Deluxe reissue of the original J5 album on double vinyl! This is the album that put Jurassic 5 on the map. Originally released in '98, their debut came at the height of the late 90's indie rap boom, but stood out with a fresh blend of old and new school styles. The combination of Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark on beats with Chali 2na, Zaakir, Akil, and Mark 7 harmonizing raps on the mic was unstoppable. I remember hearing "Jayou" on college radio and losing my shit. That flute loop is still bananas! Chemist and Nu-Mark really put their best foot forward here on every beat, plus scratch interludes like "Lesson 6" showcased their skills on the ones and twos. Check "Improvise," "Action Satisfaction," and "Without A Doubt" for more freshness. If you're going to own one Jurassic 5 record, this is it.

• double vinyl reissue of J5's debut album
• music label: Decon 2014

reviewed by Pato San 02/2015