Jurassic 5: Talkin' with 2na

The track was recorded and released and eventually picked up by DDP, “They asked us the name of the group was and we didn’t have a name. My now wife was making a joke saying ‘You think you sound like the fantastic 5, you sound more like the Jurassic 5’ and that’s how it all started.” From there the Unified Rebellution 12” was taken by DDP and distributed worldwide where a call for more Jurassic 5 music started to grow. “It got to a lot of places that we would never had the chance to get it to, like overseas. We were lucky enough to have a good enough track that there became a demand for what we were doin, from there we decided to cut our ties with DDP, then went back to the drawing board & recorded the Jurassic 5 Ep.”

After the indie release of the j5 ep ‘Play It Again Sam’ picked up the record and not only distributed it but gave the boys a film clip for Concrete Schoolyard. “From there it got a lotta love from MTV Europe and the world at large, and eventually earned us Gold record success. Because of that it made a lot of noise, and it travelled through the grapevine eventually back to America and a lot of the Record Labels started to hear about all the success we were having. Like all big businesses do, they all try to get down and be a part of this success. So like Interscope, Electric, Emi a lot of different places were trying to court us, Interscope ended up the one that could do the most for us.” From there they had a solid platform to go forth and bring a fully backed, studio ep to show the world Jurassic 5 was there to stay. “Quality Control was formed; it was basically a statement to our fans and the rest of the world that we take total responsibility for bringing you the best quality music we could possibly make.” And quality they brought.

2 Years after the success that was Quality Control, Power in Numbers was released featuring artists such as Kool Keith, Big Daddy Kane, Nelly Furtado & JuJu of Beatnuts fame. World Tours, performances at Leeds & Redding Festivals, Warped Tours, BDO’s and numerous side projects saw the group in a whirlwind of publicity for months after the initial release. But just because the storm that is Jurassic 5 has calmed down, doesn’t mean it’s stopped.

“Mark 7 is doing a solo album, Akil is doing a solo album and a mixtape, Daakir is doing a few different solo projects and collaborations with a few different people as well as a lotta acting. My solo album is coming out in September, called ‘A Fish Outta Water’, Numark has ‘Hands On’ which is a mixtape out now and another soon to follow, Cut Chemist has his album ‘The Audience is Listnish’ will be out in October. We are currently 5% partners in a cartoon with Stan Lee (creator of Marvel Comics), which is called Super 7, we do the music and I’m lucky enough to do a voice of one of the characters. As well as create my own cartoon called ‘Concrete Schoolyard’ which is kinda loosely based on us. We’re all just trying to do a lot of different things, keep the name out there.”

So one is left to wonder where the future of Jurassic 5 lies as a group, especially with the publicised disappointment (to say the least) of various ‘group’ collaborations turning into ‘charli 2na’ collaborations and Charli’s somewhat elevation to front man of the group. When asked about it he is reluctant to fuel or dispel any rumours, simply stating ‘Jurassic 5 has always been a success as a group, not as 4 mc’s and 2 dj’s.’ For a more opinionated and one may say interesting take on segregation we can examine Zaakir’s take on what was supposed to be a Linkin Park/Jurassic 5 track that found itself being a Linkin Park ft. Charli 2na track.

“Linkin Park, we met those dudes at the VMA, And I met a couple of ‘em and one of ‘em was like ‘Hey we really enjoy you guys…...hopefully in the future we can do something’ I was like ‘cool, I have no problem with that’. But when I found out, I found out that they only called Charli. Me? I was like ‘Fuck Linkin Park!’ You gonna sit over there and say ‘Yeah, I wanna work with you’ but you’re only gonna get Charli cause you think he’s the bomb or whatever you might think, but for me it was a slap in the face. The other cats were upset about it, but I didn’t like that shit” So yeah, when it’s time to prove you go get who you THINK is Jurassic 5? Like it’s Jurassic 5 [referencing the album credits for Linkin Park, and the advertising] but really it’s Charli. The only one getting love off that is Charli. I don’t get no props for that if it goes quadruple platinum. The other members don’t get no cheque for being on there, that’s all Charli. For me it’s a slap in the face for those dudes of there to say they want to work with Jurassic 5, but in reality you don’t. you just want to work with one member.” {Source Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner}

So when you read something as sharp tongued as that it becomes harder to believe the amicable, fun loving and peaceful lyricism let alone the harmonious words coming out of 2na’s mouth. He seems much more comfortable chatting about Graffiti and his roots then minor conflicts in the band, which is kinda cool cos I feel a little too much like a shitstarting new weekly writer trying to make a mountain into a molehill for the sake of a story.

“Graffiti is what really got me into Hip Hop, a friend of mine Dave moved to my neighbourhood in like ‘81 from the Bronx and he basically showed me a lotta pictures and music and indirectly got me into hip hop before the term ‘Hip Hop’ was coined, before it was categorised, before it was a thing. He brought that to me in Chicago, and I already was painting as an artist on canvas but just to see actual murals being put up with spray cans I was amazed and it just kept going from there.” And Australia is lucky enough to have 3 of his most recent works, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne have all been privileged enough to feel the wrath of the Spray Can and he’s keen as hell to do it again. “I would love to paint some more when I’m down under, so if you know anyone who wants me to paint let me know, I would love to go back to Revolver, especially if they painted over it.”

But in terms of music, LA has played one of the most vital roles in his development. ‘La has influenced me in the way it has opened up my third eye to the world, to see that people are people regardless of race, breed, colour etc. I grew up half my life in a segregated area of Chicago, in a very prejudiced neighbourhood and LA managed to broaden my ideas and horizons and to open up my world.’ It also gave Charli the confidence and inspiration to take the open mic at the Good Life. A move he is unlikely to regret. ” Hip Hop was a complete escape for me, I grew up in troubled times in Chicago, in project situations where you’d turn a corner and your best friend would get shot, shit like that. So it really was an escape for me, and to be able to come to Los Angeles and eventually do something I love and make revenue and live still inspires and amazes me. Hip Hop has changed my world, Hip Hop has changed the way people thought about black people, and the planet and the world. Hip Hop has saved my life, so it’s something that’s very important to me.”

So what does he think of all the mainstream success and critical acclaim that this culture is receiving? “They say ‘any press is good press’ and I believe any people talking bad about you is still good. 15 years ago, even 10 years ago, nobody could even swallow hip hop, you wouldn’t see it on TV or radio or any of that shit. Now you can’t turn a corner without bumpin into it. So in a lotta ways I’m proud of that. I think the only thing that I’m not happy about is when people get into it without having an inkling of love for it or an inkling of knowledge about it or where it came from. I think it’s important in anything you deal with to know the history, and respect the history, apply to yourself the guidelines, by all means push the barriers a little, experiment whatever but respect what it is. Too many times in this world the Respect factor has gone out the window.” This can be likened the state of the Australian Hip Hop scene, especially this newfound popularity sparked by groups such as the Hilltop Hoods, Downsyde, Tzu and the entity that is Obese. This popularity may not be positive for the scene in the regard it encourages people to jump on the bandwagon and push hip hop when it’s clear they are more suited to classical music, yet this strong jump from nothing to something is much to be celebrated.

Despite the sometimes sad state of affairs September will see the release of ‘A Fish Out of Water’ and features ‘Anthony Hamilton, Beanie Man, Rafiosa D, Supanatural and J-Live to name a few. This is on top of past solo projects with Dj Format, BEP, Blackalicious, Roots Manuvra & Linkin Park to name a few. But don’t think it’s going to stop there ‘I wanna do more and more collaborations with people that I love, people like Dave Matthews (who j5 are doing a collab with later this year), The Beastie Boys and people like that.’ Fingers crossed Ad Rock’s in a generous mood if they get in touch.

You can see Jurassic 5 touring Australia in July:

Saturday July 24, Sydney – Hordern Pavilion
Sunday July 25, Byron Bay – Splendour in the Grass
Tuesday July 27, Perth – Metro City
Thursday July 29, Melbourne – Prince of Wales
Friday July 30, Melbourne – The Metro