Jurassic 5 Biography

Jurassic 5
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Jurassic 5

Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genres Alternative hip hop
Years active 1993 - 2007
Labels TVT
Interscope
JVC
Associated acts Ozomatli
Website http://www.jurassic5.com/
Former members
Akil
Zaakir
Mark 7even
DJ Nu-Mark
Chali 2na
Cut Chemist

Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 by rappers Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir (AKA Soup), Mark 7even, DJ Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist. The group broke up in 2007.

Contents

History

Jurassic 5 came together from two separate crews, the Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee. The group formed at the Los Angeles, California health store the Good Life Cafe, where they performed at the open mic nights along with Good Life regulars such as Freestyle Fellowship, Abstract Rude, and many others. According to Cut Chemist, "The Good Life was a renaissance period in hip hop."citation needed

Jurassic 5 released their first record, Jurassic 5 EP, in 1997. The record cemented their position in the 1990s alternative hip hop movement, alongside artists such as Company Flow, Black Star and Kool Keith. The EP was later repackaged with additional tracks and released in December 1998 as the band's full-length debut album, entitled Jurassic 5 LP. The tracks hearkened back to the attitude of New York's Native Tongues Possecitation needed, which included De La Soul, the Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest. The song "Concrete Schoolyard", and the album provided the troupe with a Top 40 single when it reached number 35 in November 1998.citation needed

In 1999, Jurassic 5 signed to Interscope Records, who re-released the Jurassic 5 EP. This was followed by their second album (their first on a major label), Quality Control.

In 2003, they released their third album, Power In Numbers, which was followed by touring with the newly-revived Lollapalooza festival in summer 2003.

Jurassic 5 toured without Cut Chemist, who left the group to pursue a solo career [1]. The remaining 5 members have recorded and have released their fourth album, Feedback, on July 25, 2006.

Jurassic 5 split in February 2007. The reason for the split was unclear; however member Soup had this to say: "I don't want to sit here and fake around with it - we're not seeing eye-to-eye right now." 1

In 2009, Jurassic 5 alumni Zaakir and Mark 7even formed the hip hop group Portable Payback.2 In 2009 Akil the MC founded the L.A. Unified Skill District.

Collaborations

Discography

Albums

Album information
Jurassic 5 LP
  • Released: December 1, 1998
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: "Jayou"/"Without a Doubt", "Improvise"/"Concrete Schoolyard"
Quality Control
  • Released: June 20, 2000
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #43
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #33
  • Singles: "Quality Control/Twelve", "W.O.E. Is Me (World of Entertainment)", "The Influence"
Power in Numbers
  • Released: October 8, 2002
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #15
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #13
  • Singles: "What's Golden/High Fidelity", "Freedom"/"One of Them", "Thin Line"/"A Day at the Races", "Hey"/"If You Only Knew"
Feedback
  • Released: July 25, 2006
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #15
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #12
  • Singles: "Red Hot", "Canto De Osshanha", "Work It Out"

Miscellaneous

Sound clip

Jurassic 5's "Jurass Finish First" from 2000's Quality Control.

External links

References

  1. ^ http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21191980-10388,00.html
  2. ^ http://www.myspace.com/portablepayback