The fellas also hit you with a few unexpected tracks, including "One of Them" featuring JuJu of the Beatnuts, where they go on to exploit the fake thug MC of today, check out the exiting conclusion where Soup rips "if there was no cameras aloud and your bodyguard didn't have to hold your hand through the croud." Another must hear is the smoothed out "Hey", it's definately a track that you can just vibe to.

Jurassic 5 most definately serve up another classic on this piece, and put themselves on another level as far as hip hop groups go today. Lets put it this way each member is a Lion, and when they form together, you get Voltron. That's a powerfull force. At this time the band is definately "What's Golden" in hip hop, but the sales could definately be Platinum.

J5 is keepin' it live
From their humble beginnings in the Los Angeles cafe Good Life to the worldwide recognition of the rap life, Jurassic 5 went from the 90's to the 21st century with a style many said was vintage 1980's. If that description indicates their desire to craft great rhymes, deliver true showmanship in concert, and achieve more together than seperately, then by all means lump them in with Run-D.M.C. and Funky Four + 1 More. Ever since their self-titled EP heralded their national debut in 1997, the buzz around J5 has been spearheaded by hip-hop heads who felt there was "something missing" in today's rap. 2000's superior "Quality Control" album answered their call, but also pigeonholed the group as being too old school and esoteric for those weaned on a diet of thuggish jiggyness.

"Power in Numbers" is both a call to arms for their loyal fans and a challenge to those who have not given Jurassic 5 their chance to shine. The production throughout by DJ's Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark provides the solid foundation for Chali 2na, Zaakir, Marc 7 and Akil to build upon. The house they raise does not have a rarefied air - in fact it's very clear and refreshing. The doors welcome everyone from legends like Big Daddy Kane and Percy P on "A Day at the Races" to the new jack vocals of Nelly Furtado on "Thin Line"; from the insanity of Kool Keith on "DDT" to the hardcore beats and rhymes of The Beatnuts own JuJu on "One of Them."

If you're not already familiar with this crew, the balance they achieve with so many different voices on the mic is second to none. Zaakir is a smooth mid-range vocalist with a laid back personality, Chali 2na is the deep-throated voice that resonates, Marc 7 brings a comedic flair and Akil is musical jack of all trades. Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark provide the glue that bind them together; not just with beats but with turntablism tricks, scratched hooks, and instrumental inttroductions and interludes like "React" that create a blanket of surreal dopeness you can wrap yourself in. Topically they're not afraid to cover all the bases either; they're as willing to rap about "Freedom" as get old school and raise self-esteem on "I Am Somebody," as Chali 2na ably proves:

"Who's to say if I choose to make moves today?
Whether I win or lose or end up on the news today
Amused but never confused, still got dues to pay
You abuse elegant rules when you use cliches
[...]
We individually driven in the beginnin we winnin
Six men in the venomous, indepedent decision and clear vision
Pretendin was never a possibility, got to kill it be-
-cause I want to be it, a poet to win the Pulitzer Prize"

Lofty goals perhaps, but not out of reach for a group of musicians who came together with the goal to be different. The fortunate who have seen them in concert know this is not a product synthesized in a studio that doesn't hold water. Their harmonized lines, simultaneously timed verbal hooks, and incredible DJ performances (including doing tricks on a Fisher Price turntable) are the fodder for their music. What albums like "Power in Numbers" achieve is encapsulating that sound on wax and preserving it for your enjoyment and that of future generations. Both skeptics and critics alike will be tempted to try and find a weakness somewhere - a whack beat, a poorly conceived rhyme, a missed cue. J5 is not that group, so you're best to look elsewhere. If an album like this has any flaw, it's that it's sheer musical consistancy is so on point it's hard for listeners to cite individually great songs. Let's try anyway. The jazzy flutes and pianoes of "If You Only Knew," the harrowing tale of Death (literally) on "Remember His Name" and the boom bap of "High Fidelity" are just a few of the many numerous dope cuts. Jurassic 5's true "Power in Numbers" though will come in two forms: sales of their records, and conversions of non-believers to those who eagerly await the NEXT album.

JUST WATCH J5 DOMINATE THE CHARTS!!!

Throw-back feel with a new-school approach
Jurassic 5 is one of a number of hip-hop groups out right now attempting to rekindle the vibe of the early 90's, and they are probally doing it best. If you are looking for "lyrically lyrical lyrics," this may not be for you; however, all 5 emcees come of with great flows that fit perfectly into what they are trying to do. And you know Cut Chemist and DJ Numark are providing the heat when it comes to beats. This ish is so good, you won't even mind the Nelly Furtado appearance.

Oh how I LOVE this album
I'll admit that, after an intense love affair with hip-hop during my teen years, we fell out over the soulless gangsta and pop rap that's permeated the charts for the last decade. Of late, however, three groups have helped me rediscover why I fell in love with this music: The Roots, Outkast and Jurassic 5. This is the first album I bought by J5, and I simply adore it. At times playful (If You Only Knew), at other times deadly serious (A Day at the Races, Remember His Name), and often outright catchy (What's Golden, Thin Line), this album appeals to hip-hop heads of all shapes, sizes and tastes. The overall feel is communal and energetic: the listener can sing along, dance, or contemplate via headphones. J5 want you engaged, and over these 17 tracks, the six-man crew make it happen with tight wordplay, quicksilver flow, judicious samples and heady production, giving lapsed listeners like me a reason to love hip-hop again.

Key Tracks: "Freedom", "A Day at the Races", "Remember His Name", "What's Golden", "Thin Line", "High Fidelity", "One of Them"

This version also contains a DVD featuring J5 behind the scenes.

OK, I'm White, But This CD Rocks in Any Color
With a DJ who's both intelligent & wacked, beats both hard & funky, Rap flow both precise & adventurous, and solid songwriting from start to finish, Power in Numbers is my favorite Hip-Hop CD of the year.

I got hip to J5 listening to their earlier work with Ozomatli (whose first 2 CDs I also recommend). The rap standard here is very high; Chali 2Na's baritone is one-of-a-kind Hip-Hop signature, and when the whole crew raps in unison, it's dead-on every time.

One thing which sets J5 apart from most of the genre is their ability to write real SONGS. A lot of hip-hop artists (even some of the talented ones) too often write music but not cohesive songs. I'm not trying to impose my rules on anyone..but anyone listening to this CD should be able to appreciate the flow of these great songs with real beginnings, dynamics, climaxes & ends.

It's no surprise to me that I've converted all my Hip-Hop hater friends with this CD -- Power in Numbers is off the leash & down the block.
Two years after Jurassic 5's debut album, Quality Control, proved that B-boy-oriented retro-rap doesn't have to be corny, the six-member crew (four MCs and two DJs) seems to be gearing up for the revolution. While fans of Quality Control's bright sound will still find much to enjoy here, J5's sophomore offering does a good job at extending their sound. Opening with "Freedom," a quiet yet focused call to action, Power in Numbers presents a slightly darker vision of hip-hop nirvana than the group offered first time around. In keeping with the album's title, J5 has also expanded its crew--Percy P. (of the early-'90s underground group, Double XX Posse) and Big Daddy Kane help wreck the G Rap-esque "A Day at the Races," and the always game alterna-diva, Nelly Furtado, lends a surprisingly effective pop edge to the bouncy "Thin Line." On the production end of things, Juju of the Beatnuts adds his special blend of Colombian madness to the jazzy "If You Only Knew" and the considerably bleaker "One of Them." --Rebecca Levine