Fish out of Water: Chali2na

J5's debut LP and Quality Control are hip hop classics. I still can't get enough of epic old school tracks such as Jayou, Quality Control, Action Satisfaction, Concrete Schoolyard, The Influence and The Game among others. Unfortunately, their sound did not remain golden. Their lyrics became stagnant, stuck on the topic of not getting enough recognition, their reliance on guest artists grew and the departure of Cut Chemist was felt. Throughout J5's music journey, one thing always stayed constant, Chali2na's thoughtful distinct deep flow. 2na's flow like water skills deserve better beats, sound effects and choruses than the ones drowning him on "International" and "Lock Shit Down." I hope 2na digs through the J5 crates and brings it back to the basics.