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  Release Date: January, 2005
  Website: Chali 2Na Website
  Label: Traffic Ent. Group

Chali 2Na “Fish Market” Album Review
I’ve been a little skeptic about rap music’s new concept of the pre- or post-album mixtape for some time now. I feel like it could negatively effect hip-hop by creating an industry under which artists can release just about anything and make money.

Instead of actually taking time to develop and produce a quality hip-hop album, those money, cash, hoes cats can take a low quality album, invest in a flashy marketing scheme and put it out for no purpose other than to make money. Instead of spending hours in the studio, somebody could record a freestyle session, call it a mixtape, and sell it at a higher profit margin.

However, I do think the proper creation and evolution of the hip-hop mixtape could be very valuable to true hip-hop fans for three reasons. First, it gives the listener an idea of what to expect. A mixtape essentially contains songs that an artist recorded during the same time period as his soon-to-be-released album but that, for some reason or another, did not make the album. These songs not only give the listener an idea of the direction of the upcoming album, but also an idea of the quality of the new album, based a handful of songs that should be representative of the quality and direction of their album counterparts.

Second, a pre-album mixtape often gives the listener access to material that may otherwise not be easy to find. Often, this material is closer to pure hip-hop than the real album’s record-company-backed tracks, containing freestyles, playtime studio sessions or friendly compilations.

And third, a mixtape often has the ability to attract new listeners or introduce new artists to the listener. Mixtapes are by definition mixed, containing unique compilations, guests of different directions and genres, and experimentation of production, lyrics, and flow that you can’t always find on albums that have been accentuated as product or means of profit.

Still, these positive attributes don’t negate the standard preconceived notion of a pre-album mixtape, and that is that it contains tracks that in reality just didn’t make the cut. Whether the songs got old or audience-known from repeatedly performing them at shows, or simply don’t mesh with the theme of the upcoming album, the tracks are often perceived as leftovers.

When reading the reviews of Chali 2na’s “Fish Market” (most being Internet-based as the majority of journalistic publications that would refer to themselves as “Hip-Hop Journalists” didn’t review it), these notions held strong. Most reviewers subtly dissed the album, not necessarily by talking down about it, but by not giving it the props it deserves. Many gave praise to Chali 2na and Jurassic 5, but brushed the mixtape off as an insignificant example of 2na’s lyrical skills or his ability to release a great solo album, mostly based on the fact that he gave others more time than himself. I respectfully disagree. “Fish Market” is an impressive album due to its underground appeal, socially conscious lyrics, hip-hop commentary, lyrical and verbal creativity.

Underground Appeal
The first thing I liked about “Fish Market” was its underground appeal. Often, this appeal can be felt before you’ve even heard the album. Chali 2na is at the point in his popularity where he could have marketed this album, had it sitting in Best Buy on the new releases rack, maybe even gotten a TRL spot. Yet 2na made this album available only to the real fans, people who would go looking for it. It was almost a little ridiculous, as I couldn’t find the CD anywhere in the United States, and ended up having to bootleg the album off of my man who had it on vinyl. I hate to bootleg, especially from artists I respect. I’ll buy two of “Fish Outta Water” and a couple concert tickets to make up.

Socially Conscious Lyrics
Another outstanding feature of the album was its socially conscious lyrics, which are not common on mixtapes. Though the album largely features different artists, Chali 2na uses his time well, kicking some verses that displayed interesting social and political thought.

Defense against those who detest the truth/ But ignorant cats oppress the youth/ Attacking the image a plan to cleverly execute/ Collecting extra loot/ From the destitute.

Address the rage/ Rush the stage/ Just to blaze/ Glorifying glamour and glory’s just a phase/ Cutting down the rainforests for cows just to graze/ Is killing the populous while you close ..

We say you governments are eternally napping/ Trapped and greedy felonies are causing urban collapsing/ Bullets that scar souls/ With dark holes/ Get more than your car stole/ Some parts be blacker than charcoal/ This society’s deprivation/ Depends not on all the differences but the separations/ Within no reparation/ Can be made/ Limited aid/ And minimum wage/ Living in a tenement cage.

Who’s to blame/ Who is the one to spark the flame/ The victim who became part of the game/ We being murdered for money, sex, and fame/ The question remains the same/ Who’s to blame.

Single political interests often viewed/ You police the planet but who protects us from you/ While wars are waged over pathetic turf/ We elect leaders with no regard for planet Earth.

Can it be so simple/ Today’s medics genetically clone people/ And though we hate the pathetic/ US citizens give up their civil liberties/ To officers of evil intending devilish energies/ While enemies join forces/ To endorse this/ Mental extortion/ Gone corporate.

2na breezes over several socially conscious topics on this album. He touches on politics by protesting that “we elect leaders with no regard for planet Earth” and accusing governments of “eternally napping . causing urban collapsing.” He speaks on materialism and distribution of wealth, claiming that “we being murdered for money, sex and fame.” Yet overall, 2na continues to maintain a positive outlook on the future, saying that this “glorifying glamour and glory’s just a phase.” I hope these lines of thought will progress into 2na’s solo release.

Hip-Hop Commentary
Another thing that I like about Chali 2na is his commentary on hip-hop, something common among the J5 crew. In this album, 2na centers many of his verses on wack rappers in hip-hop.

My escapades/ Exceed caddy escalades/ I best behave/ Till the rhythm of justice saves/ Elected raid/ My lecture made extra waves/ Doggin’ your sound causing you clowns just to cave.

My heart’s torn/ As I watch my art form/ Give plaques and charms/ To writers of wack poems.

Rich rappers when you’re talking/ I hope you keep your topics as deep as your pockets and use logic/ The words kill before you have time to breathe/ Whether ears or in the eyes see the mind believe.

No remorse for those lost/ In jiggity ho’s cars/ And amateur flows cost/ You’ll get closed off.

Text that now seems abrasive/ Phrases laced with/ Razor blade statements/ Ways to confuse . today’s matrix.

2na again comments on materialism in hip-hop, showing himself above those rappers “lost in jiggity ho’s cars” and “caddy escalades,” perhaps parts of “today’s matrix.” But again, instead of showing anger or scorn, 2na challenges rich rappers to “keep your topics as deep as your pockets and use logic.”

Creativity
Hip-hop seems to me to be one of the greatest sources of verbal and musical creativity, and Chali 2na is one of the most creative lyricists around. His use of a deep, choppy presentation makes him easily distinguishable, and his skill with intellectual vocabulary and storytelling is not easily matched by any of his lyricist contemporaries. I think one of my favorite habits of 2na’s is his ability to creatively talk about himself. 2na often refers to himself in the third person and spends a lot of time describing himself in metaphor and rhyme.

Vocal tones fracture/ Rhymes blast ya/ Through your back bra/ 2na the verbal newscaster/ Clapped ya/ Gun blast fast and crashed past ya/ Challenging the miniscule to the masta/ Till you can grasp the/ Millions of metaphors made perhaps the/ Track that sends your herd out to pasture.

The fight game dominator/ I’m bringing the drama hater/ The common denominator/ Responding to trauma greater/ Than most .

My mic blast/ Burning so fast/ It might hang in the past/ When I dropped it on the beach it turned sand into glass/ Handle my stash/ Planning to smash/ Slanted from hash/ Watching these rap stars turn the planet to ash.

Rattling your collapse ear/ Setting traps here/ Kicking raps clear/ Hop on your lap dear/ Verbal Pap smear/ Back to smack fear/ To your dome piece/ Domes peak/ Rocking from the cradle till my bones creak.

2na refers to himself as “the verbal newscaster,” “the fight game dominator,” and “the common denominator,” boasting his ability to “turn sand into glass,” “kick raps clear,” and “rock . till my bones creak.”

With all these standout patterns, Chali 2na still devotes many verses to his old school roots, using his lyrics as a forum to show off his verbal creativity. In hip-hop, this is often accomplished using similes, tongue twisters or creative combinations of words and rhymes.

My fans wiggle I rip it like Van Winkle/ From here to Japan hit you with words my pen sprinkles.

Words Ricochet like Denzel and Ice T/ Come lyrically feisty/ Embedded like lice be/ Flow nicely.

I control your laughter/ Words more powerful than your pastor/ Rappers sweeter than two liters of Shasta.

You all scared to face/ How harsh the truth tastes/ Flashin’ like orange juice and the taste of toothpaste.

You ain’t slick/ In this rap shit/ Get slapped quick/ Match wits/ Words fill up the cracks like chap stick/ Hawk spit with the lyrics packed with content/ You never will have none like an empty convent.

Well sex sells/ And crime rhymes melt kids minds like soft shells.

Rip it like Van Winkle . Ricochet like Denzel and Ice T . Sweeter than two liters of Shasta . Fill up the cracks like chap stick . Never have none like an empty convent . Show that to your punk ass English professors who think rap music has no literary substance. If Homer or Dante does it, it’s a simile, but if Chali 2na does it, it’s not?

I thought that Chali 2na’s “Fish Market” was dope and definitely overlooked by reviewers and fans. Not only does the album give a preview of the Manphibian’s lyrical skills and direction toward his first solo release, including shards of social, political, economic and hip-hop cultural commentary, but the mixtape also shares the stage with several real hip-hop artists that don’t receive the mainstream recognition of a Chali 2na or a Jurassic 5.

Chali 2na didn’t weaken his attempt to develop a successful solo career by giving too much attention to others on this album, because it is a mixtape. He didn’t need to flaunt on this album, for that’s what his upcoming release should do. 2na let people know he was coming, then sat back and let his cronies reach some listeners while getting the audience ready for the real show. Pimp style. And if this mixtape is truly a prequel to Chali 2na’s expected solo project, we can expect “Fish Outta Water” to be a hugely successful beginning to 2na’s solo career.