Chali 2na: a big fish

By Steph Mullen

Chali 2na possesses that rare quality of being both famous and down-to-earth with a strong, deep voice that is easily identifiable, but undercut with a humble, aw-shucks manner. The Los Angeles-native and former member of legendary Jurassic 5 has moved past the group’s split in 2007, continuing to receive critical acclaim as a solo artist. He amassed legions of fans over the course of his four releases and with another album on the way he’s keeping the funky and feel good music of hip hop alive. Riding the strength of his latest solo release, Fish Market 2, in June, 2na is now set to unleash on Canada.

“I never really thought of it as ‘I want to go solo’,” says 2na. “It was more of a solo project. I just wanted to do it so I could say I did it. The group broke up before I actually got a chance to do it.”

Since Jurassic 5’s split and a struggle with his previous record company to retain his rights to older collaborations, 2na released has released his latest album. His own personal contribution to the hip hop industry continues to grow.

“Creativity is what hip hop was made for,” says 2na. “Making something out of nothing. Turntables, MCs, dj-ing is the most famous part of the culture. So I think that it continues along the lines of being creative and pushing the envelope. I’m not necessarily doing a lot of things new. At the same time, songs like “Gadget Go Go” are new to the hip hop genre with dubstep stuff. Just trying some different things, continuing to do collaborations that people haven’t done. I don’t know any other hip hop singers that have collaborated with someone like Tanya Stephens. I’m just happy to be one of the dudes that contributed to it like that.”

Though 2na pioneered change in one sub-genre, he’s also been a witness to the rise of another. Jurassic 5 released their first full-length in 1997 during the rise of gangster rap.

“It is good for more than the gangster rap aspect of LA to be represented. Ras Kass and Strong Arm Steady and others, all these different people who are pushing the envelope but not from that perspective [of] real hip hop,” he says, but then quickly clarifies, “not saying that gangster rap is not real hip hop. I’m pushing a style of hip hop that I learned and that’s the style I like. I’m not trying to be self-righteous.”

For Canadian hip hop fans, distantly removed from the underground hip hop scene in LA, it has been interesting to see the music evolving in certain directions. Gangster rap is steadily growing in popularity, altering the genre with its lyrical content.

“I think it’s cool still because some of the gangster rap is cool. I’m not trying to downplay nobody. I’m just saying that it wasn’t something I was into,” he says. “When I’m into something, it is because it is from a creative standpoint first. If it’s creative, I’m with it, regardless of what the genre is.”

2na’s future appears more ambitious than ever. He is working on another solo album, collaborating with Galactic in New Orleans, and most importantly, painting. A painter before a musician, 2na admits, “that’s really what I do.” 2na seems ready to let his love of art take over his life. Already having shown his work in private galleries, his prints will be available to the public in the near future.

2na is stopping in Calgary this month at the HiFi Club.

“I try to make sure everyone feels as if they’re in someone’s backyard having a hell of a backyard party, more so than just being at a concert and watching someone walk back and forth across the stage,” he says. “I just want everyone to open up to each other as brother and sister. A lot of people come to bars or hip hop shows and feel like they need to have a drink in their hand and mean-mug everybody. That isn’t the vibe I bring at all. I try to bring something that is exactly the opposite of that.”