Jurassic 5 – Powerstation April 9, 2015

As the lyric goes in Concrete Playground, “Just that classic rap shit from Jurassic.” And boy did they kill it with their vocalism, with the four MC’s – Chali 2na, Akil, Soup and Marc 7 – serving up a lyrical storm along with some entertaining help from DJ’s Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark.

After calling time in 2007 Jurassic 5 reunited for a world tour in 2014, and are back here part of their Byron Bay Bluesfest sideshows. They played a raucous gig in Wellington on Wednesday and have three shows at The Powerstation. Sadly they had to cancel their Christchurch gig due to demand in Auckland (sorry guys).

For a group that formed in 1993 they sure had a young crowd lapping up their infectious spirit and refreshingly clean and drug-free lyrics. The intimate Powerstation is perfect for the happiest hip-hop group around with J5 constantly asking audience participation, which we duly obliged. They even borrowed phones from the front row and filmed themselves, much to the delight of their owners.

Chali 2na’s imposing presence and deep voice got the crowd pumping again and again – “Auckland make some noise!” – but Akil was a definite audience favourite when the tiny ball of dread-locked energy descended into the crowd.

A surprising highlight was the DJ battle, with Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark dueling it out with crazy handheld beat-making contraptions. They then joined together to tackle the giant the turntable in the middle of the stage.

But it was the Jurassic classics people came to hear, and when they took it back to the year 2000 for Concrete Playground and Quality Control early on the crowd lost it. In an epic 30-odd setlist they covered all the hits, and finished on a huge high with their biggest track What’s Golden. But don’t forget your obscure J5 tracks as the group request fan favourites.

Their first new song since the reunion, The Way We Do It, features The White Stripes My Doorbell and wasn’t the only sample of the night – Just The Two Of Us and Nelly’s Hot in Herre made popular appearances too.

In a perfect summation of night the 2na asked the buzzing audience, “Are you having a good time?” And the response was a resounding yes. “We are too.”

– Clayton Barnett

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Isaac Newcombe:

JURASSIC 5 SETLIST
After School Special
I Am
Jayou
Desk
Influence
Break
Monkey Bars
Improvise

-DJ Set-
Quality Control
Concrete
Long Road
High Fidelity
Comin Thru
Future Sound
Hey
Baby Please
Gotta Understand
Freedom
Thin Line
Without a Doubt Acapella
Countdown
In The House
Encore
Fan requests
King Tee
The Way We Do It
Red Hot

Jurass Finish 1^st
A Day At The Races
What’s Golden

Anybody whose somebody make some noise! Hat guy
Hi five front row
I am …
Burst a blood vessel
Dj nu mark sits on school table
Samples just the 2 of us
Lot of interaction with audience even singing into phones red hat took phone
Jump around put your hands up
Guy in big white r shirt amplify song Charlie good rap
20 min in dj does solo
Hip hop singalong to big record spinning
Crazy solo
Good to be back
You were made to be here
And it goes a little something like this

Dj cut chemist
Mark in blue hat
Glasses dark hair
Don’t stop year 2000 quality control
Say hell yeah say jurassic 5
Back to back classic concrete jungle
It’s that classic rap shit from jurassic
Get up get down song save te future sound we see you
One big ass favour put that shit up in the air open and close hands
Auckland ladies make a little noise
Dedication – glasses guy
Guys go outside for a break
We just wanna get you high party song
Work your fist like this
Fists in the air freedom
People actually put up lighters
This is an emergency broadcast
Auckland make some noise
Here’s a little something about the j5 crew
Glasses guy does awesome rap after countdown
Don’t stop now ladies and gentlemen
All of them do great rap on this song

Fake finish
Ask as a song were not going to do
Get it outta here ball song / rewind
More requests
Dorm forget your obscure fan favourites for song request!
Gonna work it out
It’s getting hot in here
Are you having fun? We are too