vinylfanatics.com

**Jurassic 5 - Quality Control**
★★★★☆

In an era when hip-hop was drowning in platinum chains and champagne fantasies, six guys from Los Angeles decided to build a time machine. The year was 2000, and while their contemporaries were chasing the bling-bling dollar signs that defined the millennium's turn, Jurassic 5 had their sights set on something far more precious: the golden age of hip-hop's lost soul.

*Quality Control* arrived as the group's proper full-length debut, following years of underground buzz and the success of their self-titled EP. The collective—rappers Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir, and Marc 7, alongside DJ turntablists Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark—had been grinding in LA's alternative hip-hop scene since the mid-'90s, born from the merger of two groups: Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee. Their mission was audaciously simple yet revolutionary: resurrect the communal spirit, lyrical dexterity, and pure fun that made hip-hop magical before it became a corporate playground.

What makes *Quality Control* so intoxicating is its stubborn refusal to sound like anything else on the radio. This is boom-bap archaeology at its finest, a loving restoration of hip-hop's DNA that never feels like nostalgic pandering. The production, handled primarily by Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark with contributions from the legendary J Dilla, is a masterclass in crate-digging alchemy. Jazz samples cascade over breakbeats with the precision of a Swiss watch, while the four MCs weave in and out of each other's verses like a perfectly choreographed relay race.

The album's crown jewel is undoubtedly "What's Golden," a mission statement disguised as a party anthem that showcases everything brilliant about J5's approach. Over a hypnotic guitar loop and crisp drums, the quartet trades bars with the effortless chemistry of childhood friends, each voice distinct yet harmoniously blended. Chali 2na's baritone rumble anchors the group like a human bassline, while Akil, Zaakir, and Marc 7 dart around him with quicksilver wordplay. It's the kind of song that makes you remember why you fell in love with rap in the first place.

"Jurass Finish First" serves as the album's thesis on artistic integrity over commercial success, delivered with the kind of clever wordplay that made groups like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest essential listening. The track bubbles with jazz-fusion samples and scratched vocal snippets, creating a sonic collage that feels both vintage and timeless. Meanwhile, "The Influence" rides a hypnotic bassline while the group reflects on hip-hop's power to shape minds and move crowds, delivered with the conviction of true believers.

The album's secret weapon might be its seamless integration of turntablism into the songs themselves. Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark aren't just providing beats—they're active participants in the musical conversation, their scratches and cuts functioning as additional instruments rather than mere flourishes. On tracks like "Improvise" and "Swing Set," their contributions elevate the songs from good to transcendent.

*Quality Control* isn't without its minor flaws. At 22 tracks, it occasionally feels overstuffed, and some of the shorter interludes interrupt the album's flow rather than enhance it. The group's commitment to positivity and conscious messaging, while admirable, sometimes veers toward the preachy. But these are quibbles with what remains a remarkably cohesive and joyful listening experience.

Twenty-plus years later, *Quality Control* stands as both a high-water mark for alternative hip-hop and a blueprint for how to honor the past while pushing forward. The album's influence can be heard in everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Tyler, the Creator—artists who understand that innovation doesn't require abandoning hip-hop's foundational elements.

Jurassic 5 would continue releasing music throughout the 2000s before going on hiatus in 2007, reuniting sporadically for tours and festivals. While they never quite matched the cultural impact of *Quality Control*, the album remains their defining statement—a reminder that sometimes the most radical thing you can do is remember what made something special in the first place. In an age of algorithmic playlists and viral moments, *Quality Control* endures