JURASSIC 5
Despite the name, there’s actually six members of the Los Angeles-based alternative hip-hop group Jurassic 5. (Rappers Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir & Marc 7, and DJs/Producers Nu-Mark & Cut Chemist) Originally members of different rap crews, the two came together in 1993, and developed a strong reputation as a live act and their penchant for combining the modern with the nostalgic. The group made their debut in 1995 with the Jurassic 5 EP, which featured the single “Unified Rebellion”. The EP was acclaimed among critics as a breath of fresh air, and one of the more unique debuts of the year, and ultimately led to a record deal with Interscope.
With the arrival of the new millennium also came Jurassic 5’s first full-length studio release titled Quality Control. A minor chart success, but a massive hit among critics, and the rabid cult audience they developed from its release. Quality Control was hailed as a fresh and potent alternative hip-hop album in its own right, but also a fantastic throwback to the old school 1980s hip-hop of the group’s formative years, and a noteworthy drawbridge between the underground and the mainstream style of the time.
Earlier in the year Get On Down unveiled their crop of Record Store Day goods, chief among them was a deluxe reissue of Quality Control cased in a wooden box. Though the wood box is long gone, Get On Down is proud to present the album reissued on vinyl for the first time in 15 years, with remastered audio and housed in a recreation of the original LP sleeve.
PRESS FOR QUALITY CONTROL
“Drawing on more than 20 years of progress, Jurassic 5 captures the best of all worlds on its remarkable debut, embodying the upbeat vibe, vocal harmonies, and endless possibilities of the old school but adding inventive samples, sophisticated production, social commentary, and thematic diversity. A flat-out great full-length debut, Quality Control proves there’s sonic gold in hip-hop’s rich and storied past.”
“Though critics and uptight rap purists might fault them for not pushing the progression angle enough, Jurassic 5’s rhymes are so devastating and the productions (by Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist) follow the raps so closely it certainly doesn’t matter whether the group is old-school or not.”
“Quality Control serves as a fine follow-up to the Jurassic 5’s self-titled 1999 EP, with more than its fair share of top-shelf tracks. It also boasts the stunning skills of turntable master Cut Chemist, along with original J5 member DJ Nu-Mark.”
“Quality Control is full of funky melodic beats, smooth vocal deliveries from multiple vocalists, and some groovy bass lines. Almost every song featured on this album will get your head nodding and so will all of the smooth vocal melodies and rhymes, you will feel like a pimp.”
