With the release of his new solo album ‘Fish Outta Water’, Milly Cundall catches up with former J5 and Ozomatli member Chali 2na…

Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli fame, the man with that voice has recently dropped his long awaited first Solo album: ‘Fish Outta Water’. Since Jurassic 5 split back in 2005, it’s clear he’s been grinding behind the scenes to create a body of work he was happy to put his name to. The title alone making it evident the intention of this album was to showcase a side of the artist his audience may not have seen before and expose a multifaceted view of Charli 2na the solo ‘artist’, dipping into more personal aspects of the man behind the music. Whether you’re aware of Chali 2na it’s unlikely, as a hip hop head, you’ve escaped that unique, baritone voice and whether it’s your cuppa tea or not, this man has come a long way. From his formative years spent in Chicago laced with its heavy House music scene, to his high school years growing up in Cali coming up amongst peers like Funkdoobiest, and Everlast. A graffer long before a spitter, this man is all about the four elements of hip hop and this album catalogues his battle with adversity, tragedy and his near fatal coach crash when on tour with Jurassic 5. One thing is clear, his love of music has given him the determination to hustle his way through and carve out a name for himself. This album has a very varied mix of styles, from the guest appearances to the production. With MCees such as Talib Kweli and Elzhi to Beenie Man and Anthony Hamilton and production offerings from DJ Babu and Jake One, it ‘s evidently going to be pretty varied in terms of sounds as it flits from harder sounding headnod hip hop to more mainstream, slightly RnB styled tracks. He took some time out to exchange words via email and although seemingly a man of few words I think you get the jist:

Growing up in Chicago at a time when it was all about heavy house music, how did you end up getting involved in Hip Hop?

I had a friend name Dave who moved to Chicago from the Bronx and was a graff writer. He used to show me pictures of painted trains and tell me stories about dance gangs called ” Break dancers”. I was intrigued and took to it for its Robin Hood type qualities.

For those who may not know, you’re also an accomplished graffiti artist. Is it true that you got into writing on walls before writing bars?

Yep. Freight trains, subway cars, vans, buses etc… Basically anywhere I felt people would see my art I was on it at one time. Moved to Cali and linked with a whole heap of graffiti writers and dabbled in poetry and rap until I felt I had some skill.

Do you still paint?

Yessir. Catch em on myspace.com/chali2na.

I heard during your high school years in California your peers were the likes of Funkdoobiest, Volume 10 and Everlast. Did this have a big influence on your style?

I believe it did to some degree. Just having peers like that made me want to step my game up.

Did you cipher in the playground?

Yessir. Often.

J5 and Ozomatli are pretty different in terms of music and audience. What was it that inspired to you to front Ozomatli whilst doing J5?

Opportunity presented itself and I took it I guess. Both groups have similar if not the same audiences to be honest. I really love what I do and was always looking for different ways to express myself and Ozo seem like a great way to do it.

‘Fish Outta Water’ is your first solo venture to date. After all these years what inspired you step out solo?

I’ve always wanted to add a solo project to my resume but got the chance later when both groups were signed to Interscope records. I guess they figured since I was in 2 groups, if I wanted to do a solo project that they would be the ones to put it out. It’s just another way to express myself.

This album is said to be a laying bare of Chali 2NA the multifaceted person, how did that effect your approach to the project?

I wanted this to be an Identification process so to speak. To show that there is more to me than just the verbal Herman munster. I had to push every part of me creatively and use all my resources to show every thing that influenced me musically.

What were the thought processes behind it?

I tried to make each song timeless. I succeeded on a few of them I think.

Before dropping the album you did a mixtape: ‘Welcome to the Fishmarket’ you then called the album ‘Fish Outta Water’ and your sporting scales on the front cover. This all feels deliberate. Is this light-hearted wordplay or are you making a big statement?

A little of both. Just making light of the whole fish thing as well as metaphorically showin me outside of my element. Tryin to make it all work, man.

The album is pretty varied in production and the guest MCees on it, weaving from quite dark hip hop tracks like ‘Lock shit down’, to an almost RnB feel with ‘Keep goin’. Was that deliberate or an organic process?

Once again just showin all the things that influenced me musically. I thought that by using different production it would help bring out the feelings I was searching for.

Do you think this is what people expected you to come with on your first solo project?

To be honest I’m not sure.

Do you have one track on the album that gives you a sense of pride and real achievement more than any other?

The Righteous Way is one I’m most proud of I guess because I bore my soul on the track literally. I was afraid to put the album out because I thought people might not like it.

Can you look at this project and feel you’ve achieved what you set out to do?

I do believe I’ve accomplished my goal on this album. Hopefully people get the picture.

Finally, you refer to yourself as ‘your friendly neighborhood baritone’. What was it like growing up with THAT voice?

Crazy really. My height accompanied with my voice would get me in to fights sometimes. But sometimes it would help with the ladies..

What lies ahead for Charli 2NA?

Only GOD Knows. But my plans are to record more in different capacities and get my paintings out to the world in different ways. Be on the lookout.

Words: Milly Cundall

Chali 2na’s new album is now available to buy, you can pick up a copy here.

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