» Original Beats with Real Live MC’s
Original Beats with Real Live MC’s //
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Everybody knows Jurassic 5. Ask most people to recount the lyrics to Concrete Schoolyard and they will glee nearly as much as if you asked them to join in a sing-a-long account of the opening credits for the Fresh Prince of Bell Air. That’s to take nothing away from J5 who in truth have always been a phenomenal live act. Their most recent Album, Feedback was not as well received as such offerings as the Jurassic 5 LP and Quality Control and preceded some time apart to pursue solo projects. This was mostly put down to the most distinctive member of the group Chali 2na wanting to go solo. 2na has done some touring but it has all been relatively quiet so it was as of some surprise to learn of Akil the MC’s world tour for his as yet to be completed album Soundcheck taking him as far from Cali to such hip hop spots as New Zealand and specifically the capital Wellington.
In a very intimate venue Akil delivered a great performance of tight vocals and a youthful exuberance culminating in some local talent taking the stage with the LA born rapper to himself throwing out some B-boy moves in amongst the crowd. He commented on whether the five-some would again be reunited by saying “I don’t know shit” but finished off with a J5 melody with the entire venue joining in for Concrete Schoolyard. He said he was taking it back to how J5 used to do shows and called it a “golden time”. In truth it was a very accomplished performance and proved that Akil the MC deserves his mantle of MC without the need of 2na, Mark 7even, Za-akir and DJ Nu-mark.
The album, expected early next year, is called Soundcheck and that’s exactly what the tour was for, to Soundcheck his new material before releasing the album. Live it was good but the real acid test will come when released. There is no doubting the tightness of the lyrics in past J5 albums with the four Mc’s bouncing off each other in perfect harmony but it remains whether to be seen is whether one of the lesser known members can prove it was as much down to him as the others. Akil you’ve proved you can do it live, now let’s see what the album brings.
Swayzle
