The Sun Rises in the East (1994)

The Sun Rises in the East is the debut album by American rapper Jeru the Damaja, released May 24, 1994, on Payday Records. It was produced by DJ Premier. The album features fellow Gang Starr Foundation member Afu-Ra. The album cover depicts the World Trade Center on fire only one year after the 1993 bombing of the North Tower.

The Sun Rises in the East was well received by most music critics upon its release. The album has been considered by critics to be Jeru the Damaja's best work.

"You Can't Stop the Prophet" is featured on the soundtrack of the video game NBA 2K16. The soundtrack was partially curated by DJ Premier.

Critical reception

Melody Maker named The Sun Rises in the East "bloody essential", calling it "hypnotic and chilling as a blues party on Pluto" and "another step forward for hip hop." NME said that "Jeru is more original than most [rappers]", while The Source remarked that "the music both contrasts and complements his disjointed flow and deep poetical lyricism." The Indianapolis Star wrote, "Skeletal, basic and tough, this rap disc ... is exciting for its directness, lacking only in its failure to take full hold of its theme promoting Brooklyn as the mecca of rap knowledge."

In 2022, Rolling Stone placed it at number 155 on their list of the 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. The magazine's writer Joe Gross said, "Jeru's debut is the platonic ideal of a certain kind of golden age hip-hop album: big beats, righteous lyrics, extremely serious vibe."