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.
Thin Line
Jurassic 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, this is a lesson in friendship
The depths of a kinship
What women and men begin with, and then slip
My pen drips
As I scribble my thoughts on thin strips
Of emotion
A fraction, seduction, attraction
Corrupts if a lasted friendship's involved
But love to cross the line
But that's why we built these walls
[Chorus: Nelly Furtado]
We been friends for a long time, a very close friend of mine
Love you like you was mine, but respect a thin line
I love you like you was mine, think about you all the time
Very close friend of mine, but respect a thin line
[Akil]
Opposite's attract
When the female and male come in contact
Sticky situation in fact
Trying not to let the feelings catch
But there's a thin line between both of y'all
So you respect that
And entertain the idea, but get brought back
To reality, and could you really live with that?
Decision, based on intuition
You love and keep your distance
Hug and kiss in friendship
[Marc 7]
An ongoing kinship, we was people to begin with
Disrespect was not intended
But your feelings sparked the sentence
Sometimes you're too intense in your quest to invent
The perfect man, please understand, my rhyme is your repent
[Chorus: x2]
[Soup]
Man, too bad that we became friends first
I'm not on expert on how relationships should work
But, (echos) from the minute it as known
It changed the whole tone on how we spoke on the phone
Yo, it was cool but I felt it wasn't enough
And I was stuck when your moms would pick it up
Over you, all my buddies would swoon
But I felt we were in tune, you let me up in your room. (Damn)
But to me girl, you're still off limits
No matter all the times that I hinted (Yo, what you doing after this?)
Infatuation was authentic, but yo I just pretended
So I wouldn't lose the friendship
Maybe, I should spill all my guts
Or write a letter, then tear it up
Or do a song, just to say what's up
I want, just, a touch
[Chorus: x2]
[Nelly Furtado]
I can't do this anymore
See my heart just spills out when you walk in the door
Friendship turns into lust and this only tip
That I can't comprehend even if I knew it
Can't do justice to these things that I'm feeling
You got someone else, don't want to be caught stealing
Hell if she knew she would never leave us alone
In the room
[Chali 2na]
This was a lesson in friendship
I stress in this sentence
Should women and men be friends first?
And then slip?
My pen drips as I scribble my thoughts on thin strips
Of devotion
[Akil]
Opposites attract
And best friends make a perfect match
If you only knew that
Once you cross, ain't no turning back
The minute you let him in it and he hit that
That's that
[Marc 7]
We was people to begin with, but you was too relentless
Jeopardizing kinship, respect is intended
Resolve is my intent
While we got it in
I'm trying to salvage a friendship
[Chorus: x2]
The song Thin Line by Jurassic 5 explores the fine line between friendship and romantic love, and how difficult it can be to navigate those feelings. The verses present different perspectives on this challenge, beginning with Chali 2na's observation that men and women often start as friends but then slip into something more. He acknowledges the temptation of passion that can corrupt a friendship, but also recognizes the importance of building walls to maintain that friendship.
Akil weighs in on the idea that opposites attract and the complications that arise when romantic feelings threaten a close friendship. He advocates for respecting the thin line between friendship and romance, and suggests that hugging and kissing within friendship can still be meaningful. Marc 7 admits that even a strong kinship can be jeopardized by intense feelings, and offers his repentance for any disrespect.
Finally, Soup shares his personal experience of struggling with infatuation for a close friend while maintaining a boundary for the sake of their friendship. Nelly Furtado's chorus reiterates the theme of love and respect for a close friend who deserves both.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the complexities of relationships and the importance of recognizing and respecting those boundaries between friendship and romance.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, this is a lesson in friendship
This song is about the complexities of male-female friendships and how they can easily become more.
The depths of a kinship
The close bond and intimacy that comes with a long-term friendship.
What women and men begin with, and then slip
How male-female friendships often start off innocently, but can develop into something more.
My pen drips
The emotional depth of the lyrics that the artist is writing in this song.
As I scribble my thoughts on thin strips
The fragility of emotions in male-female friendships.
Of emotion
The overwhelming feelings that can come with strong friendships.
A fraction, seduction, attraction
The fine line between platonic friendship and romantic attraction.
Eruption of passion
When feelings of sexual attraction become too intense to handle.
Corrupts if a lasted friendship's involved
Romantic involvement can destroy a long-lasting friendship.
But love to cross the line
Despite knowing the risks, some people still choose to act on their romantic feelings for a friend.
But that's why we built these walls
To protect ourselves from the potential pain and heartbreak that can come from blurring the lines between friendship and romance.
We been friends for a long time, a very close friend of mine
Acknowledging the closeness of the friendship between the two people in question.
Love you like you was mine, but respect a thin line
Feeling intense emotions for a friend, but also acknowledging the importance of respecting boundaries.
Opposite's attract
The idea that two people with different personalities or backgrounds can be drawn to each other.
When the female and male come in contact
When a man and a woman interact with each other.
Sticky situation in fact
The complicated and potentially awkward nature of male-female friendships.
Trying not to let the feelings catch
Attempting to suppress romantic feelings for a friend in order to preserve the friendship.
But there's a thin line between both of y'all
The blurred distinction between friendship and romantic attraction.
So you respect that
Knowing and respecting the boundaries of the friendship.
And entertain the idea, but get brought back
Occasionally considering the possibility of romantic involvement, but ultimately being brought back to reality by the importance of the friendship.
To reality, and could you really live with that?
Questioning whether or not a romantic relationship would be worth sacrificing the deep and meaningful friendship that already exists.
Decision, based on intuition
Making a decision about how to proceed with the friendship based on personal feelings and instincts.
An ongoing kinship, we was people to begin with
The friendship has always been an important and unbreakable bond.
Disrespect was not intended
The artist did not mean to disrespect the other person or the friendship.
But your feelings sparked the sentence
The other person's romantic feelings accidentally caused a rift in the friendship.
Sometimes you're too intense in your quest to invent
The other person's desire for a perfect romantic relationship can be overwhelming and unattainable.
The perfect man, please understand, my rhyme is your repent
The artist is expressing his remorse for any unintentional pain caused by the situation with the other person.
Man, too bad that we became friends first
Feeling regret that the friendship had to be complicated by potential romantic feelings.
I'm not on expert on how relationships should work
Acknowledging that the artist is not necessarily qualified to navigate romantic relationships, but is speaking to his own experience regardless.
From the minute it as known
From the moment that the romantic feelings became apparent.
It changed the whole tone on how we spoke on the phone
The romantic feelings introduced a new layer of tension and uncertainty into their interactions.
Yo, it was cool but I felt it wasn't enough
The friendship was meaningful, but the artist still had romantic desires that were not being fulfilled.
And I was stuck when your moms would pick it up
Feeling awkward and uncomfortable when calling the other person's phone and their mother picking up.
Over you, all my buddies would swoon
Other people saw the artist's close relationship with the other person and might have assumed that something more was going on.
But I felt we were in tune, you let me up in your room. (Damn)
Feeling like the other person was on the same page in terms of their connection, but potentially misreading the situation.
But to me girl, you're still off limits
Despite the romantic feelings, the artist acknowledges and respects the importance of boundaries in the friendship.
No matter all the times that I hinted (Yo, what you doing after this?)
The artist dropped hints about his feelings for the other person, but did not want to explicitly confess his attraction out of fear of damaging the friendship.
Infatuation was authentic, but yo I just pretended
The artist's feelings for the other person were genuine, but he chose to pretend otherwise in order to preserve the friendship.
So I wouldn't lose the friendship
The artist was willing to sacrifice his own romantic desires in order to maintain the connection with the other person.
Maybe, I should spill all my guts
The artist is considering confessing his romantic feelings in order to be honest about his emotions.
Or write a letter, then tear it up
Contemplating expressing his feelings in a more indirect way, but ultimately deciding against it.
Or do a song, just to say what's up
Using music as a way to express his emotions without causing too much tension or discomfort in the friendship.
I want, just, a touch
Desiring something more intimate and physical than what is currently shared in the platonic friendship.
I can't do this anymore
Feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about how to navigate the complicated emotions surrounding the friendship.
See my heart just spills out when you walk in the door
Being unable to control or hide the intense feelings of attraction felt for the other person.
Friendship turns into lust and this only tip
The danger and risk of letting romantic feelings compromise a valuable friendship.
That I can't comprehend even if I knew it
The overwhelming and confusing nature of romantic feelings for a close friend.
Can't do justice to these things that I'm feeling
Feeling like words cannot accurately capture the intense emotions felt for the other person.
You got someone else, don't want to be caught stealing
Respecting the fact that the other person is in a committed relationship and therefore not trying to interfere or damage that connection.
Hell if she knew she would never leave us alone
Acknowledging that the other person's partner might be threatened by the closeness of the friendship and cause tension and jealousy.
This was a lesson in friendship
The entire song is framed as an opportunity to learn and grow from the challenges of a complicated male-female friendship.
I stress in this sentence
Emphasizing the importance of the following message in the song.
Should women and men be friends first?
Posing a question that frames the entire song and exploring the challenges and complexities of male-female friendships.
And then slip?
Asking whether or not it is possible for male-female friendships to remain purely platonic or if they will inevitably lead to romantic involvement.
Opposites attract
Reiterating the idea that two people with different personalities or backgrounds can be drawn to each other romantically.
And best friends make a perfect match
The potential for a romantic relationship to arise from a strong friendship.
If you only knew that
Reflecting on the possibilities that can come from connecting with another person on a deep and meaningful level.
Once you cross, ain't no turning back
The point of no return when a friendship becomes a romantic relationship.
The minute you let him in it and he hit that
The moment when the romantic relationship becomes physical and intimate.
That's that
Accepting the situation for what it is and acknowledging the risks and consequences that come with it.
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD RUDOLPH, CHARLES STEPNEY, DANTE GIVENS, COURTENAY HENDERSON, LUCAS MACFADDEN, MARK POTSIC, CHARLES STEWART, MARC STUART, CHARLES L STEWART, DICK RUDOLPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andre_ferro7523
It's impressive how they can deeply analyze such a sensitive topic, but still making this sound awesome. Jurassic 5 are so underrated...
@fabriciodemarco6361
No te olvides de q me dijiste anoche quiero informacion the
@dernfobson1910
@@fabriciodemarco6361 Im
@dernfobson1910
@@fabriciodemarco6361 l
@Mikelica69
@@fabriciodemarco6361 lol
@shaunblair4858
šÆ agreed
@markbruggeman274
This is 1 of the greatest Hip-Hop albums of all time to me.
I used to ride the bus to school everyday listening to this album. It never got boring even till this day. Classic!
@crystalsmith2002
word!
@cuso20
Hell yeah it is
@christopherreilly5339
+Mark Bruggeman I am glad you said Hip-Hop and not rap. It makes me smile.