Power In Numbers

A fun record, I enjoy J5. Nothing really stood out to me as being particularly bad or good.

Très cool j'ai bien bougé la tête. Ça fait un bout de temps que j'avais pas écouté un nouvel album de boom bap de l'époque et ça m'a fait plaisir

Eh c'était pas mal en vrai

good vibes but i wouldnt listen to this more often than once in a few months

Can’t go wrong

Always like J5

Hip Hop

I actually liked this album more than I thought I would There’s quite a bit of nice stuff I really liked thin line 3.5/5 Favorites: thin line, sum of us,

Good hip hop album

Genuinely a straight vibe, but not really my type of music.

Really liked this. their flows and lyrics especially Getting "spinach" and "Gene Simmons" in a rhyme is impressive And "epidermis" Feel like i recognise a few of their voices. No it wasnt just Nelly Furtado! Samples and beats good too 'A Day at the Races' great

aight

Sweet beats and inventive raps.

Nice and consistent throughout

Glad I listened to it, this was a fun trip down memory lane. I just don't listen to rap like I used to, but if I did, this is something I'd put on again. A Day At The Races is by far the best track on here.

No thanks

I have been a huge fan of this album since the early 2000’s

Unique music, thanks to a blend of hip hop and melodic music

Interesting stuff.

More listenable rap than some of it

2.7507374631268436578171

A good listen

2.5 Had to split it into two listening sessions because it was an hour long and I had a busy day, but it wasn't terrible. Just kind of middle of the road hip hop/rap

The snowball that started The Avalanches

Better than I was expecting considering I'm not a huge hip-hop fan. Dug a lot of the 'jazzy' and 'funky' samples and rhythms.

Love this album a lot, great hip hop and rap album, just great vibes overall, highly recommend if you like 90s 2000s rap and hip hop, also has some majestic vocals in some of the songs.

Не худший рэп-альбом по сравнению с тем, что довелось послушать в предыдущие дни. И тем не менее это все равно не моя тема

It’s good

More like Jurassic 2. 2/5

Favorite songs: Freedom, Break, React, Remember His Name, Thin Line, Sum of Us, Acetate Prophets

This was fantastic. They're all bringing very different things to the table for such a nice mix

Outstanding hip hop in the 21st century with an 80s and 90s flair to it.

I got some aquemini‑outkast vibes from this album; it’s a cool album.

Above average rap. Cool atmosphere. A Day at the Races was good.

Slay, might be a 4 on a re-listen

Oh yeah, funky hip hop. And Chali 2na!

I've long enjoyed Chali 2na from his Ozomatli days, as well as Cut Chemist. Finding out more about their history was as enjoyable as this album.

Unexpectedly enjoyed this! Props for working the name of 70s-90s NBA coach Kevin Loughery into the lyrics...

Great catchy beats that - on most tracks, some were weaker especially toward the end - feel like they're constantly switching up and evolving, with a flow decent and breezy working alongside On first glance I wasn't entirely sure that this album belonged on the list, but then on reflection it certainly stands out from other hip hop of the era, mostly owing to the production, but the relatively tame lyrics help too. React stood out as an instrumental track, felt very plunderphonicky, as did Acetate Prophets, very DJ Shadow - and upon doing even a modicum of research, their main(?) producer Cut Chemist worked with DJ Shadow so this totally adds up. Nice to see this sort of thing on an actual hip hop album, breaking up the flow of vocal tracks, instead of just its own fully instrumental thing like Endtroducing and Donuts

Sounds a bit dated at times, I feel like I struggle to enjoy a lot of this era of hip hop but I can appreciate its impact Not sure Jurassic 5 needed more than one album on this list, I did prefer the other one 3

Listening session: october 12th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: no Thoughts: relaxing hiphop album, I’m surprised I haven’t listened to this earlier Favourite tracks: Freedom, Thin Line & Sum Of

Really enjoyable! Super uplifting and positive, really nice, I feel more conscious now

its a rap hiphop album, and quite a good listen for what it is, overall a bit mediocre

Rad

J5 = 5* No other option!

The beats!!!

Classic hip hop, no sex skit. Just fine.

I like the grooviest of the first song. It's like being sent to a chill vibe. Like listening to a lo-fi bop. I really like this album with the chorus and the lyrics that are rap and funk. It's a statement album for African American people. It is named "power in numbers". I really like the entire vibe of this album; the songs are consistent with their tone and change in theme. Other notes, the album is quite big. It has 17 songs, all of them around 3-4 minutes and none of them have been misses at all.

Not bad at all. A fun and pleasant rap and hip/hop album. So much better than some of the other rap from this decade. Fun beats and good background music, but nothing too special for me.

I really like this group and saw them with Dilated Peoples in the late 90’s. Going back and listening to them now makes me realize how much of a one trick pony this group actually was.

Sum of Us and Somebody among my faves.

I really liked this, songs that were familiar but I maybe didn't know super well, I think I will come back to this again

Fine enough rap record. Not pressing to own it, but still good.

This was a good album, I definitely would listen to it again.

This is great stuff. Three albums in and they are absolutely cooking. The flows are tight, lyrics are dope, and the beats are clean - this was the last J5 album that Cut Chemist worked on, and alongside nu-mark's productions, it's a classic distillation of the sample-heavy boom-bap sound. There's some great hooks too - there's nothing at the level of "Concrete Schoolyard", but there's definitely some standouts: "What's Golden" and "The Thin Line" are both proper earworms, especially the latter where Nelly "like a bird" Furtado adds some class to the chorus. "Day At The Races" is extraordinary - dizzying lyrical dexterity, including a verse from veteran Big Daddy Kane ("the T-Rex"). Chali 2na steals the show throughout - "The Verbal Hermann Munster"'s buttery bass/baritone voice and playful lyricism is one of the wonders of hiphop. If there's a Mount Rushmore of MCs, he'd be up there. The production is sparse but detailed - it sounds great on headphones - and there are nods to previous J5 albums, like the "here's what we do" sample from the first album; and the opening double bass lick following on from the last track of "Quality Control". If there's a criticism, by this point in j5's discography it is a little predictable: maybe that's inevitable when your manifesto is all about "taking it back to the days of yes y'all-ing", but at this point we've heard enough humble bragging and dissing, no matter how dope the beats or wholesome the sentiment. "Hey" is a bit flat, and there's also a bit of a jolt in Juju's opening line in "One Of Them" - seems homophobia was alive and well in 2002, even amongst "conscious" rappers... Overall, though, it's a really good listen. It's my 3rd favourite J5 album, but it's still class - and a testament to how good they were.

Fantastic rhymes and flow. Heat beats. Maybe a bit too long and doesn’t quite hang together as an album enough to deserve a 5.

Im surprised to have never heard of this band before. It sounds like 90's hip hop. Its a good album anf I would definitely give it a 3.5 if I could. I think some these guy dont have the best flow and not all the hooks really hits. Also ots a tad bit repetitive especially near the end where the album kinda falls off for me. However, the first half is really solid and doeant have a bad songs. This album is like half good song half meh songs. Overall its good, would recomend, but its not the peak of the genre.

This was a pleasant surprise. Good beats Fave track: What's Golden

Scenes - nay, fits of hysteria - when "What's Golden" graced my ears. Goes OFF. 3.5/5

Fun!

A bit corny overall, but still fun

A few tracks too long but I enjoyed this a lot. Cool beats, good samples, warm infectious vibes, and I like their voices and delivery, especially Chali 2na's. That big guy is smooth!

I’m a sucker for old American speech samples and especially radio jingles (I have no idea why) so the throwaway tracks and interjections were my favourite bits. The first few seconds of A Day At the Races, the whole of the short React track and the final one were good to hear for example. The rest though unfortunately is not my normal choice listening although it was the best rap album since Skepta and didn’t make me switch off part way through like most. I liked most of the beats and even heard this through more than once. Have I found the acceptable face of rap?

Good stuff but better J5 albums imo

For years, Lucy and I thought Chali 2na was dead and would preface hearing any Jurassic 5 with a respectful RIP. Since realising he’s very much alive a few years ago I now get a little bit of a happy endorphin release when I hear them! This is a very very good record with some super beats, loads of variety and some great rhymes.

Smooth bars, beats, and flows. Songwriting abilities are top notch. Lyrical chops and a flawless delivery.

Absolutely love J5 and have since high school. So yeah, they take me back to the day of yes-yall'n, but also they give me some extra fond memories of LA. I was way too late to witness the Project Blowed / Good Life Cafe scene, but you could feel their resonance in Leimert Park at the Bananas cyphers, and even at Low End Theory. I'm not trying to be a cringe "real hip hop" backpackers, but J5 absolutely cannot be beaten -- bars for miles.

Golden age of underground hip hop. I'd listened to Jurassic 5 before but hadn't put the time in to appreciate the linguistics. The socially conscious and progressive lyricism over well produced beats with scratchy samples makes my head nod. Nostalgia 5 stars but would still listen to it today

Sick beats

I bopped along. No time to write more, there’s 7 other albums to catch up on!

I saw J5 live, and it was a fun show! Shame this album isn't anything like that

Not usually a fan of modern hip hop but this album is a breath of fresh air. It's got a real good vibe - soul music and mostly positive lyrics. It's a shame the group broke up.

Good beats, vibes, everything

It was fun but not incredibly memorable

The children were fun in some of the songs

Always love coming back to J5. Nostaglia. Reminds me of everything that I love about hip hop. This album has some solid guests. Easy to listen to from start to finish.

After several 90s hip-hop albums, I was starting to worry that the whole genre is just not for me. As fun as Wu-Tang and De La Soul could sound, their albums just didn't click with me neither lyrically, nor sonically. Then came Jurassic 5. I was dreading listening to this record for a few days, but when I finally did play it, I felt such a relief. Hip-hop is actually nice when done well, and maybe I'm just not into 90s hip-hop. The production here is much better and fun. The beats are super fresh, the samples are well placed and add to the vibe, and the rapping comes with a nice balance of boasting how great Jurassic 5 are and deeper topics. Songs like 'Thin Line' and 'Remember His Name' are just the type of rap I like to listen to as they're telling some good stories, mixed with personal details. Then there's 'High Fidelity' and 'A Day at the Races" which felt more about the flow and rapping prowess of the group. What a banger, even though the Jurassic 5 were a six-piece.

Album #287 Jurassic 5: Power in Numbers When I got this album, I was really hoping that Jurassic 5 was the name of some early 2000s dance-punk revival band I’d never heard of, but alas it was just another flash in the pan rap group which, for some reason, this list prioritizes over actually important rap albums. That being said, this album isn’t terrible, and if it had cut like half of the tracks, it would have actually been pretty good. It’s got an old-school feel where each member has their own personality and style, and most of the songs are built around bouncing between members; but unfortunately, that schtick gets old after a while, and there is a lot of filler. The highs are quite good, but the lows outweigh them and hold the album back in my opinion. Best Songs: Thin Line, What’s Golden, Freedom Worst Song: After School Special Score out of 10: 5

I hadnt heard of these guys although im a rapman. They pretty good and interesting sounds. Me likey

Goofy voice ass mf

Welcome change of pace. Really liked it.

I am unable to judge whether this is good or not. I just don’t like it.

Solid hip hop and rap, better than I expected. It had that semi-hopeful political message of the early 2000s that I found nostalgic as well.

Cool

never heard of these guys but this is dope. really good blend of fun west coast stuff and deep stuff. really liked this

- we are getting some bangers - big fan of the overall sound and message - really love freedom and break - i’d definitely listen again it makes me feel cool

Beats

"What's Golden" is such a throwback, which I apparently remember from playing "ATV Offroad Fury 2" on the PS2 back in the day. (Cool that the lyrics include "We pass participles...") Otherwise, I enjoyed discovering this album and its throwback hip-hop stylings.

(4/7) feels like more generic 90s hip hop

bien guapo

Great beats and production. Packed with 17 tracks in under an hour. It's up there with some of the best hip hop albums I've heard. Favourite tracks: A Day At The Races, High Fidelity, Freedom, Break, What's Golden

no lo escuché

Some solid 90's hip hop with good production and flow. Also it was cool to hear more of Chali 2na. He's got a super unique/deep voice that I loved on some of the Linkin Park remixes from back in the day. 3.5/5

Flow is chill, but I don't know what they're trying to say. Nothing here to elevate it from background music for me.

Radical!

I saw J5 at the Odeon in Cleveland when they were touring this album. And I don’t love realizing how long ago that was. A top ten album for me. J5 really opened the doors to a whole wave of progressive hip hop for me. This album was their acme.

This was a lot of fun! Great samples and beats, creative and witty lyrics, and a break from the traditional rap where everything is about drugs and crime and demoralizing women.

Holy hip hop

Beats! What's Golden is a certified banger.

Starts pretty great. An easy enjoyable ride. Dig the production, great beats and samples. I like the diversity of rappers. The "positivity" gets a little vanilla, and it's gets a little long, but really there's no moment where I find fault or get annoyed by it. Not sure this is a listable classic, but I'm only at #200 or so, so that's a judgment for later. Maybe. 3.5/5.