It's a true sign of talent, appeal and staying power to gain the respect Jurassic 5 has after releasing only two albums and an EP in its 11-year history.

Although perhaps an odd pairing with the rest of the acts performing at tomorrow's Vote for Change concert, the Los Angeles rap group is no stranger to politically charged feelings and messages in its music. The group's song "Freedom" sums up the point that it hopes the Vote for Change Tour gets across this month: "Imagine life without a choice at all/Given a vote without a voice at all/These be the problems that we face."

The sextet formed in 1993 by the merging of two hip-hop groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee. After releasing an EP in 1997, the group was quickly signed to Interscope Records and had a full album, Quality Control out in 2000, followed by Power in Numbers in 2002.

The band has broken musical boundaries out of the studio as well as in. The past few years has seen Jurassic 5 on tour with Fiona Apple as well as the typically punk-oriented Warped Tour.

-- by Jason Cox