Feedback (Explicit Version)

The five-man collective that also includes Zaakir (Soup), Chali 2na, Marc 7, and producer/DJ Nu-Mark may have shared concert stages in the U.S. and abroad with mainstream acts Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, Green Day, D Angelo and OutKast, but their music has always maintained the underground grit of their 1997 self-titled independent EP that sold 300,000 copies worldwide Work It Out, the album s first single, is a collab with Jam Band superstar Dave Matthews, and Brown Girl, featuring vocals from new reggae sister act Brick & Lace, is a bonafide pop hit sculpted by Scott Storch. The rest of the album, however, is heavy on their trademark old school hip-hop, and even a dose of world music. The Salaam Remi produced Radio could have been on the soundtrack for the 1984 cult classic hip-hop flick Breakin . The J5 MCs trade lyrics like sprinters pass the baton, telling the history of rap through their own stories. In The House is a nostalgic tribute to old school West Coast party rap groups like L.A. Dream Team, Egyptian Lover and J.J. Fad. While their nostalgic sing-song choruses are no doubt influenced by the Cold Crush Brothers, J5 wanted to rep for their home based influences as well.