Chali 2na at Bluesfest

I should start off by making it clear that there is nothing queer about hip-hop artist Chali 2na.

However, if you are a marijuana advocate who digs rap, Chali 2na is an act you must catch next time he’s in town. If not for his smooth, electronic-infused rhymes, then for the secondhand weed fumes.

After a bouncy opener, Chali 2na asked the Bluesfest crowd, “Do you want to get high?” As any bystander could smell, the crowd already was.

Chali 2na was a founding member of legendary hip-hop outfit Jurassic 5. I recall blasting “What’s Golden” from my mother’s Honda Civic while driving around Kanata during my high school years. After Jurassic 5 disbanded in 2007, Chali 2na hit it out alone, releasing Fish Outta Water in 2009.

So if you are the kind of queer who shrugs off stereotypes by disliking Gaga and listening to white rappers after Labour Day, check out this Chicago-born Islamic blazer.

Lock Shit Down

Algonquin College journalism grad. Podcaster @qqcpod.

Keep Reading

Myki Meeks with an up arrow behind her; Darlene Mitchell with a down arrow behind her

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18, Episode 16 power ranking: Three of hearts

We take one last look back at our final three queens’ journeys
Darlene Mitchell with backup dancers

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18 finale recap: Rise of a new supreme

Who is America’s Next Drag Superstar XVIII?
A circle of Miis jumping in a grassy area, in front of two Miis chatting while sitting by a fountain

Queer players are finally ‘Living the Dream’ in the new ‘Tomodachi Life’ sequel

The latest instalment of Nintendo’s life-sim game breaks ground with new Mii gender, pronoun and attraction options
Juicy Love Dion crying in Athena Dion's lap

How ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18 went off the rails

After a streak of strong flagship seasons, the MTV era saw its first real disappointment. What went wrong?
Advertisement