Reviews (page 9 of 14)
deadly hip hop
The album content itself was okay, but didn’t spark mess anything seriously profound. The sound of the album remained pretty much the same
4.3
I definitely want to give this album more listens in the future.
Great beats. Enjoyable.
Meh…I like acts like Mos Def and Lauren Hill and Nas more if I’m listening to this genre. The backing tracks including flute were beautiful though
# Album Name: Power in Numbers # Artist: Jurassic 5 # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Cant say ive heard of these. Sadly, hip hop doesnt strike a chord with me. I thought the songs were quite chilled and had decent melodies/samples like "hey". None of the tracks gripped me though. # Top Tunes: None. # Would I listen to it again? No.
The beats are crisp and tight. The lyrics feel thoughtful, with a laid-back flow that reminds me of A Tribe Called Quest, but with a bit more grit. There’s a blend of nostalgia and consciousness, like it’s from a time when hip hop was about connecting people. It has some playful moments, but it doesn’t always hit as hard as I hoped. Still, there’s a warm energy throughout that’s hard not to appreciate.
Sitting no car seat in the passenger side of my brothers mustang or in the back of my mom’s mini van.
It was ok
Nice sound very mellow! Hadn’t heard of this band before so nice to pick up a new band- album a bit long
First one on the list I haven't been aware of. Really like the laid back beats and flow Listening: on a strangely summery day in September. Favourite track: a day at the races
When they say conscious rap this is what will come into my head forever. Kinda sick. Kinda not aging well. They said don’t call us corny but….
Clearly well made, but not of interest to me - a kind of easy listening jazz come rap
Just no...
Never heard of this band. Not a bad album, but not one I will probably listen to again
More of a Jurassic 3 for me
Absolutely loved this. Best album I've had in a while, stands out over some of my other recent 5s. Great to discover something new that I'll definitely keep listening to.
This was a pleasant surprise for me.
Definitely feel this album had a lot more going on than I got in one listen but I still really loved it. It feels like one of those albums that if I listened to more would be a 5 star but for now it’s a high 4.
Kinda corny
College dorm room rap at it's finest. You know this one was rocking in the volvo.
Old School Hip-Hop mit sehr guten Texten, OG!
Absolutely loved this. Was so much fun to listen to and actually quite refreshing :)
3.5 pretty good, cool jazzy beats
cohesive but distinctive, refreshing. vibes music favorite track: A Day At The Races
Annyira nem volt rossz, pedig a hip-hop nem az én világom. Nagyon vacilláltam 3 és 4 csillag közt. Inkább 3, mert bár volt 1-2 jó alap, összességében nem hiszem, hogy magamtól újrahallgatnám ezt a lemezt. De ki tudja...
Boring. I favor music over lyrics, and there's no music to speak of.
not that big hip hop fan
Könnte man gut weghören, aber nicht hundertprozentig meine Musik.
love J5 , and this is a quite good one, with a comforting old school feel . Their first and best album is awesome , so i’ll dig out that record! 3.5
I remember when these guys came out, it’s mid-level hip-hop - but far better than most other rap of the time.
I guess I am a sucker for old rap.
We like this one quite a bit
Good stuff. A variety of styles, grooves, sounds, and tempos. Funky, jazzy, old school. Super accessible for a hip-hop album.
Not as perfect as the first album but still exceptionally accomplished and hella catchy.
Enjoyed listening but didn’t really grab me. Not bothered about hearing again.
Great 90s hop-hop.
Yuck
Not my genre but liked it despite myself!
So I’m realizing that hip hop just isn’t really my thing. I’ve heard some excellent hip hop that I really enjoyed but, as a whole, it’s not really connecting. This is another album where I’d be hard pressed to say that it’s bad or even short of excellent. But it’s also not for me. Then again, if any of these songs came on spontaneously, I wouldn’t complain either.
Softer rap than I expected but I liked the musical aspects of the presentation.
The wordplay and lyricism and instrumentation and arrangement are mindblowing, but it does feel like a bit of a relic that doesn’t sound very 2002
I have to be honest, I was a little weary to get a second hip-hop album from 2002 very closely after getting A Little Deeper by Ms. Dynamite. After enduring that album for a hour of my life that I’m not getting back, I didn’t know how this album would go. Thankfully, it seems like the generator wanted to make up for giving that previous album because this was so much better. The titular five give the album a great flow while also maintain socially conscious without having too much edge. I have no idea how I never heard of these guys. The album did lose a little steam at the end (the six-minute sample song at the end just felt out of place and took me a bit out of it), but this was a very pleasant surprise. Favorite Track: Thin Line Other Hits: Freedom, High Fidelity, A Day at the Races, Sum Of Us, If You Only Knew
Awesome!
From one conscious hip-hop inspired record to another. Although this is significantly less aggressive and in your face as yesterday’s was. Hilarious that they both have a song titled Freedom though. This album isn’t that politically charged. But there are definitely some choice words regarding the Black American experience which lead it in that direction. To be completely honest, I was anticipating a complete dud here. I’ve become prone to expect that from hip-hop albums I am not already familiar with. They rarely do much for me. But as I’ve mentioned many times, I am still in the process of learning to not judge a book by its cover. But now, I can say this is one of the most underrated hip-hop albums I’ve ever heard. It reminds me of the same feeling I had when I heard The Renaissance by Q-Tip for the first time. I thought, “How are people not talking about this more?” It gets off to an amazing start, but even after that beginning stretch of really great tracks, it is consistently entertaining. This group and the energy they present here really reminds me of A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul at their absolute peaks. And since the former was on hiatus, and the latter was going through a rough period, this is easily the next best thing. Rarely do the instrumentals delve into anything super complex. But they are effective and serve the purpose they are meant for. Tribe had a very similar mentality. Beats don’t need to be overly flashy or filled with super impressive ideas to be interesting. And I’m always a sucker for hip-hop instrumentals with a little bit of funk and rock thrown in. This is simultaneously reminiscent of the 90s and also some of the best early 2000s rap out there. There’s even a fantastic feature from Nelly Furtado on one song. I love finding little hidden gems like this, and it’s unfortunate that these guys haven’t gotten that much love over the years. Because they deserve it. Rating: 8/10
Hottolainen! Makee räppilevy joka on duunattu hyvällä maulla! 4/5
Letkeä ja pätevä platta! 4/5
Very quiet album to listen to in the background. Some jazzy instrumentals that relax you a lot and something that surprised me were the good lyrics. You will find that it is a very well written project despite having 14 verses per track. What is my problem with the album? I feel like it's a straight line, it has its little curves both up and down but, it stays straight for most of the album and doesn't surprise you at any point. I'm not saying it's bad to be consistent, but this project is very monotonous.
Hip Hop Lite. Another record that one wonders why it's been included on this list. Nothing that Eric B. & Rakim didn't already do years earlier.
This is my kind of hip hop. Creative, artistic, and not trying to be super hard or narcissistic. Good vibes all around.
This is an album I never knew I needed in my life. This is, Freedom and break are a strong start to the album. they are great song with variety and strong lyrics. Favourite song: A day at the races Least favourite: Fanstastic album. I couldnt fault a track Album artwork: Cool cover
Enjoyable early 2000's hip hop with a relaxed vibe. Good in the background but no songs stood out particularly.
Empieza muy bien y hacia la mitad del disco uno encuentra al menos dos temas que suben el promedio. Bangers, como dicen los gringos. Al poco rato termina aburriéndome, pero creo que ese es mi propio problema con el rap
Pretty good! It’s that kind of optimistic (if slightly corny) 90s-style hip hop that I always have a soft spot for. It started off really strong and dropped off a bit as it went; I was going to dock a star for being overlong, but that doesn’t seem quite fair. Maybe a 3.5. As an aside, “What’s Golden” somehow dredged up memories of the PS2 game “ATV Offroad Fury 2.” I have no idea how that game lay dormant in my brain for 20 years, but a Google search confirmed that it was on the soundtrack. Wild.
I've listened to Quality Control plenty, and solo stuff from members of this group, but don't think I've heard this album at all. Starting strong with a funky beat and Chali 2na's unmistakable deep voice in "Freedom". Dope flutes Nelly Furtado appears "One of Them" feels out of place on here. Too aggressive. First one I've wanted to skip. Album is losing some steam in the second half Closing it out with a fun classic 90s DJ instrumental track - love it. A fun album I would listen to again. 3.5/5 but prob rounding down
Not my favourite, but not offensive.
This is great from front to back. it manages to keep a great groove throughout the album. It's a fun listen and I'm sure I'll be back many more times to listen.
Fun
Wonderfully concious and simultaneously light hearted hip hop album. A Day at the Races permanently lives in my head rent free from Tony Hawks Underground 2. My one concerns is the lack of contributions Jurrasic 5 has had to the genre. Always often in the background shrouded in mystery, with like 3 albums in 30 years. One would assume that talent and praise of such a rap super group would have demonstrated more consistent releases. But, fuck do i know.
so far i really enjoy the first song, this is normally not my music. im thinking of the boondocks. pretty cool album tbh.
The kind of conscious-rap that could easily feel dorky and cringe but this is assuredly not that. Pretty amazing in fact. Neither the production or performances are showy or gaudy but they are so consistently great. Many great songs (though the last few don’t do much for me, unfortunately) but Thin Line takes the top spot in the first few listens.
Expected to hate this but I really liked the backing. Very laid back and funky. The rapping is ok as well.
some classic fun hip hop
I really really like this kind of jazz influenced hip-hop. Smarter, more positive, more diverse themes, still has a lot of toughness and rage. Standouts: Thin Line, DDT, One Of Them, Acetate Prophets - especially Acetate Prophets.
I really enjoyed this album. It was creative and there is so much range. A change from the dominating genres on this list.
Fun, hype, rebellious hip-hop. Stand-out: A Day At The Races
Jeg forventede lidt mere, fordi jeg ofte har hørt Jurassic 5 nævnt i samme åndedrag som De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest osv., men synes ikke at rapperne her var vildt memorable. Vildt gode beats dog. Et af de bedste covers vi har haft
En tand for lang og rappen var ikke så meget mig (kan bedre lide når det handler om at de skyder hinanden jo), men generelt fede beats!
Stærk start, fede flows, rart nok at alt tap ikke skal handle om at skyde hinanden
proper hip-hop
I've not heard of Jurassic 5 until now. It's a good hip hop album altogether. “Thin Line”, featuring Nelly Furtado, is the best track.
was ok, but instantly forgettable
Already rated as Album #1? Same 4 stars
Really enjoyed this, solid the whole way through
Was new to me and I was pleasantly surprised (I made it through the entire album). Really enjoyed “Thin Line” with Nelly Furtado vocals.
Sin entender las letras es dificil disfrutar sus canciones.
Such smooth style with real messages
rubbish
Rating: 9/10 Amazing album overall. The synergy and interplay of all of the group members is absolutely infectious. The lyrics, wordplay, and production are fantastic throughout and each member has their own unique style and voice. The lyrical content could have been more diversified; a lot of songs just seem to be braggadocios. Despite this, was surprised that I never heard this before and how great this is. Favorite songs: Freedom, Break, A Day At The Races, Remember His Name, What's Golden, Thin Line, After School Special, High Fidelity, Sum Of Us, I Am Somebody. Least favorite song: One Of Them.
It's hip hop for people who don't think they like hip hop, and also for people who like hip hop.
This feels like an Album that Dan Kocman would be stoked about. This album is great. The production is excellent and the mix of voices feels so classic, an extension of the furious 5 or the sugarhill gang. I think it's a real shame that at this same time, NWA, 2pac, Nas, and BIG were becoming the face of hip hop. Not that those guys aren't great, but it feels like it really squashed what was left of the old guard of artists making music in that sing song style. Guys like Snoop Dogg who started out more like that shifted their style into the 2000s. Ultimately, the worst thing to happen to rap was the feature culture where they would stick Juicy J on a Katy Perry song for 45 seconds but that's another story. These guys are great. Having a dedicated or in this case two DJ's makes the tracks feel connected and consistent. Not only that but the production on these is really strong with very cool percussion that seems to me pretty influential. The rapping is all good and the hooks are pretty excellent. I am a big fan of dedicated DJs/Producers. Run the Jewels, Death Grips, and my favorite, Brockhampton. I think it matters a lot more than people realize and it's part of why artists like Drake get more plays on their singles than their albums. They're just all over the place and he can't seem to nail down one style for an entire album. Back to the Power in Numbers. The opening is strong. The Nelly Furtado feature on thin line is sweet and the closing track is powerful and interesting. Overall really solid album, will probably relisten.
Was not expecting a Nelly Furtado feature lol.
Jurassic 5 gets unfairly lumped in to “old school” or “conscientious” rap without taking the fact that they’re more than the sum of those parts. This album is a great example of staying true to a style without sounding stale or dated. Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist really take this to heart; they've got plenty of skills but they know to keep it simple and let the three MC's really shine (Acetate Prophets excluded of course) I think “A Day At The Races” is a great example of executing their perfectly enunciated and technical style without sounding like something out of the 80s or preachy. The following track “Remember his name” perfectly blends in to the early 2000’s radio rap but without following that overproduced trend that was prevalent. "One of Them" is one of the few boasting/dissing "anyone else" tracks I've ever thought wasn't corny. There’s a reason J5 have been around as long as they have: their albums can only belong to them and they’ve never deviated from what they’re good at so far as to sound forced. On this one, the features fit right in; even Nelly Furtado which I thought might be a train wreck. Leaving Kool Keith as an acapella was a brilliant idea. Overall really excellent.
July 22, 2003 I went to the Blue Cross Arena to see Mudvayne, Linkin Park, and Jurassic 5. One of these groups was not well received. This album is great. Smooth and really easy to fall into. A different style of rap than I'm usually into. Added to playlist.
Pretty funky. Not hugely my thing
I thought this was pretty good. I'm not normally a fan of hip-hop, but this was pleasing to my ears.
That bass line in the opener is fantastic. Is this my favorite rap album? I've never even heard of this group before (not difficult), but the melding of rap and jazz and positive messaging really works for me. I'm not sure I've ever heard anything like this. This album brought me joy. So well done. Loved the little kid on After School.
You know what, I loved this. I'd never heard of them before, but I was totally jamming along with every track. This is my favorite hip hop album we've had so far (setting aside 36 Chambers) Album cover: B-
This is a real old-head hip-hop album. I listened to J5 a bunch in high school because one of my friends liked them a lot. I listened to this album twice, but the first time I was barely listening in a car. The album is straight bars with some pretty simple but funky production. If you like hot lyrics, this is a great album. I like a little more musical production, so this didn't quite pull me in that much. It's good, but runs a little long. No complaints and definitely enjoy it. 6/10
FINALLY!! I've had 3 weeks of shit to just OK albums. This one is fantastic. For some reason I stopped paying attention to J5 after Quality Controll. Wish I didn't. 5 STARS!
Brilliant album. Favourite tracks are Freedom, Break, A Day At The Races and What’s Golden. Absolutely love Thin Line and Sum Of Us too 5/5
This was so cool. The rhymes were excellent and the flow was absolutely amazing. I've never heard of Jurassic 5 before, but I am now a huge fan. So well done. Five stars.
I was shocked how much I enjoyed this. I’ve already gone back to it again. And will do so again.
This was an incredible album - thoughtful and provoking. I got chills when I heard the last line of Remember Hi Name.
What an absolute joyful surprise. And a Kool Keith cameo to boot. Best commute I've had in weeks.
the strain of hip hop that was in some way Intentionally Contrasting Itself With Gangsta Rap is a whole Messy Thing that i am the last person to ask about, but i appreciate that this record leaves it implicit with a minimum of arrested development-style preaching (and a lot more political maturity from what i caught!). i think what helps is that there is still a lot of lived-in experiences here, just less mythology and more Common People Trying To Navigate The World Of Antiblack Capitalism. years later its easier to see the merits of both...and speaking of aging well musically this is pretty awesome. a lot of boom bap foundations and the sounds chosen to be above the percussion can be rly immediately atmospheric considering how sparse they are. theres even an instrumental closing track just to flex the smoothness and tightness in full focus. rly effortless and buttery and entertaining listen. plus a hip hop album of the cd age thats less then an hour is always nice FHJKFHSJKSFHJKS
It's hip hop, not a huge fan, but this was ok, actually groovy and head bump inducing...
Loved this album.
Secondary to Quality Control, but still excellent.
Not much to say other than a solid effort on the part of the group. It's definitely worth listening to for those interested in the genre or maybe looking for something different than what they normally listen to.
Wow! This may be the best hip hop album I've ever listened to. Fantastic from start to finish.
5/5 - my first J5 album (seems ages ago)
I quite like the alternative hip hop scene although I am fairly new to it and it wasn't something I grew up listening to when I generally formed most of my music taste. This album was very good, felt modern and quite old at the same time.
Pretty good but not quite my kinda music. High 2.
This was really amazing throughout the entire album. I really regret not knowing about this band before. They are going into my playlists and I may purchase some of their albums.
Ok
Du bon hip-hop, mais à part LE gros single de l'album, j'ai déjà de la misère à me rappeler comment ça sonnait. C'était bon, mais pas particulièrement mémorable, unique ou groundbreaking. 7/10
I can understand why there are so many people raving about this album, or about the group. However, I can't share the sentiment... Not a fan. 1*
Not for me. I have gone on about how I feel listening to albums with heavy use of the N word.
No. 223/1001 This Is NR Freedom 4/5 If You Only Knew 3/5 Break 3/5 React NR A Day At The Races 4/5 Remember His Name 3/5 What's Golden 4/5 Thin Line 3/5 After School Special 3/5 High Fidelity 4/5 Sum of Us 3/5 DDT NR One Of Them 3/5 Hey 4/5 I Am Somebody 4/5 Acetate Prophets 1/5 Average: 3,29 Fun, old-school hip-hop record. Lacked some diversity to be better.
A slay. Felt very lived in
oh now this is real good. hell yeah
This is actually some of the best rap I have heard. Real lyrics. Some nice music hooks.
Buen hip-hop.
i dont usually listen to rap but this is groovy i like it all of the songs kinda blend together but they are good i love the beats my favorite song: if you only knew
One of my favorite album from the recommendations
Really fun rap album with an old school classic feel to it! Easy to listen to lyrics, fun musical and sound elements, the 1950s speaker voice, all of it came together smoothly.
this is has me bopping my head back and forth like that vibing cat
I enjoyed it! Good Songs Good Lyrics but the Jurassic 5 has 6 Members... but a good album will listen to few songs for sure in the future
The flows on 'A Day At the Races' are insane. Musicality aside, the lyricism is amazing as well; both impressive wordplay and cultural relevance. I'm also a big fan of the scratching on this record. This is my first introduction to this group, and I can't wait to dive into them. Standout tracks: 'Freedom', 'If You Only Knew', the aforementioned 'A Day At the Races', 'Sum of Us', 'Acetate Prophets'. Most of these songs are great, those are just my personal favourites.
nice album, pretty chill, but not my style of rap 3/5
Favourite Song: Freedom
Such an underrated album. Jurassic 5 rock.
Yes I am liking this a lot, and probably need to replay. On the cusp of joining the very few CDs I've bought as a result of this exercise - 2 exactly, one Iggy Pop, one Pavement. Solid 4 stars.
Another great album! I’ve never really listened to Jurassic 5 before, I’m sure I have heard a few tracks but never gave them a deep dive. Glad I did this is definitely something I will circle back to.
Love J5, but it's been a while since I've heard this all the way thru (thanks to Robert for tipping me off to these guys). It's a very good album. Good beats, great lyrics. Love the verbal interactions between the MCs. Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark shine with their production - seriously two of the best DJs around (still!). BUT, I still prefer the debut album "Quality Control" a little more. So 4 stars for me, it's just a little less impressive. Random Thoughts: One of the best throwaway lines ever - "we tight like dreadlocks or Red Foxx and Ripple" A Day At The Races is probably THE stand out track for me.
I have listened to Jurassic 5 a little bit but probably never a whole album. I liked the album in general but it really didn't have any real standout songs, beats or rhymes. Probably won't be returning to it over other similar(ish) artists --
It was the best album so far I’ll say, not as much je ne sais quoi as Queen II but it did made me dance and enjoy it a lot, not once did I want to skip a song. At first you’re like, what is this? But then it’s like “WOW! that’s supper co-ool!” 8.2/10
I've heard this album categorized as alternative hip-hop several times. No chance, it's positively retro. And pining for an era much better left in the 80s.
A decent album, even for someone who's not a fan of a genre like me. I did enjoy the first half a lot more, though; I found it to be a lot more interesting musically than the back of the album. 3.5 stars
Funky fun
Decent. Didn’t blow me away, but nothing bad about the record.
not bad but im not a big conscious rap guy
Power in Numbers is the third album from Jurassic 5, an LA based hip hop collective. Jurassic 5 made tracks that are more melodic and rhythmic than the rap of the era; the result is a much more danceable product. This album includes a variety of styles: from danceable, "instrumental" sample tracks, like "Acetate Prophets," to melodic rap, like "Freedom," Jurassic 5 made an engaging version of hip hop with the danceable sense of club electronica and elements from jazz to give the songs a rich texture. J 5 adds an element that comes from four voices, rapping together, giving a potency - perhaps a harmony - to their work.
I actually enjoyed the hell out of this!
Great verses,the old school rap and good album in general,liked Nelly Furtado on it and Jurassics vocals are really good Honestly I thought I would find this album boring but its great
Liked the beats on this, doesn't hit that next level of hip-hop IMO, but still think it's fine. Really can't get into Chali 2na's voice - you know the one - just sounds like he's putting on a character.
bit mid
Pretty neat
perfectly fine
Great another piece of hip-hop crap. Fantastic another album of songs that all sound exactly the same. Can't tell you much I've been looking forward to that. And what's with the garbage filler that makes it sound like you are listening to an awfull radio-station. What's the point of that besides being extremely annoying. Oh and finally why does Spotify tell me that this is the "Explicit Version" WTF is "Explicit" about the mind-numbingly bland and boring lyrics. Managed to get about halfway through this before I couldn't take it anymore.
I liked the beat and "Thin Line," but I wasn't a fan of most of the lyrics.
I always put this below Quality Control but it’s actually a pretty great album. The drums are super crisp and overall great production value.
Chali2na and Cut Chemist carry this group but still a great album and great memories seeing them live
Smoking extreme spinach!
Finally some good tunes.
J5 is the best! I’ve seen them live at Lollapalooza in 2001. Love this album! Definitely a classic in the hip hop genre. A lot of amazing features, too.
Power In Numbers might be the most underrated Hip-Hop of all time. Incredible beats, samples, instrumentation and rhythms. It harkens back to a time when Hip-Hop records sounded like they created by actual humans. 9.0/10
Hip hop not normally my jam but this is fantastic.
I found this to be very enjoyable. I had only a vague knowledge of this band even existing, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover how much I liked this album. I had to listen a second time to decide for sure, but this is definitely a 5 star album.
Not bad, not great.
This is really cool--seems to touch on a lot of different Hip Hop styles and flows. These guys play off on each other well.
Surprisingly really great - loved the production and felt that most, if not all, tracks were a really enjoyable listen. 8/10
This fits right in with ATCQ, Digable Planets, etc. Powerful MCs.
This rocks! I generally prefer my hip hop with very stripped down production. But the jazzy instrumentals (with flute!) applied here don’t take any power away from the MC. if anything it’s a perfect compliment. In an era where the music industry was pushing violence and misogyny in their hip hop, it’s also really nice to see a group focus on conciseness. I hear a lot of Tribe Called Quest influence here, and I’m NOT complaining.
Whats golden Thin line A day at the races
Not a genre (hip hop / rap) I know too much about and I generally don’t find it interesting or alluring and even sometimes find it irritating. This is very listenable and has some good production and inventive use of samples. It’s in no way irritating or jarring. It could be hip hop 101 for all I know though. 3.5/5
could i write poetry to this? y
3.5. This is more my style of hip hop
Really good, just a bit too long.
Not really into it
One of my favorites!
Solid beats, one of the better hip-hop albums I listened to. DDT freestyle is sick.
6/5 just so damn good
Jurassic 5 stars.
Slitsomt
No thanks
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
3.5
Hip hop mostly gives me headache. Not bad but it's not for me
Fantastic!
It was good. Have never heard of this band, but liked it on the first listen through.
As someone who does not enjoy hip hop, this was surprisingly good.
Class
Pretty okish
Some very good stand out tracks but some tracks could have maybe been cut.
Power in Numbers by Jurassic 5 delivers a blend of classic hip-hop and innovative sounds but falls short of making a strong impact. The group's synergy is evident, yet the album feels predictable and lacks depth. The individual styles of each member are present, but their voices don't always mesh cohesively. While the balance between insightful lyrics and entertaining beats is maintained, neither stands out significantly. Interludes and skits add some personality but don't enhance the overall experience. Despite its well-crafted production, Power in Numbers leaves the listener wanting more in terms of originality and impact. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 2 STAND OUT TRACK - Thin Line
Ok
J5 are that perfect fusion of intelligence and hip hop. Probably prefer Quality Control but this is still a high 3
incredibly syncopated hip hop with some of the funkiest beatflips i've heard in a good bit. if the wutang clang were jazz or swing nerds, this is what the result would be. it's not too often when you listen to some underground hip hop and you wanna listen to it a thousand more times but here we are. literally a group i've only heard of till now and i'm a fan.
Honestly not a bad album, I quite liked how it flowed. However, it feels like a pretty average product of its time.
Could be made by AI...By which In mean, you know exactly what to expect from J5. Good but...same old J5.
Yeah, this smacks. Already knew a few tracks, but it's barely any filler and this type of rap is exactly my jam. Good amount of features without feeling bloated (I'm looking at you, Humanz).
Surprisingly not bad. Didn’t know what to expect though going in!
Songs like I Am Somebody, Acetate Prophets, and What's Golden really stood out on this album. Overall a fun example of alt hip hop that occasionally felt a bit boring, to be honest (not a huge fan of when they all rap together, sorry) but overall was nicely done. Don't think I'll be revisiting the album again but those three tracks were definitely standouts for me! 3.9
This was a banger
That was a fun trip to the past! I was a massive fan of the first Jurassic 5 album but this mostly passed me by as life got a bit hectic around then. Anyway this is a superb hip hop album. Right mix of jazz and beats without any fluffy. I need to get back into listening to more of this band
I enjoyed this a lot. The album was a very good classic rap album. However, it loses a couple points for me because of the time it was released. At this point in time, rap was doing so much more than just classic beats and mediocre flows with great poetry. If this was released 10 years earlier it’s a 4 or maybe 5
very interesting rap album but didn’t blow me away to make me super wanna revisit
Super Duper
J5, never heard of ‘em. Don’t mistake ‘em for some corny ass crew though, they’re actually good. All songs listenable, some fun, some funny, some political. Album rates (3.8*s)
I am somewhat familiar with Jurassic 5 but they fell off my radar in the late 2000's. I think a lot of people forget about them so this was a fun revisit. I have "Thin Line" in a playlist so it comes up sometimes and is always good. "If you Only Knew" and a couple other good ones on this album but not sure I'd put it on. Chali 2na's voice brought me back and I like their sound overall. Good use of breakbeats and incorporation of other instruments but some of it sounds too 90's for me. Still pretty enjoyable and a solid listen.
This is some good shit. Listened to this group in college and was not really that into it but this go around it slaps. It's got some throw back 90s hip hop appeal and some darker refined tracks. I prefer the DJ Nu-Mark production over Cut Chemist but both can produce a funky beat. Sum of Us and Remember His Name are tops. I'm not feeling Chali 2na as much as the other emcees though but I still give this album a decent rating...3.55.
It's a decent hip hop album. Pretty basic beats and some good flow from the team. I dug A Day At The Races and a couple others. Decent listen but not anything that's going to stick with me though I'm way more likely to throw something like this on over many other forms of rap/hip-hop I've heard. 2.81 stars
Hip hop for people who don’t like hip hop. It’s a nice sound, pleasant, musical, and lyrically there isn’t any drugging or misogyny or crime. And yet, well, it’s just not particularly biting, is it? It calls to mind the optimistic days of the first W administration, when all of us good-hearted folks knew truth from hypocrisy, and thought this feeling would last…only to learn that hypocrisy will usually win out, as it’s much more entertaining.
Don’t usually listen to this type of music, but it was banging. Taking off a star as I got a bit bored towards the end.
Never heard it before, but it was awesome.
First time listening to Jurassic 5 properly. This was so sick. Excellent 'beats', or whatever the kids say. Favourite tracks: Freedom, If You Only Knew, Remember His Name, Thin Line, After School Special, One Of Them.
Production good but lyrics a bit naff
Wirklich recht melodisches Hip-Hop-Album.
This surprised the hell out of me. This a head bopper for sure.
I hadn’t even heard of boom bap as a genre a couple of years ago. Now, I’m finding that the hip hop albums I enjoy the most seem to be tagged as this genre. All I know is that, despite being released in 2002, this felt very 90s to me. And that is a very good thing. This had me bopping away and having a really good time. The beats and the rhythms are great, and I adored the rapping. Each member sounds so natural, it’s hard to imagine that rap isn’t their main mode of communication.
Nice to hear some funky hip hop with rappers who aren't too far up themselves to put an effort into making actually good music that plays well with the instruments. This album does a lot of experimentation (most noticeably on *Acetate Prophets*), but it rarely feels out of place - all these things are integrated in a whole. This is one of the best hip hop albums I've heard, but it's not really a genre I like that much in general, so a 5 would be too much, but it can carry a 4.
They've pretty much got it. All of it. Good beats, good lyrics, good flow. They even got Nelly Furtado.
Groovy rhythm and the tracks are well produced. Somewhat enjoyable, but a little generic and too long.
My favourite kind of hip hop tbh. Love J5.
Enjoyed
9/10. Overall this was a great album. Beat & rap combinations are top notch. And there is some uniqueness in their style. I am actually surprised they weren't more mainstream with this style. It does run long and starts to get a little bit stale for me -- songs start to all sound the same.
Some good tunes
chw me re gustó! 8/10
old school hip hop always seems a little outdated to me, the production was cool but in terms of an album , it wasn't anything I have never heard before
Enjoyed more than I expected. Headbobbing beats and smart lines.
This stuff is fresh as hell, such a different style of rap with an incredible flow. The beats are simple but will most definitely move your head. The album as a whole has a digestible vibe and creates an electric atmosphere. Really pleased with this one. Deserves some rotation.
fed, i hvert fald 3/5. men tænker nok 4/5 :) :) :)
Oh yeah...I remember them! Crisp smooth and clean beats with a propulsive high energy feel. The delivery is similar: precise and clever with some quick turns of phrase and conscious content. Continuing the Native Tongues/backpack rap tradition, but it's kind of generic sounding across the board and nothing strikes especially powerfully - but maybe it's another one that'll need a few relistens to really sink in...
Je ne connaissais pas ce groupe. J'aurai préféré ne jamais le connaitre ... arrêt au troisième morceau.
Like it alot
Really liked it, especially the song with Nelly
I hope the have Tony Hawk’s Underground in Italy
I’ve not much previous on these guys but I like ‘em. Some really funky baselines and beats, and finally some non gangsta lyrics. A couple of bangers for me (What’s Golden and Thin line), it’s pretty smooth and varied to keep it consistently engaging and enjoyable. Will listen to more of their stuff….
Bit of a turn up, bit sick of hip hop but enjoyed this immensely. Great mixing by cut chemist and funky upbeat beats. All new to me and will revisit ... unlike gangster rap, which is shit.
Listening to this was the first time I have ever heard of this group, and that is too bad because this is a stellar record! The composition of the tracks feels very much like hip hop from 20 years earlier, like they could completely exist within the 1980s. However, the production, samples, and instrumentation feels very much like hip hop still around as I write this twenty years later in the 2020s. While I didn't pick up on all of the lyrics in this first listen, what I did was refreshing light compared to much of the rap coming out and filling the limelight at the time. With great beats and good variety of sounds between each track, I look forward to revisiting this album again!
Solid. 3.3
For me this record is been a corner stone.
Cool beats, rappers complements each other, good flow, lyrics sometimes have deeper meaning. Very nice.
More relentlessly monotonous hip hop about the same boring subjects: humble brag, whine about "socially conscious" subjects, rinse and repeat Nothing original here. No thanks. Moving on to the next album.
"Some of you like the way my words caress tracks While some of these politicians secretly suppress facts" Fantastic album. Community centered and progressive lyrics, funky beats and overall just a fun listen. 4.5/5
I didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. It is not just another hip-hop DJ sampling, rapping, and mixing as usual, but some quite excellent stuff here, both musically and lyrically.
Above average rapping, in my opinion. I didn't mind it for the most part.
Amazing rapping skills and versatility. Low key good rapping not the usual themes they were using back then. A change in the rap scene but never made it big unfortunately.
3.5 stars
Love these guys! The beats, the lyrics- they are fantastic!
Out of the hip-hop/rap albums I have heard on this project so far, this was my favorite. Catchy beats, endless rhymes, and not every song is about women and money.
Excellent album that had a great sound and reminded me of some great times as a teenager.
I really enjoyed this album. The variety of the singers voices really help keep things fresh. Good beats, good lyrics.
Super solid album. Love this still of hip hop. 4/5
cool
I liked it. I’m not a fan of rap music but I thought these guys were clever. I listened to it twice.
Not my type of music
This album is what's golden.
A jam. I was bobbing my head from the first song all thr way through.
Great backing tracks!
Solid...but not nearly as great as ATCQ and other similar sounding rap groups. 3/5
It’s fine. Better than I thought it would be.
Great album with great flow. I especially like chali 2nas deep baritone
Please stop giving me Tom Waits albums.
I always semi forget about them but I always enjoy their albums. Solid boom bap with some good storytelling songs (3.5/5)
Old-school hip hop that still holds up
What a weird choice for this list? Jurassic 5's first album is way better, and this one fell into an over-production trap: it's still bouncy and filled with interesting cadence, but it sounds like what someone might get if they threw "Safe hip hop for parents" into an AI generator.
Huh. Another seemingly random “fourth studio album” with no hits or anything really to make it special… But this kinda slaps. I’m not usually big on hip hop but this is a fun time. Good message. Good beats. Creative lyrics. I dig it. Songs added to Spotify: 1
One of the rare times I listenend happily to a hip hop album, multiple times. Last few tracks didn't impress me but overall is a very good listen
What’s Golden was a staple for me awhile back, but has faded since. I still enjoy this. They’re kind of the successor to the hip hop artists of the 80s.
Ok. Standard j5
A brilliant introduction to Jurassic 5. Funky beats, brilliant rhymes and superb instrumentation. A blast from start to finish.
Classic, could not stay still.
Not my type but this is definitely fire, loved it
Better than I expected, but not really my style. The rap and hiphop is quite okay
I like Jurassic 5 but like many other artists, they aren't a group I know well or have really sought out at any point. Unique vibes, some cool bassy beats. Listening to this album makes me want to check out more.
Nice! Glad to see this on the list, one of my all-time favorite hip hop albums (along w/ their first one). Wasn’t expecting it.
Awesome rap album! Spreading positivity while speaking from the heart and staying true to the roots of hip-hop. This is from 2002 but it feels like a classic.
So close to a five, just felt some of it was a little too "lyrical spiritual individual" style rapping. Really enjoyed this tho, was nodding my head along to almost every song
Pretty good
This is not bad although It's a rap LP...
Very satisfying listen, good lyrics, each song flows well and most are bops. Favourites: freedom, if you only knew, break, a day at the races, remember his name (kind of reminded me of Hamilton sorry), what's golden, sum of us, I am somebody. High 4/5, could be a 5 if I listened more and gave it some time.
Started off a bit slow for me, but I definitely warmed up to the songs as I moved through the album. I should be learning how to code right now but I am dedicated to this generator so here we are. Highlights are If You Only Knew, Remember His Name, What's Golden, Thin Line, After School Special, High Fidelity, One Of Them, and Hey. Fun and fresh, this was very good. Another high 4
Hmm - HipHop is not mine, but this one ist quite ok. Interesting samples, grooving rhythm.
Four MCs and two DJs, J5 made fresh beats with a throwback classic hip hop feel. A solid album but one I rarely reach for, despite enjoying at the time.
I had forgotten about these guys. Great album.
Cool album I’ve not heard before. I like this era of hip hop rap. I didn’t at the time, but I’ve warmed to it in my prime. I’ll go a few more rounds here, and see where it leads.
Quite good
I'm sure there's nothing intrinsically wrong with this album - it's just that it's not really my preferred genre. I like a wide range of music / musical styles. This album seemed to have elements of a number of styles - some.of which I like - but just not enough to make it interesting or worth going back to / favouriting (for me)... Maybe it's not aimed at me / I'm too middle aged / white / stuck in my ways - but at least I've listened to it...
It was alright not what I typically listen to
Laidback hiphop, not my thing
Terrible
Dope yo
4/5
Great vibes, cuts and samples.
I can tell that this book was written in the mid-2000s because no one would include Jurassic 5 in any hip-hop canon unless that list was made at the peak of backpacker rap, aka hip-hop for white kids that felt intellectual but mostly could fit in well with the Tony Hawk Underground and SSX Tricky soundtracks. It’s a “subgenre” that not only feels inherently problematic in retrospect, but also now sounds dauntingly traditionalist in the way it mimics the outdated simplicity of ‘80s rap, allowing it to be annoyingly arrogant about its perceived respect for the genre over Bling/Crunk/Gangsta rap, even though it arguably respects the genre less by insisting hip-hop should never have grown or expanded its sonic palette. But also, god, is it boring as hell to listen to as a result, unless you’re a dweeb who gets offended by curse words or typical gangsta rap topics because it’s “inappropriate.” Jurassic 5 is the quintessential backpacker hip-hop group, and Power in Numbers [along with their previous effort, Quality Control] is a good example of that scene. Not that this is the backpacker masterpiece – sans Madvillainy, that belongs to Deltron 3030, God Loves Ugly, any pre-RTJ El-P effort, or, my personal vote, The Minstrel Show, although that may not even qualify as backpacker rap – but J5 is a good distillation of everything *wrong* with backpacker rap, and showcase why the label was eventually meant to be offensive and a critique of its white fans. This album is a slog and a half, filled with pretension and holier-than-thou subjects mixed with strange, nearly conservative politics, all presented in a stilted way that sounds like it’s being delivered by a 50 year old man with an extensive Kangol collection. The beats are fine, and are the one non-traditionalist element in this whole album, thank god, but unless you physically preoccupy yourself with an activity that prevents you from reaching over and hitting the skip or pause button, I can’t imagine anyone actually listening to these songs by choice unless you’re new to hip-hop and/or were/are a backpacker in 2024 somehow, or one of those Zoomers into “alternative rap.” An unessential listen, and an obviously dated inclusion even within the context of the book.
beats are great, drags on a bit
This was a really fun surprise. Never heard this before. Automatically liked everything. Good, soulful jazzy hip hop, with real singing and real flow. Nothing here to hate.
This was very much my kind of thing. Great beats, interesting flow, good contrast between the voices. Break and High Fidelity were a couple of standouts.
Lets go, Chali 2na. This is dope as hell. Great flow, great sampling, really well presented. Thin Line is a great track. Sum Of Us is another banger. WOW DDT!
Good album.
Tripe
This was a fun hip hop album. Good flow, fun backing instruments, no complaints. No standouts but no skips either. 6/10 (3/5)
I believe it will be a rap album. This is First song starts with a callto the audience. It then immediately gets into the song. There might be some reggae influences Freedom This started using samples, I believe it is a reggae style rap album. I was right. It is very flow heavy. It is hip-hop with some reggae influences, I guess it is about the civil rights movement. This is why it has reggae influences. Reggae was popularized by Jamaica If only you knew Jazzy rap, it is 100% about the civil rights movement. This is the best album I have listened to on here so far. It has a nice flow. The flute is a bit annoying but necessary to fill the gaps, if the flute was a bit quieter it would be better. It shows promise lyrically but ceebs reading the lyrics, ima draw or read instead. Okay, the flute needs to stop, it’s overused. At least take a break from using it. The epilogue is just a speech and it sounds like it is Australian, they were talking about Gold Coast and Melbourne and had an Aussie accent Break Decent so far Forgot to write anything else React Jazzy rap. Motorbike sample? A day at the races Remember his name Strange opening but somehow it works, this album has some crazy transitions so far, not really my favourite song but not bad What’s golden Kinda eh opening, don’t really like the bass in this song. Probably one of my least fabourite, I like the choppy samples, remind me of mf doom thin line Alright but not much to say about it. Not really unique. The chorus is nice though, very catchy. Pretty good afterschool special Fire intro holy shit, already my favourite, hopefully it stays this way. I like the real life conversation interludes, it makes it seem more real and makes you remember it’s not just music, but the message someone is trying to prove high fidelity Alright so far, melody is kinda meh, beat is good, and I like the MF doom style samples sum of us Marimba intro?! What the bum. Same thing as the previous song. I like the rap flow though. DDT An interlude, just a conversation, cool interlude though, it has a good flow and is about DDT one of them Decent. hey What the fuck. Why is this actually good. Same praise as most songs, good samples, good rhyme flow. I am somebody Nice best and melody and flow. Acetate prophets. Conversation intro. Fire drum beat and samples. The melody is kinda meh. Lots of melody changes Favorite song: afterschool special Least favorite song: what’s golden 4 stars 8/10
This Is - yeah its an intro fs Freedom - The beat is good, good song about true freedom. 4/5 If You Only Knew - I really like the flute thingy and keyboard. Good affront on prejudice I think. 4/5 Break - So many references. Chorus is nice. 4/5 React - is this the real break? A Day At The Races - the flow on this is really nice. I feel like the guitar adds something really nice on this. Jordan shade unnecessary. 4.5/5 Remember His Name - damn. 5/5 What's Golden - Just very good. 4.5/5 Thin Line - Hmm idk about this lesson 3.5/5 After School Special - Yeah. Give the kid a beat wtf. 4/5 High Fidelity - Silly ass beat. 3.5/5 Sum Of Us - I LOVE PROTEST AND NOT UNFAIRLY JUDGING PEOPLE AND HEALING RAHHHH. 4.5/5 DDT - Is this the real break?? One Of Them - Very aggressive idk how to feel about this one. 3/5 Hey - this one just osunds fucking stupid i dont really like this. The beats okay thats about it. 2/5 I Am Somebody - Very uplifting maybe. 1:20 - 1:30 kind of pissed me off for some reason idk. The beat is a bit annoying to me as well. 3/5 Acetate Prophets - You can not just sample shit for 5 minutes an then get some reggae as shit on this. No. 2.5/5
prediction: album seems to have heavy environmental influences with things such as DDT, freedom, I am somebody and acetate prophets. power in numbers and the album cover refers to protest and i believe this will be a rock album this is: reggae influences? this is more of an intro/prelude so theres not a whole lot to say. the record sounds are nice and the double bass is cool. the lead in to freedom is crazy freedom: heads boppin. the soulful vocals are cool, they sound choppy like theyve been sampled. sounds like this could be a hip hop album with reggae influences if only you knew: very jazzy. sounds like a tribe called quest. this album is 100% about the civil rights movement. this song is really cool. the piano riff is punch and nice. the chorus of rappers is so cool. the flute is a littleeee annoying but it still adds to the atmosphere. this album shows promise lyrically and i think that will be a core element. added to my playlist. crazy segway Break: WE PUT QUALITY FIRST, the lyrics here are powerful and the playing with the record scratches are really cool. React: interlude but its experimental A day at the races: music power. i love the announcer at the start of these songs. the bass is really sick. the flow from the rappers is sooo tribe reminiscent and its cool. reference to grandmaster flash's 'the message' remember his name: crazy transitions and interludes. the phone sound effects are cool. insane title drop at the end 'his name is death' what's golden: very very crunchy bass, the wham on the organ is sick. little hints of brass. and much like the other songs the flow is nice and similar to a tribe called quest. cool record scratching the music ha music section is really cool and jazzy. thin line : cool and choppy, the intro instrumentals are villainous, DOOM style. the running guitar is nice around 1 min or before. politically conscious lyrics while still being sonically interesting. chorus is catchy after school special: im a sucker for these real life conversation interludes, they make the story seem more genuine and organic. High Fidelity: the wind instrument or whatever it is sounds nice and reminds me of DOOMS the mouse and the mask. sum of us : DDT: this interlude is really cool. the interludes on this album are all hits one of them : crazy transition. that piano is very dark sounding. lyrically this is very cool but I don't fw the beat. nwa reference is sick. the ending of this song is funny Hey: wtf is this start and why is it good. the piano bouncing between left and right channels is the distinctive feature of this track and its cool. I am somebody: tuned out a little tbh but the lyrics are cools and the trumpet sounding thing is cool. parts of it are very soul sounding which is cool. acetate prophets: honestly it's OK but the jungle-y beat isn't for me. when the beat switches up it becomes better but that takes 3 minutes. some Spanish influences here. Japanese ahh guitar Favourites: Break, a day at the races, whats golden, hey Least favourite: one of them, acetate prophets 8/10
Catchy beats, however, it is forgettable. With a 56 minute total run time, the album drags on, regardless of the range of six different voices. Loved the track featuring Nelly Furtado. Favourite track: A Day at the Races, Thin Line, Sum of Us
Need to listen to more J5
Pretty solid bars overall but I need more upbeat beats.
3,5
Hubo un par de temas que me llamaron la atención. No se si estaba en el mood de hip hop, pero sin duda es un sonido original, fresco. Medio funk de a ratos.
Love some early 2000s hip hop
Pretty chill jazz rap record. Some songs overstay their welcome longer than others but for the most part this works best in the background. Sort of reminds me of Souls of Mischief and Tribe a little bit.
I'm not a big hip-hop fan, but greatness is still easily recognizable. There's a few songs that I don't like at all (either Break or React, I don't remember already), but otherwise this slaps hard. This isn't quite best of the best, but it is excellent from beginning to end. Beats go hard, lyrics are topical and well crafted.
I didn’t hear this album so much because I don’t like this kind of hip hop.
It’s jamming, it’s grooving, it’s funking
Forgettable, nothing special or exciting. But good