jeffvrabel.com I humorist and music writer

Billboard — Between serving as the Darth Vader-voiced de facto frontman of Jurassic 5 , the throwback rappers even your biking friends could agree on, and maintaining a pace of guest appearances that would weary Talib Kweli, the Chicago-based baritone Chali 2na has done his share of small-group projects in recent years. So it makes sense that his long-in-the-works solo debut is filled with big-shot guest stars and producers. “Fish Outta Water” may lack the demographic-tripping vibe that even a Jurassic 5 in turmoil could whip up, but it’s a mostly winning debut that makes up in vocal prowess for what it lacks in hooks. “So Crazy” has a great late-night vibe, while “Lock Shit Down” kills with a Kweli guest spot. The Scott Storch-produced “Love’s Gonna Getcha” is a melodic score, and the old-school “Comin’ Thru” leaps off the disc thanks to production by Jurassic 5′s DJ Nu-Mark.

• DOWNLOAD: Chali 2na – Comin’ Thru.mp3

• ARCHIVE: Read a 2006 Billboard interview with 2na and Nu-Mark in advance of J5′s “Feedback.”