Wrath of the Math

Wrath of the Math
Studio album by Jeru the Damaja
Released	October 15, 1996
Recorded	1995–1996
Genre	East Coast hip hop
Length	51:47
Label	PayDay/FFRR/PolyGram Records 124 119 (U.S.) 828 846 (international)
Producer	DJ Premier
Jeru the Damaja chronology
The Sun Rises in the East (1994) Wrath of the Math (1996) Heroz4Hire (1999)

Wrath of the Math is the second album by hip hop artist Jeru the Damaja.

Album information

The album was completely produced by DJ Premier and continues the themes of Afrocentricity, preserving hip-hop culture, and more about the harms of materialism that were discussed on The Sun Rises in the East.

In its liner notes, it even says, "This album was created to SAVE hip-hop and the minds of the people who listen to it."^[1] One significant track that intends to uphold Jeru's vision of hip hop is "One Day," where Jeru tells a story of Puff Daddy, Foxy Brown, and Bad Boy Records kidnapping somebody named Hip-Hop.^[1] The Notorious B.I.G. took offense to the song, being that he was signed to Bad Boy Records, and closely affiliated with Puff Daddy and Foxy Brown. Biggie retaliated by throwing subtle jabs at Jeru in the song "Kick in the Door" (which was also aimed at other rap artists as well.) The track "Me or the Papes" contains aim for Puff Daddy, Jeru stating, “My name ain't Puff, I ain't got loot to waste,” to which Puff Daddy didn't respond.

It contains many tracks that are sequels to songs on Jeru's debut album such as "Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)," "Me or the Papes," and "Physical Stamina," featuring Afu-Ra, the one guest emcee, as he was on Jeru's debut album.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Robert Christgau	link
Entertainment Weekly	B+ link
RapReviews	(9.0/10) link
The Source	link

The album was well-received, but was not as critically acclaimed as his debut album. John Bush of Allmusic was one of the few critics who felt that it was just as strong as Jeru's debut album.^[2]

Entertainment Weekly (1/10/97, p. 58)—"Combined with DJ Premier's head-bobbing minimalist funk, Jeru tells it like it is like no other." Rating: B+

Vibe (11/96, p. 153)—"Armed with a prophet's sense of social responsibility, Webster's vocab, and the best beats in the business.... Jeru's at his best...when he fights playa-ism with its most potent weapon: sharply visual, action-packed narrative."

The Source (11/96, p. 132)—3 Mics: Good—"Returning with an unabashed intolerance for the artistic moves of some well-known rap figures...Jeru the Damaja proves that his musical compositions are too mentally stimulating to be ignored."

Melody Maker (12/21-28/96, pp. 66–67)—Ranked #43 on Melody Maker's 1996 list of Albums of the Year.

Track listing

• All songs produced by DJ Premier

#	Title	Songwriters	Performer (s)
1	"Wrath of the Math"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	*Interlude*
2	"Tha Frustrated Nigga"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
3	"Black Cowboys"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
4	"Tha Bullshit"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
5	"Whatever"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin, M. Small Jr.	Jeru the Damaja
6	"Physical Stamina"	K.J. Davis, A. Phillips, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja, Afu-Ra
7	"One Day"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
8	"Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5)"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
9	"Scientifical Madness"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
10	"Not the Average"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
11	"Me or the Papes"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
12	"How I'm Livin'"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
13	"Too Perverted"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
14	"Ya Playin' Yaself"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin	Jeru the Damaja
15	"Invasion"	K.J. Davis, C. Martin, C. Mayfield	Jeru the Damaja

Samples

Wrath of the Math "Will O' the Wisp" by Miles Davis "Intro" by Group Home "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" by Big Daddy Kane Tha Frustrated Nigga "Hit or Miss" by Odetta "The Further Adventures of Nick Danger" by Firesign Theatre "My Thang" by James Brown "Flying Saucers" by Richard Pryor Black Cowboys "Put it On" by Big L "Wild Cowboys" by Sadat X Tha Bullshit "El Lobo's March" by Ray Brown Orchestra Whatever "That's All Right with Me" by Esther Phillips "Here N Now" by Onyx "Soul Plan" by Lord Finesse One Day "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down" by Brand Nubian "Don't Misunderstand" by Ahmad Jamal Revenge of the Prophet (Part 5) "Get Out Of My Life, Woman" by Q65

Me or the Papes "Repent Walpurgis" by Procol Harum "I Love Music" by Ahmad Jamal "Move Ya Body" by Mad Skillz How I'm Livin' "Rugged-N-Raw" by PMD "Labels" by GZA "3 Tha Hard Way" by Bahamadia Too Perverted "Do Drop In" by Love Unlimited Orchestra "Mental Stamina" by Jeru the Damaja Ya Playin' Yaself "Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas "You are What I'm All About" by The New Birth "Stakes is High" by De La Soul Invasion "Playland" by Jimmy McGriff "It Ain't Hard to Tell" by Nas "Stone Junkie" by Curtis Mayfield

Album singles

Information
"Ya Playin' Yaself" Released: September 23, 1996 B-side: "One Day"
"Me or the Papes" Released: March 11, 1997 B-side: "Tha Bullshit," "Me, Not the Paper"

Album chart positions

Chart (1996)	Peak position
scope="row"	UK Albums (OCC)[3]	79
scope="row"	US Billboard 200[4]	35
scope="row"	US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5]	3

Singles chart positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles	Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1996	Ya Playin' Yaself	-	57	20	6
1997	Me or the Papes	99	78	2	26
1998	One Day	-	89	1	-

References

1. "Wrath of the Math at CDUniverse.com". Retrieved December 20, 2006.
2. "Wrath of the Math at Allmusic.com". Retrieved December 6, 2006.
3. "Jeru The Damaja | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
4. "Jeru The Damaja – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Jeru The Damaja.
5. "Jeru The Damaja – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Jeru The Damaja.