Review Summary: An album with at least a couple tracks for everyone to enjoy.
Chali 2na is an interesting emcee. Known as one-fifth of the hip-hop group Jurassic 5, 2na is known for his deep baritone voice and unique flow. As such, it's no surprise he's decided to branch out in the wake of Jurassic 5's disbandment. Since then he's done several guest appearances with various artists, and fans were highly-anticipating a solo album. Enter his first solo full-length "Fish Outta Water".
This album has many tones that can be found throughout. 'Get Focused' is a fast-paced intro that sounds similar to the Jurassic 5 days, whereas 'So Crazy' has a more determined and somber tone as 2na rhymes over some menacing synths. 'Comin' Thru' is one of the highlight songs of the album (and it's actually a remade version), featuring a catchy chorus and great wordplay. This song demonstrates the amazing flow 2na possesses - "Every posse recline and watch me get applause / Forming reservoirs on your desert shores / You're witnessing mental and verbal fitness friend / Tuna fish that descended from Lake Michigan".
This album features a few guest appearances. The most notable is Talib Kweli, who stops by for a verse on 'Lock *** Down' (the club banger of the album). Both 2na and Kweli compliment each other perfectly, and the track features some pretty heavy hitting bass. Anthony Hamilton adds some soulful vocals to 'Don't Stop', and the track even features flutes with an up-tempo beat. While all the guest appearances are well-placed and all above average or better, the show-stealing guest spot might just be Elzhi on the tribute 'When Will I See You Again?'.
While the vocals by both 2na and his guests are usually on point, the production is not. "Fish Outta Water" generally is very over-produced. At times you'll find the vocals outweigh the background music by a large amount, and other times you'll find it's the exact opposite. If there were an easy way to describe the production of this album, it'd be that it has a "vintage" feel to it, and that only detracts from the enjoyability of the album.
The bottom line is that 2na has found his niche, and he's smart enough to know how to manipulate it to his advantage. While some artists try to change and throw fans off, 2na has once again provided a solid release for his fans. This album is structured well, and there is no denying 2na is a unique emcee both lyrically and vocally. Besides sloppy production and few odd tracks here-and-there, "Fish Outta Water" will keep J5 and Chali 2na fans more than satisfied until his next project.
Recommended Tracks:
"Lock *** Down"
"Controlled Coincedence"
"Comin' Thru"
