INhonolulu Magazine Issue #16 - April 2014 | Page 24

From page 23
much-anticipated gig at The Republik on March 30.
Watching them work effortlessly on stage, it was like seeing your
favorite uncles break it down with
an energy that belied their years.
“We’ve all grown up a bit in the
seven-year break,” Nu-Mark said.
“Our time on the road resembled
the lifestyle of a rock band, not a
hip-hop group. We were simply
burnt out and needed time apart.
… What makes it workable now is
that we’ve had time to miss each
other’s company. We’ve spread our
wings as solo artists, and it helps
that the money is right. We’ve all
had life experiences apart now, as
well as together.
“People know what coast, hood
and state of mind we represent.
We’re at our 20-year anniversary
as a group. If they don’t know that,
then they don’t care.” he said.
Well, it was very evident
that J5’s devoted Hawai‘i fans
cared—a great deal—considering their reaction and energy
throughout the show.
Introduced with a song by another famous J5—namely the Jackson 5—Akil, Chali 2na, Marc 7 and
Zaafir strode confidently on stage
to kick off the proceedings with a
high-energy rendition of “Jayou”
(“R-A-double S, I, C / We’re in the
place to be / It don’t stop, we got
the rhythm that makes your fingers snap, crackle, pop pop, fizz
fizz / We’re known to give a show
plus handle our biz-ness / Stress,
we’ll destroy / We’re known to
make noise as the original Bboys
/ In the flesh, greater to the depth
/ Creates the ill scenes when we
manifest, yes!”).
The rapping quartet handled
their collective and solo lyrical
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flow with an easy confidence. Instead of constructing street-hardened personas, there’s no artifice
with Jurassic 5. The guys take delight in their rapping skills; four
MCs working as one. And they
bring it hard in concert. The stage
work of Chali 2na and Akil, in
particular, was fun to watch: the
looming (but affable) presence of
Chali with his boomin’ baritone
versus the diminutive and dapper
Akil, a houndstooth hat perched
on his dreadlocked head.
Fans of the mighty DJ duo
Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist got
just a taste of what transpired
at the previous night’s pre-concert party, where their talents
were on full display. During the
well-planned concert set, they
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