In this extensive Interview with Montreality, Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 speaks about:

- The type of student he was at school (0:16)
- Jobs he had as a teenager growing up (1:11)
- His 1st big paycheck (2:36)
- The key to success (3:20)
- The importance of literature (4:20)
- How “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” changed his life (4:45)
- His upcoming coffee table style book (6:51)
- What he was in a previous lifetime (7:33)
- His favorite cartoon character (8:27)
- His favorite videogame (9:49)
- The realest shxt he ever wrote (11:25)
- Upcoming solo & Jurassic 5 music (14:05)
- Reuniting with Jurassic 5 at “Coachella” & beyond (14:24)
- This new generation of Hip-Hop (15:32)
- Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse (17:18)
- Kendrick Lamar opening for Jurassic 5 in Japan (18:15)
- The violence in his hometown of Chicago (20:16)
- A healthy habit (23:42)
- His last meal of choice (24:15)
- His message to the youth (24:47)

Roc C’s album Stoned Genius is in stores now via Kash Roc Entertainment. Features Freeway, Alchemist, Oh No, Blu, Rapper Big Pooh, etc and features production from Madlib, Oh No, Alchemist, Lee Bannon and others.
]]> http://www.hiphopsite.com/2012/01/03/roc-c-bar-catchers-feat-chali-2na-video/feed/ 0 http://www.hiphopsite.com/2011/01/27/chali-2na-talks-new-solo-lp-against-the-current-video/ http://www.hiphopsite.com/2011/01/27/chali-2na-talks-new-solo-lp-against-the-current-video/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:09:39 +0000 http://64.79.68.122/?p=29611

Chali 2na talks with Much Music, about his next LP, Against The Current, as well as will.i.am’s talent, history at The Good Life, and Jurassic 5′s break-up.

The Jurassic 5 frontman drops this new cut. Why the picture of James? Chali 2na painted it (!).

LISTEN: Chali 2na – “Road 2 Success”

Via: UC

We’re in a giving mood, so we’ll be pulling out a lot of the old cassette gems from the vaults on the regular for a while, just to change things up a bit. Here is a classic session from The Wake Up Show, that took place around 1996. This session has been chopped up for the show’s freestyle CD series, but here is the full, uncut session which features each Jurassic 5, Al Tariq (Beatnuts), Grav (Correct Records), and Mykill Miers. Some of the best beats of the era are featured in this session, and Chali 2na outshines them all.

Jurassic 5 + Al’ Tariq + Grav + Mykill Miers Wake Up Show Freestyle (MP3)

And he’s back for another round. Emcee Chali 2na has always stolen the show with a unique combination of charisma, stage presence and of course distinct voice. As a member of Jurrasic 5, Chali always had listeners waiting for his verses and clamoring for his solo debut. However, Chali’s 2009 debut; Fish Outta Water, was more decent than classic and came off as somewhat of a disappointment. This Fish Market 2, is an obvious sequel to 2004′s Fish Market mixtape. Mixed by DJ Dez Andres, Fish Market 2 is a straight-up mixtape,complete with drops, skits and of course the trademark 2na flow.

Lyrically, Chali does not break any new ground. But on the strength of pure listening pleasure, he gets on his job. A major strength of Fish Market 2 is in it’s ability to just bang. The beats put forth on the release all bring energy. The first two tracks “Fintro” and “FM2 Theme” are both welcome introductions which get the listener rockin’ from the jump. Other early tracks of note, include “No Bad Mon” feat. Tanya Stephens and the dope lead single;”Step Yo Game Up”.

The standout track, though,comes at about midway point of Fish Market 2, with “Across The Map”.This track finds 2na teaming with the always ill J-Live,who steals the show and makes you wonder why he’s so under-appreciated.J drops the line: “They say that my music don’t appeal to my people, despite when I write that be  who I’m tryin to speak to” and continues with a verbal onslaught,slamming those that feel that his kind of hiphop isn’t made for the mainstream.The collaboration is flat out dope and paints a picture with a dope beat under.While not standouts,the tracks “Hood Report”, “Focused Up” , “4 The Love”, “Time Is Now”,”Save The People” and the smoke anthem “Wheels On the World” all provide satisfaction.

The few disappointing tracks on Fish Market 2 stand out. First is the flat out terrible “Gadget Go Go”, which really deserves little explanation. The true disappointment comes in the collaboration with Planet Asia “On The Low”. While the potential for the track brings excitement, the execution falls short and leaves the listener thoroughly scratching their head.

Overall, Fish Market 2 comes together as a dope, energetic mixtape. While not a front to back spinner,it contains a bevy of strong and dope tracks. Fish Market 2 is a nice summer mixtape with energy that allows it to be left in rotation at a BBQ or as something to bump in the ride at 5pm on a Friday. So do yourself a favor and check out the fresh cuts at the Fish Market.

The Jurassic 5 frontman delivers a freebie from his new Fish Market 2 mixtape-album, in stores now on Decon.

LISTEN: Chali 2na – “Wheels of The World” (ft Elzhi & DJ Dez Andres of Slum Village) (MP3)

Chali 2na – “Wheels of The World” (ft Elzhi & DJ Dez Andres of Slum Village) (MP3)

Second leak from Chali 2Na’s forthcoming The Fishmarket 2. Super robot flow for Chali on this one – definitely lives up to it’s title.

LISTEN: Chali 2na – “Go Go Gadget” (MP3)

Chali 2na – “Go Go Gadget” (MP3)

First single from the Juassic 5 frontman’s forthcoming The Fishmarket 2, produced by DJ Dez Andres of Slum Village. Check out the PSA above.

Chali 2na – “Step Yo Game Up” (MP3)

Taken from Chali 2na’s “Fish Outta Water”, in stores now on Decon. – DJ Pizzo

      As the wise old saying goes, “There are other fish out there in the sea.”

      Chali 2NA (pronounced Tuna), of Jurassic 5 fame, is out to prove that, by name, he may be one of the smaller fish in the sea, but in the crowded fish market, he still deserves his proper respect and love from the masses. Unfortunately, The Fishmarket, Chali’s mixtape in promotion of his upcoming Fish Out Of Water solo album on Interscope, may do just the opposite as he relies heavily on guest appearances to save Fishmarket from a sea of mediocrity.

       For any fan of Jurassic 5, The Fishmarket may be a welcomed treat with tracks like “Work It Out” and “Linguistics (DJ Dez Remix)” featuring full head-on collisions between Chali’s solo career and his career as a member of the group. Elsewhere, Chali is noticeably absent altogether with “Oh No” being handled entirely by femcee Ang 13 and the packed “Chicagorillas” pairing Chali 2NA with 5 other emcees, all equally vying for a portion of the limelight cast down upon the fish market. “Welcome to the Fish Market” and “MC Material” join Chali and Laidlaw, who receives considerably more time on the microphone than Chali lending to the question: On a Chali 2NA mixtape, why are there so many other fish swimming amongst him?

      Not all goes wrong for the big 2NA on The Fishmarket though, as the unbelievable tag-team effort of Chali and Rasco on “Sweet Science” should surround both with some well-deserved hype. Using a boxing ring concept, Rasco spits, “Me and Chali tune-for-tune, you cats better give us some room, I side-stepped and I lowered the boom, You cats better call your goons tonight ’cause I’m ending it soon, First round put your back on the ground, I’m the best pound-for-pound.” To which Chali retorts, “The ring is now a disaster scene, After trainer’s apply Vaseline, I come to smash the king.” The back-and-forth concept lands squarely on the jaw with punches flying throughout the entire track. “4 GT 10,” which appeared on Linkin Park’s Reanimation disc sounds just as revolutionary on The Fishmarket, combining the energized rocked-out performance of Linkin Park coupled with the social pen of Chali 2NA (“City governments are eternally napping, Trapped in gritty covenants causing urban collapsing”). The snake-charming production of “Whose 2 Blame” finds Chali getting conscious again, this time with the help of Don Coleon with the two striking against the injustices of society.

     Still, with the help of over a dozen guests, it’s not hard for the 2NA to get buried amongst the numerous guest appearances and showcases for Jurassic 5 and other underground acts. On a mixtape in promotion of Fish Out Of Water, Chali finds himself playing second fiddle to other emcees all too often wasting valuable time to establish his own solo career on the microphone. In a sea full of fish (The Fishmarket), Chali 2NA struggles to stand out often on his own mixtape. “There are other fish out there in the sea,” as the wise saying goes. Unfortunately for Chali, they all seem to show up on one mixtape ? his. Something that could keep Chali from ever becoming a big fish in the big pond of hip-hop.