Jurassic 5 EP 11th Anniversary 2 CD DVD by Jurassic 5 @ ARTISTdirect.com

An integral part of the rap underground scene of the late ‘90’s, Jurassic 5 has announced the re-release of their debut EP J5, with J5 Deluxe Re-issue on November 11th via Decon. Revered as one of the most classic hip-hop albums, the release introduced the world to the collective genius of Cut Chemist, DJ Nu Mark, Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir and Marc7, who went on to record 3 other critically acclaimed albums and sold over a million units in the US alone.

Due to contractual disputes, this masterpiece has been out of print since 2004. Now on the heels of the 11th anniversary of its release, Jurassic 5 has decided to re-issue a limited edition of this album with a bonus CD that features 15 exclusive, rare songs and for the first time ever, a full length DVD that chronicles the moment Jurassic 5 broke through, as well as performance footage from their first world tour.

Chali 2na puts it simply, "No better way for it to end than to start at the beginning."

Directed by Decon’s Jason Goldwatch, “The Jurassic Period” documentary shows this seminal group at the beginning of an era that would be marked by their important contribution to hip-hop. Utilizing analog effects and heavy layering of images and sound beds, Goldwatch has created an experimental, music driven time piece. The hand-crafted documentary is also accompanied by a 30 minute performance “Jurassic 5 at Brixton Academy” as well as the “Concrete Schoolyard” music video.

After 11 years it still rings true, Jurassic 5 was the foremost proponent of the sound and values that marked hip-hop's golden age and the release of their limited edition album, J5 Deluxe Re-Issue on November 11th will cement this to fans and critics both.

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All Music Guide Review

Clocking in at only half the running time of your average rap album circa 1997, Jurassic 5's debut was the most refreshing hip-hop release of the year, and not just because it abandoned the epic-length concepts of the rap mainstream. With old-school vibes to spare, excellent rhythmatic raps, and the production genius of Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark, EP finally delivered on all the diverse talents promised by the growing hip-hop underground. "Jayou" is a flute-loop classic, and "Concrete Schoolyard" has that nostalgic "can it all be so simple" vibe so rarely heard from hip-hop. Interspersed with the songs are instrumentals, usually laced with the most obscure samples a veteran crate-digger could hope to shovel up, including an instructional record that listed definitions of common science terms and another that pointed out the absurdity of playing Led Zeppelin next to Frank Sinatra. This, of course, was what the group naturally did (it was actually Sinatra over Zeppelin), on "Lesson 6: The Lecture," titled in tribute to Steinski.) Here then was the answer for the legion of rap fans hoping to hear the same top-rank rapping that major labels often featured, along with the edgy productions and DJing that turntablists made standard. It was the perfect balance of quality and experimentation, all delivered in a slim 20 minutes. [The 11th anniversary of Jurassic 5 EP heralded a 2-CD/1-DVD reissue of the half-hour EP, featuring no les than 20 bonus tracks (including instrumentals, radio sessions and improves) plus, on the DVD, a documentary and live footage from Brixton Academy.] ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

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