HIP HOP CLASSICS - Jurassic 5 - 'What's Golden' / 'Concrete Schoolyard'

It's like that ch'all, Hip Hop Classics, straight outta Surrey Heath!

Jurassic 5 - 'What's Golden' (2002)

If there ever was a Hip Hop act to encapsulate that classic vibe then J5 were it, they made some vintage tracks but this is my favourite and it is unashamedly old skool, with a brilliant burbling bassline, a great beat and slick rhyming. Their name itself is a nod to some of the Hip Hop veterans, pioneers with similar names such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5, Funky 4 plus 1 or the Treacherous Three. Their very style keeps in line with the original essence of Hip Hop, blockparties, two turntables and a microphone and smooth rhyming interplay between members of the crew. 

From 1996 to 2005 they were a breath of fresh air amongst the bloated commercial mass Hip Hop had become. Like the song says, "we're taking you back to the days of yes y'allin', we're hanging on to what's golden", before a Chuck D sample booms in just to affirm that notion and you don't mess with the 'Gandalf' of rap! 

Jurassic 5, popular with geologists

In Chali 2na (real name Charles Stewart) they also had one of the most recognisable and popular MC's in rap, certainly one of my favourites. The 'friendly neighbourhood baritone' not only gives Chuck D of Public Enemy a run for his money but he's also the voice of T-Rex in the kids Hip Hop super group, Dino 5. Much to the delight of my son and of course his father! 

In the excited anticipation of the J5 gig in Brixton on Thursday June 13th, I have naturally been listening to their back catalogue and compiled a playlist of some of their classics cut on Spotify. Listen/subscribe to it here....Jurassic Classics.


Jurassic 5 - 'Concrete Schoolyard' (1997) (Live at Coachella, April 12th 2013)

Jurassic 5 official website here, y'all..

And ya don't stop..have a listen to our Hip Hop Classics playlist on Spotify or check out some more Hip Hop classics here..