Interview with Soup and Marc7 (ex-Jurassic 5) of Portable Payback

"Soup and I are about to pull a Ghostface and Raekwon on everybody that’s sleeping on us."

Those of you who know me well will know that ever since 'Concrete Schoolyard' I've been a fan of Jurassic 5. So when a track dropped into my inbox by two of the J5 MCs I was pretty thrilled. When I reviewed it and had a personal email back I was even more thrilled. So I sorted out a quick interview with Marc7 and Soup to talk about their new project, the group Portable Payback:

Certified Banger: What’s up Portable Payback?! Thanks for reaching out to me! I’m pretty excited about the project you two have got going on. Let’s talk about it: For those who don’t know; who are you and who were you?!

M: I’m Marc 7 formerly of Jurassic 5

S: I’m Zaakir aka Soup

CB:And what’s in the name Portable Payback? Where did that come from? Is it anything to do with James Brown?

S: Sev came up with the name and I like the fact that it has no hold to it… meaning we can go wherever… It's portable. And I think ALL hip hop has something to do with James Brown.

M: The name came to me one day when I was in the kitchen talking to my wife, I was watching a commercial that mentioned the word “PAYBACK” and I said to myself, “Portable Payback, that’s the name of the group”.

Read on about their past with Jurassic 5, their future as a group and more.

'Relax' - Portable Payback (single review)

Regardless of what you think, Jurassic 5 were great. Only the other day I was watching the DVD that came with the excellent re-issue of Jurassic 5's debut album and wondering what will happen next.

I know Akil is coming out solo (as Akil the MC) and Chali 2na might one day drop the second of his Fish Market mixtapes but what about Soup and Marc7? Well now I know:

Soup and Marc7 have formed Portable Payback and their first single, off their soon to be released EP, is 'Relax'. 'Relax' flips the same sample as Young Einstein used on Ugly Duckling's latest single 'I Wont Let It Die' but the slower tempo makes for an entirely different track and the fact that they share the source doesn't matter.

Soup and Marc ill out with some old school style bragging over what is a, um, relaxing beat that still manages heralds their triumphant return! Welcome back I say.