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Chali 2Na, the quick-witted baritone from on-hiatus rap group Jurassic 5, has five “genre-bending” EPs in the hopper to release throughout 2012 as part of his new project called Against the Current.  Check the trailer and press release below:

With his distinctive and widely beloved baritone voice, Chali 2na has established himself not only as one of hip-hop’s preeminent and charismatic personalities, but has also garnered renowned praise as a highly respected artist across a myriad of mediums. Today, he has announced his latest project, Against The Current, a 5 EP installment that will be released throughout 2012. Breathing new life into his musical history, the project’s sound is heavily influenced by his history; from the blues music he was raised on and the hip-hop he produced as a member of Jurassic 5, to the urban-Latin music he created with Ozomatli and his love for performing live. Each EP will be a fusion of these experiences, and also include Chali’s trademark spitfire rhymes. A trailer for Against The Current, featuring snippets from the project’s first single and title-track, has been released today, and can be viewed here.

Fans can catch a preview of Against The Current this winter as Chali will be hitting the road for a nationwide tour (full routing below). Kicking off February 9th in Oakland, CA, the tour will encompass nearly 30 dates before wrapping in Austin, TX for a series of showcases at this years’ SXSW Music and Film Conference.

More details on Against The Current will be revealed in the coming weeks!

Chali 2Na 2012 Winter Tour

• February 9, 2012 Oakland, CA The New Parish
• February 10, 2012 Santa Cruz, CA Moe’s Alley
• February 11, 2012 Reno, NV Cargo
• February 12, 2012 Boise, ID The Reef
• February 14, 2012 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom – Lola’s Room
• February 15, 2012 Victoria, BC Club 9one9
• February 16, 2012 Tofino, BC Tofino Legion
• February 17, 2012 Cumberland, BC Waverly Hotel – The Bridge
• February 18, 2012 Vancouver, BC The Rio Theatre
• February 20, 2012 Whistler, BC Garibaldi Lift Co.
• February 22, 2012 Nelson, BC Hume Hotel – Spirit Bar
• February 23, 2012 Fernie, BC The Northern
• February 24, 2012 Golden, BC Rockwater Bar & Grill
• February 25, 2012 Calgary, AB Hifi Club
• February 27, 2012 Ketchum, ID Whiskey Jacques
• February 28, 2012 Victor, ID Knotty Pine
• March 1, 2012 Bozeman, MT Zebra Cocktail Lounge
• March 2, 2012 Missoula, MT Top Hat
• March 4, 2012 Avon, CO The Snowball Festival
• March 6, 2012 Kansas City, MO Riot Room
• March 7, 2012 St. Louis, MO 2720
• March 8, 2012 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue
• March 9, 2012 Kallamazoo, MI Bell’s Brewery
• March 10, 2012 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
• March 12, 2012 Asheville, NC Asheville Music Hall
• March 13, 2012 Nashville, TN Exit In
• March 14, 2012 Knoxville, TN Cider House
• March 16 & 17, 2012 Austin, TX SXSW *Shows to be announced soon!
  Be sure to visit www.Chali2na.com/shows for the latest additions!

New music from a rap master.  Sign me up.  I won’t be hitting his tour this time, but I caught him at WOW Hall in Eugene last fall (where the photo at the top of this post was from)… knock out great show!

~Dan – np: John Zorn – Film Works XVIII: The Treatment