Jurassic 5 - Power in Numbers

The senseless murder of Run DMC's Jam Master Jay shook the hip-hop community to it very foundations. The band promoted family values and were all christians who were about as far away from gangster rap as you could imagine. Above all Run DMC made brilliant, groundbreaking records and like them Jurassic 5 know all about great tunes. They're political, but not preachy like the sledge hammer delivery of Disposable Heroes of Hypocrisy, and their album "Power In Numbers" is a welcome relief from the over saturation of East Coast, West Coast and endless hip hop collaborations featuring Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg.

"If You Only Knew" has a jazzy back beat reminiscent of the best of De La Soul, while "A Day At The Races" features hip hop giants Percy P and Big Daddy Kane. Nelly Furtado features on "Thin Line", a song about relationship issues from the male and female perspectives - suitably chilled out laid back affair which explores when a man and a woman who are just simply friends fall in love and the problems that arise from that. "High Fidelity" is not thankfully a cover of the 80s single from the Kids From Fame, but reminiscent of vintage DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. A breath of fresh air which is accessible to the casual hip hop fan while still retaining the credibility of the hard-core hip hop head. "Melody And Attitude" is an anthem for the importance of self confidence. The rap is typically upbeat and the chorus is just one of the those classic sing a long infectious nuggets.

In the world of hip-hop Jurassic 5 are in the minority. The hip hop collective aren't interested in shock tactics or extravagant spectacles and when they play live they just express themselves in their own individual style, stick true to themselves and make great music.

Nicholas Paul Godkin

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