The group debuted for TVT Records in 1995 with the single for Unified Rebelution. Their acclaimed position in the 1990s alternative hip-hop movement, alongside artists including Company Flow, Black Star and Kool Keith, was confirmed when the Jurassic 5 EP was released in December 1997.
The EP was later repackaged with additional tracks and released in December 1998 as the band's full-length debut album, entitled Jurassic 5 LP.
The tracks harked back to the old school attitude of New York's Native Tongues Posse, the seminal late 1980s coalition of artists who reaffirmed rap's social agenda, which included De La Soul, the Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest. This was evident on the song Concrete Schoolyard ("Let's take it back to the concrete streets/Original beats from real live MCs"), and the album even provided the troupe with a surprise UK Top 40 single when it reached number 35 in November 1998. The other stand-out track, Jayou, was built around a hypnotic flute loop from Pleasure Web's Music Man Part 1 (Music Man Part 1).
In 1999, Jurassic 5 signed to Interscope Records, who re-released the Jurassic 5 EP. This was followed by their second album (their first on a major label), Quality Control.
In 2002, they released their third album, Power In Numbers, which was followed by touring with the newly-revived Lollapalooza festival in the summer of 2003.
Their latest album, Feedback, was released on July 25, 2006.
DDT
Jurassic 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I look at rappers with maximum equation
X-ray vision invasion
Rhyme connects perfects insects
That crawl and try to bite my rhymes
Pesticides I'm the double D combine the T
A chemical more to better to burn
Roaches, germs, mouse, lice, termites and pernicuious bugs
Or try thugs who perpetrate
Nothing within contaminate
Got my gloves on
So bring turtle doves on
Watch me pluck 'em and pick 'em
Stick em kick 'em and vic 'em
I see you're featherless
You got the birdy disease
Bite any rhymes that I have for ya
The poison is bad for ya stupid
You're equal measure to dirt dust grime and puss
You're just a rappin' infection
Dirtlizin' my section like a six-legga
Ya betta step off and walk ya pure roach
(laughing)
In Jurassic 5's song DDT, the lyrics condemn lower quality rappers as 'insects' that are attempting to crawl and bite at the artist's own 'rhymes.' The reference to DDT, a now-banned pesticide, serves as a metaphor for the artist's ability to eliminate or kill off these inferior rappers who are trying to take their place. The artist sees themselves as the 'double D combine the T,' a powerful force that can get rid of even the most difficult of bugs, such as termites and pernicious bugs. The use of gloves serves as further imagery, indicating that the artist is prepared for a dirty and laborious process. At the same time, the artist asserts their own superiority in relation to these less talented rappers, calling them 'equal measure to dirt dust grime and puss' and a 'rappin' infection.' The lyrics are meant to be tongue-in-cheek, as the artist is both derogatory towards these 'bugs' and celebratory of their own abilities to get rid of them.
Line by Line Meaning
I look at rappers with maximum equation
When I listen to other rappers, I analyze their skills thoroughly
X-ray vision invasion
My ability to examine other rappers is like an X-ray
Rhyme connects perfects insects
My rhymes are so precise that they could kill even the smallest of creatures
That crawl and try to bite my rhymes
Other rappers that try to copy my style are insignificant and pose no real threat
Pesticides I'm the double D combine the T
I am a potent mixture (DDT) that can eliminate any pests that try to approach me
That's DDT
I am referring to the chemical pesticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
A chemical more to better to burn
DDT is a powerful and effective insecticide
Roaches, germs, mouse, lice, termites and pernicuious bugs
DDT can kill a variety of harmful pests
Or try thugs who perpetrate
I can also take down other rappers who pretend to be something they're not
Nothing within contaminate
Nothing can stand up to my lyrical prowess
Got my gloves on
I am prepared to take on anything and anyone
So bring turtle doves on
Even birds can't escape my wrath
Watch me pluck 'em and pick 'em
I will systematically destroy my opponents
Stick em kick 'em and vic 'em
I will attack my enemies aggressively
I see you're featherless
You don't have what it takes to compete with me
You got the birdy disease
You're not good enough, and I won't hesitate to let you know it
Bite any rhymes that I have for ya
You're only capable of copying my rhymes, which are still better than yours
The poison is bad for ya stupid
My rhymes are so deadly that they could be considered poison to you
You're equal measure to dirt dust grime and puss
You're nothing but filth compared to me
You're just a rappin' infection
Your attempt at rapping is like an infection, spreading through the music industry
Dirtlizin' my section like a six-legga
You're making a mess of the rap game, like a six-legged insect
Ya betta step off and walk ya pure roach
You should realize that you can't compete with me and just leave
(laughing)
I am amused by how easy it is to out-rap my opponents
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEITH THORNTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind