Jurassic 5 - Quality Control

But it's time to give Interscope a break. If Eminem-generated money allows them to put out more records like Jurassic 5's Quality Control, more power to them.

After forming in 1993 as a part of Los Angeles' thriving underground hip-hop scene, Jurassic 5 began a heavy touring regimen and built a rabid fan base on the strength of its live shows. In 1997, they independently released a self-titled EP.

The Jurassic 5 EP will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the seminal records of '90s hip-hop. It dealt a swift kick in the ass to tired, overblown, self-aggrandizing gangsta rap, and the emphasis on lyrical development, original production, and vocal harmonizing between the group's four emcees was entirely fresh. The album was a huge hit in Europe and among discerning hip-hop fans stateside.

Quality Control is an excellent progression from the EP that gives the listener a deeper look into the group's talent. The lyrics range from the social commentary of "Contribution" to the Hollywood-bashing of "World of Entertainment (W.O.E. is Me)." There's even a comparison between the group's vocal skills and basketball in "The Game."

Yet the lyrics take a backseat to Jurassic 5's verbal prowess. Each MC has a distinctive voice and point of view, and they all weave in and out of each other's flows with ease, joining up for choruses and handing off verses on a dime. The production on the album is also stunning, as Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark drop funk bomb beats below inventive samples and scratches. To get a solid idea of just how good these two are, skip to the last track, "Swing Set," a masterpiece of cutting and scratching that combines hip-hop beats with swing-era instrumentals and laugh-out-loud funny samples. It's definitely a step above any of the production work Dr. Dre is doing now.

By far the most relevant and accomplished track on the album is "LAUSD," in which Jurassic 5 lets the listener into its particular view of various topics ranging from the current hip-hop scene to star culture. The chorus goes, "We are no superstars/Who wanna live large and forget who we are/Don't judge us by bank accounts or big cars/No matter how bright we shine we're far from bein' stars." Once the group manages to place itself outside the world of mainstream hip hop, it uses its position to critique everything within that world to biting effect.

At this point, it's hard to tell how much of an effect Jurassic 5 will have in the marketplace. Despite the group's obvious hip-hop and crossover appeal, gangsta rap and rap-metal still rule the charts, and many of Jurassic 5's fellow underground acts have had trouble breaking out commercially. Sadly, there may simply not be room in the marketplace for intelligent hip-hop that doesn't constantly reference gratuitous sex, violence, and drugs. Jurassic 5 is embarking on yet another hard touring schedule this fall, however, and hopefully music fans will come around to their truly unique sound sooner rather than later. (Interscope)

—Dan Feder

Jurassic 5 will play at Toad's Place on Fri., Oct. 13.

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