Reviews (page 10 of 14)
mid boring
Bought this when it was released. Waves of memories.....Thin Line...love you Sped
I’ve never listened to this artist before, so this was a totally new experience for me. I didn’t know what to expect going into this album. This album was a joy to listen to and I’ve listened to it more than once already. There isn’t a single song I didn’t save on Spotify as I was listening through it. The quality of the lyricism in this album is incredible, that’s what kept me engaged the most when I listened to it for the first time. I was blown away time and time again with every bar I heard. That isn’t even mentioning how good the beats are. They elevate the album to a totally different level. I thoroughly enjoyed this, it was well worth the listen. Just a solid album all-round and one that I’ll definitely be coming back to.
I did know 'What's Golden'. As far as hiphop goes this is more my style - positive and catchy, though still didn't love the rapping.
Would have never expected to enjoy hearing a flute in a hip hop album but “If you only knew” does it well. What’s golden feels like a definitive 90s hip hop sound and if an alien asked what that genre sounds like this song would be towards the top of the list of songs to play.
First heard this group from a demo cassette handed out at warped tour back in 2000. Bought this when it released and it still holds up really well.
4.5. One of them is kinda wack but this is essential hip hop listening.
Just dope rapping, production and sampling. I can't believe I've been sleeping on this album. The last 6 or so tracks were just back-to-back incredible and a great way to close out the album.
Very early 2000's. Didn't age that well, tbh
Hey, take a Break and give this a listen. This Is an After School Special. If You Only Knew
Had never heard of this album/group, interesting to place it alongside 90s and early 2000s hip hop. Felt like it rounded out a lot of stuff I had heard as more breaks/beat-focused. I probably prefer more sample-focused stuff, but good stuff all around. This also kind of filled in a gap around like a lot of hip hop in video games of this era.
Favourite song - Thin line
"Power in Numbers" is the sophomore studio album by the American alternative hip-hop group Jurassic 5, released in 2002. It marked a significant continuation of the group's signature sound, blending old-school rap influences with innovative production and socially conscious lyricism. Here's an in-depth review covering lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with the album's pros and cons. **Lyrics:** Jurassic 5's lyrical content in "Power in Numbers" is characterized by a blend of positivity, social commentary, and skilled wordplay. The group's five MCs—Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir (formerly known as Soup), Marc 7, and Cut Chemist—deliver clever rhymes and intricate flows throughout the album. Tracks like "Freedom" and "Thin Line" tackle issues of personal struggle and societal injustice with eloquence and depth. The lyrics often carry a message of empowerment and unity, reflecting the group's name and ethos. **Music:** Musically, "Power in Numbers" is a testament to Jurassic 5's ability to blend various elements of hip-hop, funk, and soul into a cohesive sound. The group's use of catchy hooks, infectious beats, and soulful samples creates a vibrant sonic landscape that captivates listeners from start to finish. Tracks like "What's Golden" and "A Day at the Races" showcase the group's knack for crafting memorable melodies and infectious rhythms that keep heads nodding. **Production:** The production on "Power in Numbers" is top-notch, thanks in part to the skilled work of Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark, who handle the majority of the beats. The album's production is characterized by its use of funky basslines, jazzy instrumentals, and crisp drum breaks that pay homage to the golden era of hip-hop while still sounding fresh and innovative. The seamless integration of live instrumentation and sampling adds depth and texture to the album's sound, creating a rich listening experience for fans of all musical backgrounds. **Themes:** Thematically, "Power in Numbers" explores a wide range of topics, from personal introspection to social commentary. Tracks like "If You Only Knew" and "Remember His Name" delve into the struggles of everyday life, while others, such as "Freedom" and "One of Them," address issues of political oppression and systemic inequality. Throughout the album, Jurassic 5 emphasizes the importance of unity, resilience, and self-expression, making it a rallying cry for listeners seeking inspiration and empowerment. **Influence:** "Power in Numbers" had a significant influence on the alternative hip-hop scene of the early 2000s and beyond. Its innovative production techniques, socially conscious lyricism, and positive message helped solidify Jurassic 5's reputation as pioneers of the genre. The album's success paved the way for other artists to explore similar themes and musical styles, shaping the landscape of hip-hop for years to come. Additionally, Jurassic 5's emphasis on collaboration and camaraderie set an example for future generations of artists looking to make their mark on the industry. **Pros:** 1. Strong lyricism: Jurassic 5's MCs deliver clever rhymes and insightful commentary throughout the album. 2. Innovative production: The album's beats and instrumentals are fresh, funky, and highly engaging. 3. Socially conscious themes: "Power in Numbers" tackles important issues such as injustice, oppression, and empowerment with depth and sincerity. 4. Positive message: The album's overall message of unity, resilience, and self-expression resonates with listeners of all backgrounds. 5. Musical diversity: Jurassic 5 seamlessly blends elements of hip-hop, funk, and soul to create a dynamic and eclectic sound. **Cons:** 1. Lack of diversity in vocal delivery: While the MCs of Jurassic 5 are undeniably skilled, their vocal delivery can feel somewhat repetitive at times. 2. Occasional pacing issues: Some tracks on the album drag on longer than necessary, detracting from the overall listening experience. 3. Limited thematic exploration: While "Power in Numbers" touches on important social issues, it occasionally lacks depth in its exploration of these themes. 4. Over-reliance on nostalgia: While the album pays homage to the golden era of hip-hop, it occasionally feels like it's stuck in the past rather than pushing the genre forward. 5. Uneven cohesion: While the album features standout tracks, it lacks the overall cohesiveness of a truly classic hip-hop album. In conclusion, "Power in Numbers" is a strong sophomore effort from Jurassic 5, showcasing the group's lyrical prowess, musical innovation, and commitment to social activism. While it may have its flaws, the album remains a standout work in the alternative hip-hop canon, inspiring listeners with its positive message and infectious energy. With its timeless themes and innovative production, "Power in Numbers" continues to resonate with audiences long after its release, solidifying its status as a classic of the genre.
Sicuramente sono dei negri
Daje
As a college student in the early 2000s, I LOVED J5. This album is so cleanly produced with amazing lyrical content that hits on all levels, society, love, hurt and enjoyment of life. Though I prefer Quality Control as my favorite J5 album, this album just rips from track 1 all the way through the end.
That was good stuff. Lots of energy.
Good rap album, Nelly Furtado feature is a plus.
Not my thing, ok I guess but nothing special
Alt Hip-Hop from 2002. Never head of them before. Standouts: Thin Line, Freedom, Break, A Day at the Races 3.5
If you enjoy rap, it ok
Great jams. Driving without being dramatic.
Nice walk down a new cul de sac of memory lane. Really enjoyed this.
One of the weirdest hip-hop shows I ever saw, outside of Busta Rhymes playing St. Olaf College's gym, was Jurassic 5 playing Ford Amphitheater in Vail for the Teva Mountain Games like in 2004. This was after I missed J5 play my alma mater, Luther, during my junior year because I was studying abroad in Paris. Whoever booked that Vail show should've gotten all the medals handed out at that year's Mountain Games ... while "What's Golden" played as an anthem in the background. This is definitely the high-water mark for these guys. "What's Golden" is a certified hip-hop classic, but I especially love "Thin Line" and "Remember His Name." Just some out-of-the-ordinary hip-hop, which is why J5 gets labeled "alternative." Whatever it is, it's dope. And I'm glad I eventually got to interview Chali 2na when he toured behind his solid debut solo record. They just don't make hip-hop like they used to.
Perfectly ok. Nothing jumping out but nothing desperately needing to be skipped.
Brought back memories I didn't know I had.
I enjoyed the beats and several verses
This wasn't bad, by any means- I enjoyed the beats, and the flow of the MCs. I just don't think there is anything on the album that particularly elevates it above a lot of other hip-hop albums.
Represent. 5
5 stars for J5
I hear slick lyrics, fun sampleing, and creative beats that work well together. Each song belongs cohesively to this band's style, but also each one is unique enough to keep me interested for the most part.
Hip hop has never been a genre that I've enjoyed or invested much time into, but this is probably some of the most enjoyable hip hop I've listened to. The album started with a really fun bass riff, and various songs had really fun samples of piano, wind instruments and other double bass riffs, which helped me get through the album, but I can't say I enjoyed the album. I prefer songs to have more melodic singing, which this genre does not provide.
Laatua.. ei petä eikä mattoa lata vedä.. ei ala pelleilemään kun amnetaan luotto..
I'm amazed this slipped under my radar. This album is straight gold top to bottom. Quintessential 90s hip hop group. Crazy good beats, positive messages, killer flows from multiple members. The production is fantastic. Each track flows to the next. Life really kicked me in the teeth trying to listen to this record and even after having to stop it 4 times I was still excited to come back and it never lost its freshness.
Pretty good, some of the samples were very fun, but not quite my thing overall.
Great album - love a bit of J5
Not my thing
Really interesting and cool album. I wasn’t too particular to the lyrics, but the instrumentals are really great and engaging. When I did catch some of the lyrics they were good. The only negative thing I can say about the album is I wish that the lyrics captivated me as much as the background, and that it does unfortunately fall into some corny/ weird 90s rapping. Standouts: Freedom, Break, What’s Golden, Sum of Us, I Am Somebody, and Acetate Prophets.
Fire
I've heard the name Jurassic 5 but probably couldn't name a song by them. This album was a vibe. Loved the soul/funk influenced samples, loved the voices and flow of all the guys, loved most of the lyrics (a couple lines haven't aged super well). I didn't even really mind the interludes because they were done in an interesting way. 5/5 for me.
Such a great album! Awesome beats and smooth flow.
So good until the homophobia came out of nowhere 💀
this was sick
Great Listen. Clearly a group who had matured from the early years. Still held their own sound but with a great mix of contemporary beats and some jazz.
I enjoyed it - not my genre and still enjoyed it
If it's fair to call this classic rap, I'm happy to say I've finally been able to enjoy another album from this timeframe. Lately I've been getting a lot of really old hip-hop albums that don't resonate at all with me. This Jurassic 5 album just hits different though. Might be due to it being 2002 and not the early 90s. As I'm writing this I sort of realize it's probably not even fair to call it classic rap - but it does still have that vibe. I don't know. I enjoyed it.
That actually wasn't bad. Inoffensive hiphop/rap. Went on too long as always but there were actually some decent tunes in there. More relaxed ones were more enjoyable. Saved a few.
Great album, with a cohesive vibe and an impressive flow. Serious, often thoughtful lyrics, but Jurassic 5 never loses track of the fact that if you're going to deliver a message, you need a solid groove. Fave Songs: A Day at the Races, Acetate Prophets, Remember His Name, High Fidelity, Freedom, Thin Line, I Am Somebody
Well this album has the dubious distinction of being the first time I have given a 1/5 three times in a row. Well deserved in my view! Only to be surpassed if another 1/5 turns up tomorrow. As I seem to keep on saying this type of music not meant for likes of me so I cannot give a meaningful review. Getting worried now that with all these 1 out of 5’s turning up my streaming and Roon algorithm’s will start thinking I actually like this stuff. Or maybe this is just an April fool and this album will get replaced by a 5/5 classic after 12 noon? (Addit - no such luck!) 1/5 1/4/24
A slow start, but this album was pretty great. Nice contributions from all, great sampling from the DJs. Favourite tracks: A day at the races, Remember his name, DDT, and Acetate Prophets.
Kopfnickermusik. Gut zum nebenbei hören.
I've heard this album sooooooo many times. This was my go-to in the early 2000's hanging with friends in Boulder/Denver.
I hate to say that they don't make music like this anymore but that's so true in this case. This album is a perfect example of what was great about late 90s/early 2000s hip-hop. The boom bap beats, the clear and punchy flows, and the positive messages come together beautifully for a solid and engaging album from front to back.
What's Golden is the standout with its super grimy beat, but the whole record is strong. The tracks are varied, pulling from different genres and styles. Minimal filler, no interludes. The second half is weaker, keeping it from earning top marks, but would definitely play this one again.
All in all it was perfectly fine hip hop, but it was almost an hour that didn't really go anywhere and wasn't memorable
8/10 very solid definitely that sweet spot of hip hop for me
Freedom If You Only Knew Break Remember His Name Thin Line First half was pretty alright. Second half felt forced and boring. Not bad tho honestly
Quintessential post-90's hip hop.
I have been a fan of Jurassic 5 since their debut on the scene, but in no way are they an essential band, nor is this an essential album. I don't understand why it is on this list. It's a decent little rap album, but it came and went like a fart in the wind with zero impact or importance. I'm not trying to bash it, I'm just very confused why it is on a list of 1001 "must listen" albums
Love it
Sounds really good
Groovy funk from real instruments, intelligent lyrics from strong voices. What's missing is some edge.
GOAT level hip hop
rap+reaggae+jazz+hiphop, 2002 -> 2
A whole bunch of infectious and clever tracks full of character. Not a single miss on this album.
Has all the important musical highlights: jazz flute, crunchy noises, clever lyrics, and catchy riffs.
SO GOOD.
I don't usually like rap, but I liked this
Ooo an album/group I know almost nothing about! I've heard the name, I've heard of Cut Chemist, but I don't know that I ever fully listened to a Jurassic 5 album. My god this is 22 years old. In 2002, emo was about to blow up and take over my ears so I must have missed this. I don't like Chali 2na's voice. It's too much like a radio announcer? It sounds too polished and I think maybe the album in general sounds that way. It was also kind of preachy after awhile. Like it wanted me to be a better person but it was also like look how nice we can rap! I think there were maybe 2 fucks on the whole album? While I appreciate their messages in general, it felt a little too much like Schoolhouse Rock. Not sure how else to describe it. It generally didn't do it for me and that's I guess why I never listened to them much.
Classic J5. In rotation still every once in a while.
Maybe I'm not the best judge of rap/hip-hop, but I don't hear anything special about this. At least it has a message and isn't the mumbling crap that all these lames come out with nowadays. However, it's got nothing on Tupac, Biggie, Nas, Eminem, and a million other guys that can throw together some truly crazy rhyme schemes.
Album 350 of 1001 Jurassic 5 - Power In Numbers Rating : 3 / 5 This is some hip hop I can deal with. Some entertaining moments.
Never heard of these guys before. This one surprised me in a good way. Solid beats. Dope rhythms. Smooth rhymes. Love the 70s funk influence. Enjoyed this one.
Enjoyable this may be my favorite hip hop album I’ve ever listened to
3.5 stars. Fun and flowy. Catchy rap style. Beats are easy. Standout "Break", "What's Golden".
Nice
Classic 90's hip-hop. Sweet soul, blues and jazz samples with superb flow, rhymes and humour all having the clear undercurrent of political messaging. If you haven't lisetned to this lot yet, you're missing out. Best Tracks: If You Only Knew; A Day at the Races; What's Golden
Awesome early '00 hiphop. Kind of a supergroup with a lot of talent and experience crafting catchy tracks with honest lyrics.
This is a stormer. I bought it way back but clearly hadn't remembered how good it is, just consistently excellent throughout. I probably didn't give it as much love as their debut back in the day because it doesn't have stand-out single type material but the overall quality is really high and the production is superb.
Great sampling and production, clever lyrics, and West Coast vibes
Excellent. This is pure hip hop. Very versatile mood- good for everything from working out to chilling with a cup of tea
Classic West Coast underground hip hop that has rightfully enjoyed mainstream success. Jurassic 5 is a textbook example of a 90's/2000's hip hop group done right. The rappers bounce off of each other and overlay their verses in an organized chaos, always giving the listener the feeling they are part of some greater cause, while still maintaining the effortless flowing style typic of many of their LA contemporaries. The sample-based production is also insane, with great variety of style, including a couple sample-only DJ scratch tracks. The album does begin to drag a little as the tempos slow toward the end, and could have benefitted from cutting a couple tracks from the official album to mixtapes or deluxe editions. Still, a fantastic record that exemplifies the best of the LA underground scene. Stand out tracks include "Freedom", "Break", "React", "Remember His Name", "What's Golden", and "After School Special".
Fantastic hip-hop/rap album that has the rare quality of being (mostly) suitable for my kids and likely faces no threat of needing to be viewed through the lens of history to be appreciated. Hold on to this feelin'! One of those albums that pulls me back in time to good moments, so it's hard to be critical of it.
Chali 2na?? BANGERS
I can’t get into this type of music.
Liked the entire album, nice surprise from an artist /group ive never heard of
monotonous
Bangers, loved it.
I love this album. Do not listen to it as much as I probably should but there was a point in my life I had this on rotation. Great classic album.
Tight, jazzy beats. An excellent groove. On some of the tunes, the vocals don't mix as well as others; they are a bit too much in the foreground. All the samples make a smooth interstitial thread that keeps the movement through the tracks nice and buttery.
Very good. Catchy, fun, energetic.
This is the style of hip-hop I can listen to forever.
So underrated.
Very little alternative hip hop on this list has raised my pulse. This is another album I’ll forget about by tomorrow. Pours down the lugs easily, no hooks, refrains or peculiarities to arrest the journey out of my brain’s fundament.
Washed over me - good background music, nothing distinctive. T o o l o o o o n g
Kickass funk/hip-hop album, loved the vibes on this
I am not really interested in hip-hop but this was great, the beats & rhythms and the overall flow of the album was superb. It is an hour long album but I didn't feel like it was too long or monotonous.
This must have caught me on a good day, going out for a long walk with warm, sunny weather even before official Spring. Irresistibly invigorating rhythms, exemplary complementary collaboration, and an electo-magnetic broadcast on a positive wavelength. All this to say this was not a lazy effort... and then I begin to acknowledge that I have a bias or prejudice against some forms of expression in the broad genre of hip-hop. You can tell when my bias is flaring up as I say something like "mumbly auto-tune," suggesting that the performers are less legitimate as artists or, well, performers. I can own up to my logical breakdown as this bias has no leg to stand on. That mumbly auto-tune style is just a different form of expression and does not make it less technically/aesthetically/artistically valid. It's only fair to subjectively judge it based on personal preference. With that disclaimer, I'm really energized with how Jurassic 5 were not lazy when they put this together!
Not really my thing. Not a genre I like and though well produced etc...I found it boring and repetitive. One or 2 tracks were OK but on the whole didn't enjoy it
Thus far, Hip Hop has shaped up to be among my Worst Genres here - I'm very happy to rectify that now. Knew their name but never heard it before and I enjoy this a lot. I have heard that one voice, though, and yep, Chali 2na on Roots Manuva's 'Join The Dots'. Fast Forward: This sentence now is from a few hours later than the previous ones, been playing this all day long. Head nodding fun. It eventually loses a bit of momentum during the tracks after Thin Line but that's on me. Great stuff.
Okay. I just want to start this review with something that caught me off guard in the best way possible. When I was doing the research about this album, I found out who the members of Jurassic 5 are. The name "Chali 2na" stood out to me because I knew for a fact that I had heard the name somewhere before. I just wasn't sure what it was. Lo and behold, he was Neil DeGrasse Tyson in an Epic Rap Battles of History video. I had no idea that that guy was a legitimately successful rapper in a somewhat popular group! Anyways, this album is actually quite good. I like it. It kind of makes me feel similar things to how I felt listening to Fly or Die by N.E.R.D. Most of this album has this positive energy to it that is always nice to see. The flow in this album is amazing in my opinion. It just lines up well. The members actually play off of each other very well. The beats are nice. The writing is solid. My one complaint is that the song "One of Them" feels pretty out of place in this album. That's really it. I like this album quite a bit. 4/5.
I quite liked this album had some groove to it I enjoyed thin line, album was definitely outside of what I usually listen to but didn’t dislike it I think I’d have to give it a 3.5 or a 4 if it was the genre I usually listen to i would usually listen to it might be higher so ill give it a 4
fire
god is real and he gave me this album any excuse to listen to power in numbers i will take one of the greatest hiphop albums all time incredible production, great beats, talent shown all round this is a flat 5/5 no debate
Try hard
Бодрый рэпчина. Позитивный такой, не мешает, но и не выделяется особо.
great
For hip hop, which I’m not a fan of, I could actually tolerate this one. Seems like they were early on and do some old school rapping. I’m right in the middle at 2.5 stars.
Not to my taste. Though I liked the classical flute
Not remarkable musically, and also not significant to me in terms of a particular time of protest, etc., that would give this album staying power.
The different voices made this album interesting. I have no idea what they were saying though.
Found myself bobbing my head several times. Pretty entertaining stuff.
Nah
Somewhat entertaining, had some good beats.
Awesome beats. We need more ez jazz rap on here. High Fidelity and Sum of Us are the best songs. Last couple songs don’t hit as great as the first half. But ez 4.5
mildly less bad
A complete surprise. If you only knew to A day at the races is fantastic. 4.5
I really enjoy this genre of music!
This did nothing for me.
Good beat selection with nice layed back beats Alll the members have decent chemistry Nothing that memorable all the tracks are fairly good All performances are pretty good
The production on this album is IMPECCABLE. Great list of features and tight bars. Love it. Standout Tracks: Freedom, A Day at the Races, What's Golden
Favoritlåten från albumet var: High fidelity. Albumet får 2/3 stjärnor. Bra vibe men alldeles för långt och för lite variation!!
4.2 - Loved this, but is that cos it's quite easy listening and good vibes?
Quite medium. Technically solid but feels like it’s missing some sort of x factor. I prefer the second half of the album. Acetate Prophets a wild song at the end. Fave Tracks: Thin Line, After School Special, Hey, Acetate Prophets 2.9/5
I expected to dislike this album but it's actually really good. Most of my rap knowledge comes from the stuff that's been popular in the 2010s and I much prefer this style.
I love it
I was optimistic on this one from all the positive reviews. It was good but but great. I don't feel like hearing this had deepened my world view and understanding of the genre. The previous generation, tribe, digable planets, de la sol, etc, are at least as strong. Less known but more comparable was Boo Yaa Tribe, from a decade earlier. This was a good album but doesn't seem to take the genre further than the decades before. Liked but not love.
Delightfully different. Good vibe. A lot of callbacks to classic hip hip and tap with some modern styles. Not something I would pick out again, but didn't dislike it.
Enjoyed it. Incredibly vibey. Had great fun sorting through my clothes while bopping to this. Really liked the deep voiced rapper. Some songs a bit too repetitive chorus wise. The beginnings of the songs are so good. Gonna mark it down a little though as I wouldn’t re listen I don’t think.
as with a lot of the hip-hop groups' albums on this list, the pristine production quality is matched by energetic and varied rapping that just results in some great feel-good music. definitely will be adding this to other similar albums i've discovered from the 90s and 00s for relistening. also, was not expecting nelly furtado, a familiar voice, making 'thin line' one of my favourites. however this album unfortunately has 17 tracks and i am yet to witness an album of this scope be flawless throughout, with a few okay tracks my rating is brought down to a 4.
Not being a hip-hop fan I’ve probably missed the old-skool references, though for some reason I can hear Mothership Connection deep in the background. But I more than enjoyed this album - it’s the down tempo mixed with instrumentals, the interplay of four voices within changing textures that held my attention - that, and Charli 2na’s voice being just gorgeous - as well as in the poetry overall and DDT in particular. Definitely on my ‘go to’ list now.
The flow & rhythm syncopation is so good.
The non rap songs were mid but the rap was dope. Great flow.
I am not big on Hip Hop but this is extremely listenable. Well produced. I like the sound bites they use throughout. I may revisit this album in the future. 3/5
I liked this album but done of the songs pumped me up enough to push into 4 stars
Power in Numbers was a new discovery for me through this generator journey. There are things I enjoy here and things I don’t find to be essential listening at all. This album boasts rock solid (though eventually somewhat monotonous) production and a crew of spitters all on a pretty high technical level. Unfortunately, it feels like a lot of fun wordplay and not much else. Certain tracks feature good hooks and something of a lyrical narrative to them, others are more rapid fire posse cuts. A problem I have with this album is it feels like it’s about a half-decade too late to have the feel of something really significant. Oh and Chali 2na (and his closer to a decade and a half late delivery) takes me out of some of these tracks completely given his corny voice and emphasis on not very substantive word acrobatics. Why he would get the first full verse on the album is beyond me. 6/10
ok,, but formulaic.
Excellent rhythm and flow makes this one a lot more interesting and tolerable than most rap albums I've heard so far but it's still not a genre for me. A 2.5/5 from me for this kind of thing is practically a glowing recommendation. It's too long and gets same-y but I didn't dislike it. If I HAD to listen to rap I'd want it to be something like this.
Incredibly well done. Even a middle-aged white guy can appreciate the talent.
very old school, I like it!
not my vibe too much
Solid
This was very okay. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it. I definitely think there’s better Jurassic 5 albums that could have been on this list.
After Li’l Kim changed rap to a sex-game and Nelly turned into club bop, I thought rap was dead. I could have used this album in 2002 to prove it wasn’t. Favorite tracks incl. High Fidelity and amazingly the groove-driven instrumental Acetate Prophets. This is getting listened to again….
Good stuff. Have a weird thing about old rap albums. They just don’t seem as good if you weren’t listening to them when they were new and hot. I have a feeling this is how it will be for most of the rap albums I encounter on this journey.
Pretty good biased towards hip hop though
Big feel good album with some great bars on it, insane basslines and good use of samples. Thoroughly enjoyed, definitely will have this on in the summer Stand out songs - Freedom - React - Thin line
Fun album with some great songs, love What's Golden but I did already know it. Like a lot of rap albums especially west coast it probably went on a little too long. Torn between 3 or 4 out of 5 as I gave it 7.3/10 on spreadsheet but I did really enjoy it I just think it was missing more stand out moments for a 1 hour album. Stand out songs, What's Golden, Thin Line, High Fidelity.
Favourite tracks: Thin Line, After School Special and If You Only Knew. An instant classic upon first listen.
interesting. old school rap
Not generally the kind of music I listen to. Was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Reminds me of old school rap.
1. - 2. 3.8 3. 3.6 4. 3.4 5. 3.4 6. 3.5 7. 3.5 8. 4 9. 3.4 10. 3.2 11. 3.7 12. 3.2 13. 2.5 14. 3 15. 4 16. 3.6 17. 4.4
I would have picked Quality Control or J5. However, this is a fine album. It threads the needle of gangster and conscious rap. The mcs are insane and have a unique interaction. NuMark and Cut Chemist are brilliant.
2 words: aw ful. Cheyea! Come on. This is not music. No vocal or instrumental talent present.
Freedom A Day At The Races What's Golden Thin Line
Jurassic 5 is the band I mention when I tell people I don't hate all rap.
Yeah this a classic.
Really enjoyed this - had no idea it existed. The funky baseline does it for me, with just the right amount of voice over the top. Full of interesting ideas and I'll certainly listen to this again.
Op zich wel leuk, de beats gaan ko
My side quest to become a hip hop fan has been greatly boosted by this album - I loved it! Favourite tracks: A Day at the Races.
This is the only J5 album I know, but I remember listening to it a lot when it first came out. I still like it and enjoyed playing it start to finish this week.
Pretty good album. Still have no real understanding of when I'll like a hiphop thing or I won't. I enjoyed this one though. 3.5/5
Jurassic 5 isn’t a name I’ve heard in a while, but this is good shit. Had fun listening to these guys again. B
old school hh mit querflöte aus den nuller-jahren, chillig und politisch
Really good. What has happened to hip hop?
Smooth but powerful
Cool
Not my jam in any way
Pretty good overall. Although nothing really grabbed me as being a standout track.
When I first decided to dive deeper into hip hop back in the mid aughts, Jurassic 5 were one of my favorites. And I really liked this one. And it still holds up, I think. With the glaring exception of one song that is super judgy about vain people and gets weirdly homophobic, I liked this.
Really, really great. Wow.
Enjoyed this more than I thought i would. Was a fan of the music and found many of the lyrics fantastic.
It’s fine. But I’m just not a big rap fan.
Not for me
Didn't really do anything for me
Yikes! This was absolutely mega. Considering it was outside of my genre wheelhouse, I enjoyed this so much. What was particularly nice was that it felt very different lyrically to a lot of other hip hop we've had so far. Self-empowering without falling into Instagram post cliché, positive but not cheesy, and by and large avoiding the sexist pitfalls of their contemporaries. Loved it to bits.
I already loved quality control and man I was wrong to stop there. This album is amazing. Starts strong, ends strong. 5
Boring and repetitive.
Jazz or rap? Not sure. Like the jazz, not the rap.
If will smith wasn’t corny he’d be in Jurassic 5
Lots of funky stuff here! What a fun album!
One of the greatest hip hop records ever.
Had some great flow, fun to listen to
Decent hip hop album with a group trading off raps. Some nice diversity in tone, flow, rhymes, and beats. Beats are easy to groove to, and sometimes quite funky. Very old school vibe, somewhat surprising to hear that this came out in 2002. Overall, this album is really about the sound -the groove and vibe. While lyrics can be clever, I’m not really sure what they’re rapping about most of the time or that they really have much of significance to say. Enjoyable listen but not a significant impact on me.
Perfectly listenable album, but on an all-time-essentials list, an oddly pedestrian selection (even inside 2002 alone which saw the release of The Eminem Show, The Blueprint 2, Lord Willin', Fantastic Damage, and Legend of the Liquid Sword). Feels like a choice made by a hip-hop novice. Rating is for its inclusion, not its quality.
This is a pretty decent album. I like that Chali 2na is part of this group. I really like his voice and delivery. I'm pleasantly surprised. I like rap albums where the lyrics really flow with the music and not sounding like a train wreck like so much crap out there. Seriously, this album is pretty sweet.
Mit HipHop kann ich nichts anfangen ...
Day38 - another cool album i wouldn’t have given a chance to. discovering stuff like this is what make this so much fun y
Some great moments, but still somewhat disappointing. Beats are direct and grooving, variety of flow is refreshing, but the message doesn't come across as well as it could.
I don't like 😡 Dålig gammal hiphop
01) This Is - 6,5 02) Freedom - 7,5 03) If You Only Knew - 7,5 04) Break - 7,0 05) React - 6,0 06) A Day at the Races - 7,5 07) Remember His Name - 7,0 08) What's Golden - 7,5 09) Thin Line - 8,5 10) After School Special - 7,0 11) High Fidelity - 7,0 12) Sum Of Us - 7,0 13) DDT - 4,0 14) One Of Them - 7,0 15) Hey - 7,5 16) I Am Somebody - 7,5 17) Acetate Prophets - 8,0 TOTAL: 7,06 (71/100) Hip Hop is not really my thing, but this was actually very pleasant to listen. Favorite track is the one with Nelly Furtado.
Awesome album!!!
I'd never heard of this band before, and I'm generally not a fan of hip hop, but I liked this album. I've heard "You're Golden" somewhere before, but no idea where. 3.5/5 rounding up
I kinda like the vibe Album cover is amazing Pretty good 3.5/5
•Owned •With each MC's style clearly defined, and relying heavily on the sounds that defined J5—boom bap beats, obscure but jammy licks, harmonic choruses—Power in Numbers is a slicker successor to their debut. The harmony breaks down a little when they contradict one another, even on neighboring tracks. Sounds nitpicky of me (sure), but J5 were lauded for their thoughtful lyrics. Listening closer doesn't always support this. Still a handful of tracks are a reminder of how J5 helped bring lyricism to the mainstream. •3/5
Enjoyed the album. Slightly above average. 3.5/5
I'm not super familiar with these guys despite having seen them live on two different occasions. I thought this was pretty good though. I would definitely listen to it again.
I've always found J5 to be a little too old school / hokey for me. I appreciate that they're offering an alternative to the gangsta rap style that was all the rage in the 90's and early 2000's, and I definitely have an appetite for that (see Def Jux, Anticon, Deltron, Sage Francis -- favorites of mine from that era), but the production and beats for many of the J5 songs I've heard just maybe don't match the times. Feels too much like modern rappers (with genuine skill at spitting verses for sure) trying hard to make music for an early 80's hip hop audience. There isn't a lot of variance from the format: steady beat, minimal production, six rappers taking turns rapping fast, on beat. "What's Golden" kicks tho. Just an opinion from someone who mostly listens to indie rock, but is hip hop curious.
Great album
Fire
mega chill å spille minecraft til
Smooth to listen to.
Not something I usually listen to but i enjoyed!
Nice. Lots of fun. A bit of the avalanches?
Catchy, just not a fan of hip-hop.
I don’t particularly care for rap.
As far as hip hop goes this one was pretty decent.
I had no knowledge of this album or Jurassic 5 before this, and I’m sad I didn’t. This album was consistently great throughout and never had a dip in quality. The instrumentals were good, the vocals were good, the samples were good, nothing to not like here.
Meh hip hop
Goes hard. A great hip-hop album with a nice old-school feel. Funky, groovy and overall just good. If You Only Knew my favorite so far. The flute and piano just add a really cool touch. Will listen more. 7.7/10
Love me some old school hip hop
Jurassic 5's 2002 album title tells you everything you have to know about this record. Despite not having more members than your usual hip-hop group, the posse elements of this group are amplified as the album is filled with the members building off the momentum established by the previous members. For the first few tracks, you never hear a single member's verse for too long before the baton is passed to the next MC. The group stands out in the bling-era hip-hop that was starting to make waves around this time, sticking to the roots of hip-hop production. Beats are bassy, funky, and filled with DJ scratching courtesy of producers/DJs DJ Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist. The instrumentals are varied generally, but all stick to a similar cohesive theme. It's not rare to find a song that has a sample filled, or beat switched outro (Like "I am Somebody"). A Day At the Races has one of the smoothest beats, with a crunchy bassline and psychedelic guitar licks. All the verses are super smooth and it feels like a chill summer evening. Daddy Kane's feature doesn't disappoint. Lyrically speaking, braggadocious and punch-line-based verses are dominant here. This style never generally gets tiresome because of the aforementioned relaying style of the group. All members have immense talent for flow on these smooth beats. My favorite has to be Chali 2na who has a deep, booming voice that is the most memorable whenever he comes in. "Remember His Name" switches it up with Akil telling the story of an individual growing a rough life. In typical hip-hop storytelling fashion, the twist at the end implies he was talking about death itself giving his verse a different twisted meaning. I enjoy how they flip their established posse style of rapping in the phone call segment. The group tackles the subjects of their fame and sticking to their roots on the incredibly smooth and catchy "What's Golden", another favorite for me. The hooks generally work very well, I especially like Nelly on "Thin Line". Also, High Fidelity has a generally enjoyable hook. Ultimately though, the highlights of this album are when the guys are exchanging verses rapidly over these insanely stripped-back, bassy, and funk-laced beats. I feel the album is a tad too long but I don't consider that much of a downside since it's generally enjoyable when the group is doing their thing. But near the end, it gets mildly repetitive (aside from the interesting instrumental closer). Still, a very enjoyable, laid-back posse hip-hop LP that harkens back to the origins of the genre and stands out in its era. If you love posse cuts, you'll enjoy most of what's offered here. 8/10
Really great production on every track. "Freedom" and "If You Only Knew" are really good. "What's Golden" may be the most popular, as I'm pretty sure I e heard this song before. Some of the verses are kinda basic, like on "High Fidelity," where the lyrics don't stand out very much. But there are songs like "One of Them" with a more explicit point or theme. Still, great composition on pretty much every song.
I didn't really get this at all
Loved this. Only recognized one track but album was great.
Really really liked this. This 1001 albums project is developing my love of flute hip hop, who knew. Their flow, the change-offs from vocalist to vocalist, the little interludes of samples, etc kept it varied but consistent. In fact, once it was done, it kept autoplaying Jurassic 5 and it took me about a half hour to realize, and I wasn't mad about it.
It was a fun listen, but not something I'd ever reach for
It was fine! Not particularly groundbreaking, but I enjoyed it.
a pleasant listen but nothing particularly stood out to me
I feel so certain that if I could understand lyrics I would enjoy this album
Not my jam but it wasn’t bad
Some cool old school beats. Enjoyed it
I don't really like hip hop, but this album is alright. Of the hip hop I got so far, this is among the best. They should have made this 40 minutes and skipped the filler. Especially the last song. Favorite song: If you only knew.
Top tier experimental hip-hop album.
Enjoyed this album. I used to listen to a lot of hip-hop but haven't for a few years. Nice to get back into it a bit
Like the platonic ideal of hip-hop. So bona fide. So... fun and bouncy and HIP HOP HIP HOP
Best oké maar niet mijn ding, would not buy
Good beats, fun samples, easy to digest, upbeat, positive messaging. No. Title Length 1. "This Is" 0:53 7/10 2. "Freedom" 3:19 7/10 3. "If You Only Knew" 3:51 7/10 4. "Break" 3:16 8/10 5. "React" 0:56 8/10 6. "A Day at the Races" (featuring Percee P and Big Daddy Kane) 4:02 8/10 7. "Remember His Name" 3:44 7/10 8. "What's Golden" 3:09 7/10 9. "Thin Line" (featuring Nelly Furtado) 4:45 7/10 10. "After School Special" 2:41 7/10 11. "High Fidelity" 3:07 7/10 12. "Sum of Us" 3:28 7/10 13. "DDT" (featuring Kool Keith) 0:42 7/10 14. "One of Them" (featuring Juju) 3:18 7/10 15. "Hey" 4:25 7/10 16. "I Am Somebody" 4:05 7/10 17. "Acetate Prophets" 6:31 7/10
Yes, I take Keith Richard's rather dim view of much hip-hop. Get off my lawn. With that in mind, this is the hip-hop style I like: midtempo beats, chorus vocals, and most of all, jazzy hooks and samples. No shortage of melody in these tracks.
Musically and lyrically this was fine. Knocked down a notch because many of the tracks’ flow/rhythms in the vocals seemed repetitive. For me and my general dislike if rap/hip-hop music, this was quite decent.
A little long for me, and I think “Hey” and “Acetate Prophets” are obvious weak spots that could be cut. Still, I love this album and it’s bound up in so much nostalgia for me that I can’t not give it 5 stars. Highlights: What’s Golden, Sum of Us, Freedom, I am Somebody
I didn't expect to like it; I 'hate Rap." I loved it. I'm so glad I'm doing this, getting exposed to music I normally would avoid-- Even though I have had to suffer through a lot of "Metal." to reach this gem.
Fun stuff. I’ve heard some of their stuff before. I’ve always liked it, but never really listened much. Maybe I will now.
Nicht schlecht. Gefällt mir. Kann man sich mal wieder anhören.
I like it. It reminds me of some old-school 90s hip-hop.
I mustave owned this CD because boy of I didn't know every song on this album. Very concise, refreshing outlook, great beats and some signature voices
Download a couple songs
Never heard of this group. Not a fan.
This was okay. Nothing stood out to me.
always a great listen!
A style of hip hop that just isn't done anymore. Some great vocals, composition, and a few stand out tracks. Maybe ran a bit long and with some lyrics that don't quite hit at times, but overall a very fun listen.
J5 never dissapoints, one of the greatest lyrical hip hop groups of all time
really like it.
Notes from the plane: On the way to Melbourne from Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef was cool but I haven't showered in two days. Did I hear some Aussies at the end of "If You Only Knew"? I think if I had guessed the year this came out without knowing I would've guessed like 1988. It actually came out in 2002. It has a lot of elements of earlier rap though. Smooth non-controversial (mostly) lyrics, multiple rappers playing off of one another, that type of thing. Nelly Furtado shows up at one point though (to sing about being in the friend zone), I kind of forgot about her. It's alright, but I was starting to get bored before it was even halfway over. It's just not something I really want to listen to again, and very little stood out to break the monotony. I also HATE when there are children singing, which they did on "After School Special". "Remember His Name" is actually kind of good, but "his name is death" is a hilarious plot twist line to end it, incredibly cheesy. Just pretty "meh" to me overall, not much here I felt like I needed to hear. On a partial re-listen: Yeah basically nothing has changed, I added a couple of their more famous songs that I overlooked a bit but still "meh". Favorite song: Hey Other: If You Only Knew, Break, Remember His Name, What's Golden 1/23/24
I remember buying this CD on its release. This is probably the best j5 album. Verbal Gunslinger is a great single as well. J5 always brings solid albums. Chali 2na’s voice is mesmerizing, and passing the mic around helps not make it too repetitive. 4 1/2 stars.
Not for me
I surprisingly enjoyed this one. Rounded up to a 4 star
I can't help but enjoy everything that fits this mold. Just puts a smile on my face.
Solid album. I enjoyed how each song segued into the next.
Good music
Nice groove and overall feel to the record. Lyrically I struggled.
It's the early 2000s. The mixes, samples and lyrics are all of the Era. I can't get into it at this point.
Grotendeels vrij nice, wil m wel vaker horen. What's golden is een banger
2x geluisterd, 2x ziek hard genoten
Chille beats, klonk erg nice allemaal. Wel typisch west-coast
Brings back those Adult Swim bump vibes
Previous Familiarity: Very High! J5 are one of my favorites, even if this album isn't necessarily their best representation. Jurassic Five did their part to keep traditional hip-hop alive in the age of crunk and bling. DJ's using sampled breakbeats with skilled turntable cuts, conscious rhymes, and pass-the-mic dynamics, they "brought it back to the concrete streets (original beats, with real live MC's)", just like the early days of hip hop. Their 3rd LP, "Power in Numbers", expanded their sound to incorporate a few sounds and styles beyond their basement house party vibes. A touch of pop ("Thin Line" w/Nelly Fertado), a bit of storytelling ("Remember His Name"), a splash of gangster hardcore ("One of Them"), and some Middle Eastern funk ("Acetate Prophets"). Not all of those styles work the way they hope, but it did show that they had a few other ideas up their sleeve. Still, J5 are in their wheelhouse for a good amount of the record, and some of those tracks are unstoppable. "React", "A Day at the Races", "What's Golden", and "High Fidelity" showcase what they do best, with "A Day at the Races" being a top-tier qualifier for greatest hip-hop track of all time. It's that good. When they stick to what they do best, it's great! When they stray, it's questionable. Overall, a solid contribution. Their previous album "Quality Control" would be a better pick for album that everyone should hear, but at least "Power in Numbers" is better than their next album, "Feedback", where they totally go off the rails into pop territory.
Eminently listenable. Good beats. Good rapping.
Ok to spin in the background, not for me as a main event
Груви как говорится. Бодрый очень альбом, приятные гладкие биты, чёткая читка. Твёрдая четверка имхо!
I maybe loved this, which makes me question damn near every decision I've ever made in my life. Have I always been this person? Or was this album made just for me? It was too good too early to sustain.
Power in numbers
They do not make hip hop like they used to or I’m not being exposed to the right artists, but this album gives you exactly what any hip hop fan wants.
First time listening to the whole album. Great beats, interesting lyrics. In the same sound family as Mos Def. What's Golden - their most popular, most recognized song for good reason Thin Line - Good groove with a chorus that makes me want to sing along with her royal high ess Nelly Furtado
Very enjoyable
You know when something comes out and your then partner tells you you won't like that; I shouldn't have listened.
Damn. Im not fan of rap but this album is fire.
cool
*previously listened to. A LOT* Power In Numbers does an impressive feat in hip hop: it blends technical excellence with unmitigated soul. A fully realized album that is able to keep things fresh and still plays well today. The bulk of the album is produced by Jurassic 5's resident producers, Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist, which adds a sense of cohesiveness. Furthermore, most of the quests spots are underground hip hop veterans (minus the odd, but well fitting Nelly Furtado feature) which meld well into the album. Technically everyone shows up at all times. The "give the drummer some" moment of "Acetate Prophets" which lets Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist chop up some of the more oddball samples that would have gone missed under the MC's pyroclastic flows. A particular example of verbose agility is Chali 2na's verse on album stand-out "A Day At The Races." 2na's deep voice moves and glides effortlessly across the beat, providing one of the best technical rapping displays I've ever heard. Technical prowess as a praise in hip hop often comes with the hidden diss of "but they're not really saying anything." All the MCs of J5 are equally talented at painting a picture of telling a story, sometimes together like in "Remember His Name." Their voices all seem to compliment each other sonically which works separate on when they work together on a hook.
I mean, this one already is in my heavy rotation. Jurassic 5 is basically the Power Rangers of Hip-Hop as far as I'm concerned. All of them flow together so well and they ooze confidence with every rhyme. Instant classic for me.
Ended up liking the album tracks much more than the singles
#101. I never listened to them before. I honestly thought it sounded like it was from like 5 or 10 years before then. Sounds like it came before the stuff like Jay Z and Kanye and such that was popular at the time. 3/5: pretty good Song added to playlist: What's Golden I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Solid album. Hip hope doesn't really sound like this anymore, and I wish some of it still did. Positive vibes, solid group and a strong message. And the beats are dope.
I had no idea what to expect here. Ragae? Rap? hip hoppy. It was pretty good!
Strong album - stripped down country at its best. Willie's voice and storytelling are top-notch.
Felt dated.
I’ve never heard of Jurassic 5 and I love them now. Their beat, meter, and content are very powerful, creative, personal, and engaging. I feel the passion behind the music - the primal but educated need to get these sounds out. I love them.
Solid record. Good and important lyrics. Some of the bars can be a bit corny at times. The real strength of this record is the instrumentals. Really, really good samples.
not really my jam but pretty good stuff.
I gave this album three stars for its creativity and relevance, but honestly, just not my thing. I went into it with an open mind and listened to every track. I thoroughly enjoyed two cuts: “Thin Line” featuring Nelly Furtado because it actually had singing between the rapping and the last cut, “Acetate Prophets” because it’s fun(ky) and I could actually see myself dancing to something like this in the 80s/early 90s.
Great gym music
Nice rasta with snips of voice comment sometimes.;
Quelques marqueurs situent l’époque, mais généralement passe pour contemporain
Masterpiece!
Solid rap album, great all the way through
First album I'm going into with no idea about what it is. From the cover I'm guessing some hip hop. Apparently that's what it is, "If you only knew" comes in with this flute and says 'we only tryin to give you something you ain't used to' which is appropriate for a person like me hearing the album. Not many other songs were relatable. I still don't know what to do with songs that have the N word, but "what's golden" was a grooving tune. If it wasn't evident yet, I'm not familiar with hip hop and the rhymes. Has Gene Simmons been seeing demons? Do swordfish rotate tracks or double back? I'm for sure out of my league 'like Jordan playing baseball' on this one. Favorite track "What's Golden" 2/5
love this, sounds like early hip hop but with a contemporary feel
Alternative hip hop. Ni fú ni fá.
Pretty good, liked What’s Golden and React the most
Good Stuff
I was a bit hesistant when I realised this was hip hop/rap but the first couple of songs are really good.
Ta guapo, pero nada del otro mundo
not a genre I'm super familiar with. great beats but couldn't hold my interest most of the time
good to learn about them!
Very fun listen. The beats and samples are incredible. as someone who was only 2 years old when this came out and grew up on modern “mumble rap” I found myself enjoying this more than I thought I would.
Funky as hell. I really liked all the verses, smooth, varied with the tag team style going on. Some of the verses go hard, not a ton of them though. It's hard to compare it to what would be released just a couple years later without thinking that the album just misses that last level of intensity that keeps it from being a five.
1/5 this album came out 20 years too late.
This album has been a regular listen ever since I first picked it up around 20 years ago. Great beats with some wonderful lyricism throughout.
this album bangs.
Love the vibe and the rhymes.