Lord Jamar

The oft-delayed solo album by emcee Lord Jamar, acclaimed lyricist from Brand Nubian finally sees the light of day. The 5% Album is steeped in the Nation of Gods and Earths "Five Percenters” philosophy — the African American social and religious movement — much like many of Brand Nubian’s tracks were. Original Blackman is God, the Original Blackwoman is the planet Earth — this is perhaps the foundation of hip-hop’s original ideology and the point of reference Lord Jamar is coming from. Featuring guest spots by fellow Brand Nubians Grand Puba and Sadat X, and Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Raekwon and GZA, The 5% Album is heavy on ideology, solid on production and tight on lyrical content. High minded joints like "Here Comes the Sun” and "Supreme Mathematics” are proof positive of this. In creating an album that upholds his personal truths and the "5%” message is not idle talk — Jamar backs his stuff up by including The 5% Album with a special 40+ page collector’s edition booklet that expounds further upon the principles of the movement. As Lord Jamar himself says: "I’m not trying to take Kanye West’s fans, (or any other rapper for that matter)/I’m strengthening mine.”