The 5% Album is, arguably, one the most important Hip-Hop albums to grace the industry since the inception of rap. Brand Nubian front-man, Lord Jamar, began his ascension in music during the 'Golden Era' of the art form. It was a time when artists such as The World Famous Supreme Team, Just-Ice, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Poor Righteous Teachers, and later, Wu Tang Clan [every member], Digable Planets, and Busta Rhymes, also practitioners of the 5% teachings, ruled the culture. It is only fitting to let the man, himself, explain in great detail the history, growth, effect, and ideologies that detail the principles of this very detrimental movement...

HipHopDX: Now since both of your former group-mates, Sadat X and Grand Puba, have released a few solo albums, apiece, during their hiatus' from Brand Nubian -- Why have you opted to wait so long to join them with an individual endeavor??

Lord Jamar: I didn’t feel like I had a complete body of work that I felt comfortable with putting out. I had songs completed throughout the years, a few hits (but) I was doing other things (like) acting, (finding & producing) Dead Prez. Everytime I started to do my solo project, things would come to me -- Different projects.

HHDX: Even furthermore -- At what point did you actually decide that you were interested in pursuing a solo career?? And, will this new release, in any way, signify the group's ultimate demise??

LJ: No, this does not signify the groups’ demise, (but) I have always been interested in a solo career. I started as a solo artist.

HHDX: What specifically gravitated you towards the teachings of the Five Percent Nation??

LJ: There are more rappers in the Five Percent Nation, than (there are ) in Minister Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam [NOI], because the NOI doesn't lend itself to Hip-Hop. The NOI is a very structured and rigid organization. Hip-Hop is very loose, and free. The two don't compliment each other. Where-as the Five Percent Nation is more ‘In the street,’ and is already respected, and accepted by the Hip-Hop generation. The Five Percent Nation also isn’t anything to do with straight Islam. I know of a few rappers who are straight Muslim, but they don’t outnumber those in the Five Percent Nation. I am not an oppressor of Muslims. I have no fear of them. We in the N.G.E. [Nation of Gods and Earths a.k.a. The 5 Percenters] are not Muslims. To be a Muslim is to submit to the will of Allah, and practice the religion of Islam. To be a member of the N.G.E. is to come in the name of Allah, and to study I.S.L.A.M, which stands for I S.elf L.ord A.nd M.aster. See, in the Five Percent Nation, each man is the sole controller of his own universe. If you're the God of your universe, you set up your own laws. The 5% message has something for everyone that wants to learn. It's true this nation was started to empower poor black youth, but the lessons taught are ones we can all use. Continued on page 2 »