Chali2na and Cut Chemist at Levitt Pavilion
July 24, 2024Visiting from LA, a ways away from the Good Life Café, and a minute from the heyday LA’s conscious rap movement of the late ’90s, iconic rapper and painter Chali2na hit Levitt Pavilion for one of the venue’s free shows of the summer las Friday, and rocked Ruby Hill hard.
2na, co-founder of old school rap group Jurassic 5 and rap/Latin funk-dance/world music icons Ozomatli, is likely the most popular and recognized member of former, and a long-time member of the rotating cast of the latter. In the outdoor, summer night beauty of the mid-sized Levitt, he’s an imposing figure – especially if you’re standing in the photo pit and gazing at him up in the glaring lights. Standing at at least 6′ 4 and with his signature raised hand a few feet above that, you surely get the feeling this guy is the definition of a gentle giant. And his musical and lyrical talent proves that giant fact beyond the shadow of a doubt.
Spitting out rapid-fire flow lyrics all night, 2na featured a healthy slab of his solo work, as well as a few Jurassic 5 classics.
Spitting out rapid-fire flow lyrics all night, 2na featured a healthy slab of his solo work, as well as a few Jurassic 5 classics, firing up the crowd and providing a fiercely hot vibe. The Jurassic 5 stuff – which included the classic “What’s Golden,” “Freedom,” and ” Day at the Races” – was even faster and more intense than their historical sound.
2na’s longtime DJ and friend Cut Chemist also came out and did a little number himself to a much delighted crowd. These guys – a pair of hip hop geniuses together since their high school days in Los Angeles – have an unmatched, and unmatchable, chemistry (no pun intended).
If you want to catch some of the show on video, checkout my Tik Tok page (gfederico17) and see for yourself why 2na is definitely one of hip hop’s most revered rappers and collaborators.
