JURASSIC 5 - QUALITY CONTROL
Their long-awaited full-length is here, and the Los Angeles sextet known as Jurassic 5 are determined to do more than take it back to the old school - they're heading into the future and bringing the old school with them.
Their unique line-up of four MC's and two DJ's results in an exciting original sound. Portions of "The Influence" sound just like a barbershop quartet. "Swing Set", a cut-up session of a few dozen 10" swing records is turntable madness you can shake your booty to. The aptly named "Monkey Bars" is the best example of what there is to like about J5: a kick-ass drum loop, harmonies between the lyrics, Chali 2Na's distinct barritone and masterful use of samples.
At one point the beat is dropped altogether and replaced by samples of the words "kick" and "snare" in the appropriate places. And the lyrics, ranging in content from the facade of glamor in the city of LA to the struggle of growing up in a single-parent household remain outside the box of conventional thug mentality of current chart-toppers. I dare you to name another MC that will reference "reading Arabic, from right to left".
I only wish that there was more evidence of live instruments, one of the things J5 are known for in their live shows. DJ Nu-Mark is supposedly an adept koto player, and I would have loved to hear one of his solo's. When all is said and done though, Quality Control is the best hip-hop album I've heard yet this year.