Send "Chali 2na " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Rapreviews |
 Chali 2na's much-delayed solo debut "Fish Outta Water" was originally finished in 2005. Think of how much has changed since 2005: we have a new president, the economy has gone into the toilet, and, oh yeah, Chali's band, Jurassic 5, broke up. Those changes were part of the reason for the delay, as Chali wanted to go back and update the sound and lyrics of the album to better fit the changing times. With new songs and a a new label (Decon rather than Interscope), "Fish Outta Water" is finally ready for its close up. The title suggests that Chali is getting out of his element, and the music backs this up. I generally associate Chali with feel-good, old-school beats and rhymes. While that sound is represented here, there is also a more aggressive tone to some of the songs on the album. This is combined with production by Jake One, Scott Storch, and Vitamin D that is more club than backyard barbeque. This shift is also signaled by Chali's geographic references. There's a lot of talk of his home town of Chicago, and very little mention of Los Angeles, where he met Cut Chemist and formed Jurassic 5. It's as if he is abandoning the sun and fun of the West Coast for the grittier, tougher life in the Windy City, both musically and lyrically. The album starts off with the horns and bouncing funk of "Get Focused," which bleeds into "International." At this point Chali steers away from the golden age sound J5 favored, going in a more blippy, clubby direction, with Beenie Man offering his toasting abilities. "So Crazy" goes even further in this direction, with a minimalist electronic beat, and Chali rapping about how the stresses and pressures of life can drive you crazy. "Try to never let the pressure defeat you/Losing your mental faculties ultimately defeats you," he advises. "Some of us can make this seem seamless, but then again insanity can really mean genius." "Lock Shit Down" rides a sinister guitar riff while Talib Kweli and Chali trade licks. If the Black Star reunion doesn't work out, Talib and Chali should consider doing an album together; their contrasting flows compliment each other, and there is a natural chemistry between them. "Controlled Coincidence" starts off with Ronald Reagan's infamous quote that "Government is the problem," before going into a fierce middle-eastern beat while Chali and Kanetic Source trade bars criticizing the government. "Don't Stop" returns to traditionalist territory, featuring a banging flute loop and Anthony Hamilton singing the hook while Chali urges listeners to not give up. "Keep Goin'" is a similar track, with a similar message, and a female R&B singer on the hook. It's also one of the weaker songs on the album. The music is syrupy R&B, and Chali's positivism comes off as preachy. He has better success fusing hip hop and R&B on "When Will I See You Again." The track features verses by Elzhi, and smooth beat that reminded me of Q-Tip....full text |
| Urb |
| When Jurassic 5 disbanded in 2007, the question on everybody’s mind was surely, “What now?” When a group as diverse, unique and skilled as that breaks up, what tends to happen is that one member goes on to experience success with a solo career while the rest never seem to achieve that same status. Maybe it’s still too early to tell what will come of them. But as for Chali 2na, it is clear that something special is in store for him. With his first solo attempt, Fish Outta Water, 2na demonstrates that even though he has gone from six to one, not only has he not missed a step, but he has come to break out of the pigeon-hole that his former group was put into. Everything from battle tracks to graffiti-artist odes show up on the album. One great track is “Lock Shit Down,” which features none other than the BKMC, Talib Kweli. Arguably the best things Chali has going for him are his voice and his usage of patterns. Just the way that he sounds and the way he ties words into knots with ease make listening not only enjoyable, but captivating. There is also a dedication to the old school with “When Will I See You Again.” Linking up with Elzhi on this track was genius. Another master of patterns, they trade lines back and forth incredibly well. Doesn’t sound like a stretch? Well then take note that Chali also gets personal on the album. On “Righteous Way,” he offers glimpses of his upbringing and the obstacles that his mother and father went through together before then getting into his own struggles with love. “4 Be Be” also touches on family tragedy— namely the death of a cousin. Oh, don’t worry, the production is strong too. With contributions by Scott Storch and Jake One, the beats Chali jumps on do not scream “underground” or “alternative” at all. Fish Outta Water is a very strong project. Perhaps the greatest thing about it is that listeners get to learn a lot about the J5 member (maybe more than they could have learned when he was part of a group). Speaking on a variety of topics and not without his own stories to tell, Chali 2na is destined for a personal renaissance of success....full text |
| Billboard |
Between serving as the Darth Vader-voiced de facto frontman of Jurassic 5 and maintaining a pace of guest appearances that would weary Talib Kweli, the Chicago-based baritone Chali 2na has done his share of small-group projects in recent years. So it makes sense that his long-in-the-works solo debut is filled with big-shot guest stars and producers. "Fish Outta Water" may lack the demographic-tripping vibe that even a Jurassic 5 in turmoil could whip up, but it's a mostly winning debut that makes up in vocal prowess for what it lacks in hooks. "So Crazy" has a great late-night vibe, while "Lock Shit Down" kills with a Kweli guest spot. The Scott Storch-produced "Love's Gonna Getcha" is a melodic score, and the old-school "Comin' Thru" leaps off the disc thanks to production by Jurassic 5's DJ Nu-Mark....full text |
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