A little over a year ago, Rap vet Chali 2na released his proper solo release, Fish Outta Water, to middling results. Lacking both the quality production, cohesion, and vision of his releases as a member of the Jurassic 5, 2na aims to prove he can be a successful solo artist with his sequel to the 2004 mixtape Fish Market.
Fish Market Part 2 kicks things off with the “Fintro,” which promises with its synth keys something epic. Unfortunately, the intro is significantly more hype than the cuts that follow it, the forgettable “FM2 Theme” and “Greezy.” Eventually, the stylings of Reggae artist Tanya Stephens catch the ear on “No Bad Mon,” attesting further to 2na’s appreciation of the genre. The cut will have speakers thumping as the groove, complete with guitar strums and organs paves the way for the J5 alum to come in with his trademark voice and flow. Unfortunately, the momentum gained is just as quickly lost with the useless skit that follows the song.
“Hype 2night” is vintage Chali 2na, with some light but funky guitar, and the rapper’s signature lyricism: “Top shotta / I gotta say I’m in my spot to stay / Because the word piece is not for play, not today …while other kids envelop in this plastic syndrome / And the devils and the government, we crash the system / I’m a…lyrical genius when the scene gets hot / And my English will extinguish their fiendish plots / What does it mean when the King is shot? / Another king in the game, come claim his spot.”
“Step Yo Game Up” 
is replete with cheese, as the beat begs you to mock its delusions of epic grandeur, but is quickly forgotten when X-Clan joins in on the aptly-titled “Funky For You.” Rappers take note: this track is an excellent example of what having a unique and distinguishable voice can do for your music. “Across the Map,” which features J-Live, is another gem, is another gem. The production on this one is worthy of the rappers’ lyricism, as its use of the major pentatonic scale elicits the late ’90s obsession with Eastern-sounding beats (think Gang Starr’s “Above the Clouds”).
Weighing in at a ludicrous 22 tracks, Fish Market Part 2’s problem is very easily diagnosed: there’s far too much fat. A leaner effort, anywhere between nine and 12 would’ve served Part 2 greatly – not only in maintaining higher levels of quality, but also making things tighter in terms of unified concept and cohesion.
Billed as a “mixtape CD,” it’s difficult to determine to what standard Fish Market Part 2 ought to be held. If it’s a mixtape, it’s pretty much of the standard fare: a handful of standout cuts filled with a tremendous amount of filler in between. As far as albums go, the same issues that plagued Fish Market affect this release, which is a shame, given Chali 2na’s considerable talent.
Kinda dope project
Check my blog out
http://loungin.wordpress.com/
Chicken of the Sea
this albums name fish market fits the whole thing very, very, very well…it is a fish album
yall hating
hey Tuna. call Jurassic 5. Apologize to them for being a conceited douche bag then aplogize to your fans for breaking up J5. Also aplogize to your mother for putting out sucha shitty solo joints.
Fish Market and Fish Outta Water were excellent albums. Fish Market was better received, but had the same vibe. Outta Water was also well produced from where I’m standin.
This review made assumptions that are not backed up with examples. Chali may not have kept J5 together any more than the other members, but he certainly wasn’t the only reason they broke up. Why would he ever have to admit to false truths?
=:xB
ya’ll be hating way too much, the album is ok, the beats are better than 75% of other shit coming out today and the raps aint bad. Sure there is a lot of filler, but it is a mixtape album so this comes as no surprise. there are also sore great bangers like step yo game up and the elzhi feature.
GTFOH!!!!!!
you guys are fuckin idiots, HHDX and all u cock lovers commenting
this wasnt an album, it was a mixtape, idk why the fuck yall even reviewed it, jus cuz there are hard copies for sale in stores dont make it an album
side note: fish outta water was an incredible album
the production was ill, the wordplay, the artistry, everything about that album was top notch.
and before i go……..i jus wanna say……. you guys are fucking fags…. especially the fag workin his gay 9 to 5
internet fags
Tuna Fish broke up Jurassic 5 because Jimmy Iovine gave him a solo deal and he thought he was hot shit. Well, he got dropped because his solo joint stank like fish and nobody cared.
why he couldn’t just stay in the group and try the solo thing at the same time? Who knows. did he not see what happen to Q-Tip and countless others?
The Only “Fucking Idiot” here is Good Ol Charlie Tuna.
Yo..Fuck You!!!! the way you talkin you must be cool with one of these cats who made this Horrific Mixtape , Album or whatever the fuck it is..they put it up here for the public to rate…you bitch and you aint know G.
comeon y’all… you DO know that although 2na was the one to actually ‘break up’ J5, ultimately blame can laid at the feet of their label which was unwilling to support at ALL.
and wtf is up with the negativity? this is markedly better than Fish Outta Water – and even that was decent.