Group bringing hip-hop magic to Hawai'i

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer

Actually numbering six — MCs Chali 2NA, Zaakir, Akil and Marc 7; and DJs Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark — Jurassic 5 are a modern throwback to the kind of funky, semi-preachy late '80s hip-hop made popular by genre pioneers such as De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.

The Los Angeles group formed in 1993. Its first CD, 1997's "Jurassic 5 EP," is considered by many critics as one of the decade's most important hip-hop releases. Signed by Interscope in 1999, Jurassic 5's major label debut, "Quality Control," was released in 2000 and made many critics' 10-best lists that year.

The group's Honolulu appearance comes at the end of a mini-tour of Australia and Japan.

Tickets at $20 each are now on sale at World Cafe, Cheapo Music, Tower Records, Hungry Ear and military ticket outlets. For details, call 585-2877.