As far as real heads are concerned, 1994 is shaping up to be the year of the Damaja. Slowly and skillfully this brother has built up a rep that you just can't front on. And with this debut LP about ready to drop any day now, you can rest assured that the best is yet to come. "D. Original" is the type of record that people have in their minds when they talk about "taking it to the next level." From the kick drum intro to the panic-stricken background tones to the unorthodox paino that literally sounds like someone sat on the keys by accident, this record stands apart from anything available on the market today. With Jeru, hardcore meets and successfully subjugates the avant-garde. DJ Premier proves once again that this controlled chaos is his domain, and after just one listen to his latest sonic assault you'll feel like breaking somebody's jaw. Jeru's fraud-free flow continues to knock lightweights off the mic at will. Make no mistake, Jeru is the true "dirty rotten scoundrel" and unlike those other pretenders, he makes records for the homies who are here now. - The Source, June '94 // Check out the video for Jeru The Damaja's single "D. Original" below...