Jurassic 5

Jurassic 5 are old-school hip-hop revivalists -- their name harks back to hip-hop's prehistoric age a la Furious Five. But when these these four rappers and two turntablists emerged from the underground of the gangsta-rap-ridden Los Angeles in the mid-'90s, J5's positive vibe and laid-back melodicism sounded downright revolutionary. After years honing its live chops with only a single in circulation, J5 burst onto the burgeoning indie hip-hop scene with a nine-track debut EP that condensed an album's worth of hooks, intricate flows, and virtuosic beat-juggling into just over 26 minutes. Trading between singsong mike-passing ("In the Flesh," "Concrete Schoolyard") and scratch workouts courtesy of Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark ("Lesson 6: The Lecture"), there's not a weak moment on this terrific introduction.

Having earned enough attention to make the jump to a major label, J5's full-length debut, Quality Control, mostly offered more of the same. By then, though, the novelty of the group's catchy songs and group dynamics had somewhat worn off, and the sound proved more difficult to pull off over the course of an entire album -- one that aimed for commercial success, no less. Still, tracks like "World of Entertainment (W.O.E. Is Me)" proved J5 was no mere gimmick, but rather had the power to suggest that a grassroots playground-rhyming revival was just what hip-hop needed in the new millennium.

Two years later, Power in Numbers confirmed J5's enduring dedication to roots hip-hop. Stylistically identical to its predecessor, the record builds on obscure soul and jazz samples, then adds expert scratches, virtuosic rhyming, and a couple stabs at pop crossover -- most notably, the catchy "Thin Line," featuring singer Nelly Furtado. If you're not quite convinced of the group's worth, Power won't change your mind. If you're already sold, it's just more proof. (RONI SARIG)

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide