Originally released as an EP in 1997, Jurassic 5 is without a doubt a classic. Celebrating their 11th year of this musical landmark, Jurassic 5 decided to re-issue a deluxe edition of this album with a bonus CD jam packed with exclusive material. Check this for an instant flash back to the good ol’ days of hip-hop.

Somewhere between The Pharcyde [click to read] and Blu [click to read], Jurassic 5 [click to read] had west coast independent Hip Hop on their back for several years. Respect due to Cali Agents, Stones Throw and Dilated Peoples, but it was J5 who took a kinetic stage show, a masterful understanding of Hip Hop’s origins and a unique, organic style and attracted the attention of Interscope Records for three major albums [click to read]. The EP that made it happen though remains their most coveted work, and as it turns 10 years old with the six brothers from California find themselves in factions and solo careers, the DVD and bonus CD reel package reminds those who were there that tomorrow got nothing on yesterday.

Ten years later “Concrete Schoolyard,” “Jayou” and “Improvise” remain just as potent as they did set against the shiny-suit-era canvas. An album that scraped the definition of the perfect in its time hasn’t lost its charm in age. The additional bonus tracks simply give those who championed the work then something else to consider. Many of the new records, rarities, radio work and archival material, is deejay-based. “Rubber Tires” for instance feels like an update of Malcolm McLaren’s “Buffalo Gals,” with Nu-Mark in apparent deep concentration. “Next Victim” is partner Cut Chemist’s turn, masterfully switching between the signature hard-hitting drums of J5 and one of the sweeter sample finds in the collector’s crate. “Verbal Gunfight” is yet another gem, adding a peppier bassline to the group that reintroduced kicks and snares to a synthesized, Pop-sounding era of Hip Hop. Although some of the audio quality of the new material lacks polish, it’s supposed to. Like a cassette dub, a pause tape or the way a live record sounds in your memory, these are gifts from a group offering up material dating back as early as 1994.

As a major inclusion of the package, the DVD is essential to mention. “The Jurassic Period” is a collection of tour movies from the guys towards the latter years of the group. Babu, Supernatural and Evidence [click to read] make cameos as members clown each other, get topless groupie admiration and embark on a tour that looked so red-eyed and jovial, it’s again hard to understand the root of the breakup. Although the sound editing surpasses the film editing, this – a live concert and the timeless record/ice cream truck “Concrete Schoolyard” video make this package all the more collectible to fans.

Like the Mass Appeal: Best of collection of Gang Starr released last year, or A Tribe Called Quest’s Anthology, it’s often not until today that we can properly appreciate yesterday. Ten years later and few producers have the knowledge of records demonstrated by Cut Chemist, the mix and programming techniques employed by Nu-Mark, the deft alto flow of Chali 2na or the collective harmonic chemistry that J5 brought. To 2na, Akil, Mark 7even and Zaakir together, incorporating Cold Crush Brothers aesthetic, electro and uncut ‘90s underground bravado was tangible to outsiders, and it birthed Hip Hop fans – but not nearly as many as the Hip Hop made in its wake is turning away.

(Via  HipHopDX.com)

Tracklist after the jump. Buy the Deluxe LP here.

Title [J5 ]
Artist [Jurassic 5 ]
Label [Decon ] Genre [Hip-Hop ]
Quality/Size [44.1 @VBR 96,8 MB] Ripped [11-11-2008 ]
Grabbed from [CDDA ] Enc [Lame 3.97 ]
Website [n/a ]

Track Time Title
©–öª ©– ©– -ö- -ò óª - ª

Cd1

01 04:06 In The Flesh
02 00:40 Quality Control Part 2
03 02:59 Jayou
04 05:33 Lesson 6: The Lecture
05 05:21 Concrete Schoolyard
06 00:31 Setup
07 03:59 Action Satisfaction
08 00:20 Sausage Gut
09 03:44 Improvise
10 01:25 Blacktop Beat
11 03:00 Without A Doubt
12 01:39 Lesson 6 (Reprise)
13 03:55 Action Satisfaction (Dub)

Cd2

01 01:54 Ignition Sequence
02 02:09 Ducky Boy
03 03:52 Verbal Gunfight
04 04:06 Rubber Tires
05 03:52 Long Road To Glory
06 03:46 Ghetto Diplomat
07 05:29 Lesson Four: The Radio
08 03:19 Jayou Remix
09 03:08 The Rhythm
10 04:17 (Who’s Gonna Be The) Next Victim
11 03:21 The Joint Freestyle
12 01:58 The Joint Promo
13 01:45 Wake Up Show Promo
14 01:57 Power 106 Promo
15 04:32 Unified Rebelution
Totals
28 86:37 min

Release Notes:

Pioneering Los Angeles ’90s and ’00s underground Hip Hop
collective Jurassic 5 will be re-releasing their self-titled
1997 EP on November 11th. The original album spawned the
hits “Jayou,” “Concrete Schoolyard” and the Steinski &
Double Dee series tribute record “Lesson 6 (Reprise).” The
success of the EP, which has been contractually out of print
since 2004, led to the group signing with Interscope
Records, where they released three full-length albums.

Seventeen rare and unreleased tracks will be included on the
new version. Included are bonus beats from DJ Nu-Mark, the
rare “Lesson 4,” and various radio appearances and live
performance sequences. Also included is a DVD, which
includes a full performance, and a 30-minute documentary
about the earliest days of the group, formed in the early

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