Pitchfork

Still not biting on this. Despite the fact that J5 are now as good at their much-lambasted style of baton-passing, happy rap as possible, this one loses the plot from second one. Over a wobbly synthesizer, a screwed voice announces "Many, many moons ago, Jurassic 5 began their quest to put real hip-hop on the radio," which is just about the most arrogant conceit I can imagine. Not that rapping can't be about popping shit, but their dismissive take is as defeating as any crack rap celebrator (ahem). From there an arrestingly chimey melody-- courtesy of longtime Nas producer Salaam Remi-- dominates the track whilst the Cali five, in a real shocker, reminisce about the good old days. Tributes to the Cold Crush Brothers and Treacherous Three, duly noted. But I don't remember the part where Grandmaster Flash was a didactic moralist. For the record, there's actual music still being made today.