger
I feel a sharp pain in my neck
Now I can't see, I'm like Hiram
They hit me with the dart filled with the pork chop serum
I tried to hold on but before long I dropped
Trapped in the barber's chair
Oh no, they're gonna try and cut my hair
Anamosity (YEA!) Despair (YO WHASSUP?) Get him!!
Ignorance is tired of you followin him around
When the clippers touched my hair, they blew the fuck up
After the explosion there was no one left
Cause I know Dim Mak/poison hand/touch of death
My vision's still kinda blurry, but I see a clue
Ignorance is at the library
I hurry, with lightning speed like The Flash
Waitin on my downfall, but he can't stop the Prophet
Damn, another trap I hear a hissin sound, I smell a funny smell I gasp, I can't breathe Ignorance is laughin at me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENDRICK JERU DAVIS, CHRIS E. MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nitroedits2834
I don't care how much time passes, this'll still be one of my favorite beats of all time
@serantav
this whole album is banging, one of the most underrated hip-hop albums of all time.
@streetstruck8951
Facts...
@joshuah9876
@serantav zw
@ozzlayer
I have heard this beat sampled in sooo many songs.
Its amazing
@serantav
@Goopy Le Grande I agree
@tyronemiller4955
This song bares a biblical resemblance and the daily battles with the evils.
@nightnight4575
💯💯💯🎯
@immortalmelody4862
He's basically a poet...lyrics are nothing but poem in a musically. I love his use of personification
@buntesgewehr1419
Telling truth...99.9 percent...aint the devil happy ?