Jurassic 5 shakes Shade Tree benefit

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Dec. 6, 2004 | 8:21 a.m.

Given the misogynous tendencies of gangsta rap, the choice of a hip-hop group to headline Friday's "Shade Tree VI: Songs for the Shelter" benefit concert likely surprised a fair portion of the well-dressed audience at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

After all, proceeds from the show went directly to the Shade Tree, a local shelter for homeless and abused women and children.

Those who stuck around for Jurassic 5's performance, however, discovered that the Los Angeles-based outfit was actually quite the inspired selection.

Jurassic 5's music is as far from gansta rap as you can get. The group's four MCs don't rap about sex, drugs or violence. In fact, during an 85-minute set, the quartet dropped only a handful of profane words.

Instead of relying on hip-hop's proven formula for success, Jurassic 5 rappers Akil, Chali 2na, Marc 7 and Zaakir opt for uplifting lyrical themes. Their song list on Friday included tunes called "I Am Somebody," "Quality Control," "Freedom" and "What's Golden."

The group, which is not on tour at the moment, also discussed the importance of the assistance Shade Tree has provided to more than 4,000 women and children during the past year.

"We're partying tonight, but this is a serious cause," Chali 2na announced. "This particular cause is important to saving women's lives. We agreed to do this simply because we've got love for that kind of situation."

Decked out in an old-school Reggie Theus UNLV basketball jersey, Chali 2na encouraged the crowd of about 800 to make noise every time he shouted "Shade Tree," which he did a handful of times during the show.

The audience was split roughly in half between loyal Jurassic 5 fans -- who danced energetically until the 12:30 a.m. finish -- and employees and associates from the Shade Tree and the Sallie Mae Fund, which presented a $30,000 check to the shelter at the event.

Although the ranks of the latter group dwindled considerably as the night wore on, Jurassic 5 appeared to win some converts on the strength of its intricate rhymes and jovial stage presence.

Creative Jurassic DJs Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark provided a superb musical backbeat throughout, and served up a lesson on turntablism during a duet piece while the rappers took a breather.

The show's other featured act, Welsh singer-songwriter Jem, also contributed a quality set. Her music teetered between the organic approach of Sarah McLachlan and the electronic hypnotics of Port-ishead, with the latter providing the best backdrop for her enchanting voice.

Sadly, a few impatient Jurassic 5 fans treated Jem poorly, calling out for the headliners during her songs and cheering derisively when she announced she had just one number left. Two men on the floor flipped her off, and someone else threw a water bottle onstage, narrowly missing the drum set.

Still, Jem drew a solid round of applause after capping her performance with her hardest-rocking tune, "24."

Opening act Geoff Byrd, a singer-wongwriter from Portland, Ore., also showed off an impressive voice, demonstrating an unusually high upper register.

Byrd's songs were rather tepid, however, with the only memorable moment a duet with John Waite on the Shade Tree host's familiar hit, "Missing You."