Jurassic 5

Editor's Review:

A few years ago, Jurassic 5, or J5 as they're known by fans, released an eponymous EP that dropped like a bomb on underground hip-hop circles so much so that as soon as it was heard by the major players at Interscope Records, it was picked up, along with the band, and re-released. The eight-song record showcased the six-piece crew's affinity for breathing new life into old hip-hop principals: crew rapping, call-and-response rhyming, copious hype-man back-up, and well-written, party-rocking raps - essentially a fresh new take on old-school party hip-hop.

With Quality Control, the much-anticipated first full-length from these LA rappers and DJs furthers the style they've helped to re-pioneer. Well over a year in the making, Quality Control contains some of the catchiest music and raps to come out of Los Angeles in recent years. And while there's enough underground cred here to make any self-respecting b-boy blush with enthusiasm, there's an element of hip-pop that makes this record crack for the kiddies. It's not a "for-sale" sound, however. The music smacks of an honesty that nods to the old-school and charged head-long into the new, a vibe provided by DJs Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark, whose turntable chops are second to none and instrumentally showcased on "Swing Set" (Cut Chemist) and "Contact" (Nu-Mark). J5's rapping is also second to none, and the crew can boast some of the dopest lyrical crafters in the game. Chali 2NA, Zaakir, Akil and Marc 7 all flow like unobstructed, unfettered rivers of rhyme. From rhymes about the prowess of the crew, the evils and pitfalls of the entertainment industry and the realities of urban life, to the dopest beats of the year, J5 never slips.

- Max Sidman


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Record Label Interscope Released June 2000

Tracks 1. How We Get Along 2. The Influence 3. Great Expectations 4. Quality Intro 5. Quality Control 6. Contact 7. L.A.U.S.D 8. World Of Entertainment (W.O.E. Is Me) 9. Monkey Bars 10. Jurass Finish First 11. Contribution 12. Twelve 13. The Game 14. Improvise 15. Swing Set

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