Interview by: Martin Bauman As far as hip-hop goes, there may be no voice more recognizable than the deep baritone of
Chali 2na. The Chicago-turned-Los Angeles emcee has made an entire career with that voice - not to mention his remarkable lyrical prowess - as part of the legendary hip-hop group Jurassic 5, as well as Ozomatli. 2na, whose real name is Charles Stewart, is also part of another select group: those active in the music industry who were alive to witness hip-hop's birth. Growing up on the South side of Chicago, it was a special time for 2na. He reminisces, "back when we were in school,
every kid knew the words to "Rapper's Delight" by Sugar Hill Gang - the extended version."
But even before the music itself, 2na was drawn to hip-hop culture because of his love for graffiti. When he moved to Los Angeles (and before he became Chali 2na), he brought his obsession with him, tagging 'Chicago 1000' wherever he went - a name he says was drawn from one of his biggest inspirations, Futura 2000. Says 2na, "I figured if he's 2000, I'll be 1000. So that was my form of rebellion at the time, tagging 'Chicago' all over LA." Nowadays, 2na continues to create, whether it be through music, painting, or photography. His latest project,
Against The Current, encapsulates all three of those outlets, combining a series of EPs with a forthcoming book. The Come Up Show caught up with Chali 2na to discuss the EP and book, memories from the Good Life Cafe, the best advice he has to offer to upcoming emcees, and much more.
Read the full interview after the jump.
