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

Stars

Halsey’s ‘Badlands’ soundtracked the rise and fall of my oldest friendship

The pop star’s first album let us escape from the suburbs. After a falling out, it brought us back together
Nini Coco with an up arrow behind her; Darlene Mitchell with a down arrow behind her

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18, Episode 8 power ranking: Papal defiance

One of the most blatant robberies in recent memory happens in the Snatch Game of Love Island
Discord Addams

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18, Episode 8 recap: I came here for Snatch

A “Love Island” take on Snatch Game of Love freshens up the game, and gets great results
Myki Meeks with an up arrow behind her; Juicy Love Dion with a down arrow behind her

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18, Episode 7 power ranking: Revenge of the Meeks

Frontrunners suddenly find themselves in jeopardy, while an underdog scores her first win