Hip hop heads know Chali 2Na from his incredible group Jurassic 5. Latin music fans know him from his work in Ozomatli and appearances with Santana. Pop music fans know him, as he's worked with everyone from Linkin Park, to Anthony Hamilton, to Roots Manuva. Videogamers know his music from the soundtracks to NBA Live 06 and NBA 2K7. His 2004 mixtape Fish Market collected many of his well-known guest spots onto one collection. But it’s his upcoming solo album Fish Outta Water that has fans' appetites...ahem, so wet.

Being L.A. natives our damn selves, we were thrilled to get this West Coast legend to step in the booth at The Engine Room in Hollywood to freestyle over a crazy R.N.S. beat. Chali also spoke about moving from Chicago to Los Angeles and his first-ever taste of a real freestyle battle courtesy of a then unknown MC named Microphone Mike spittin’ on the block, who later became Myka 9 of Freestyle Fellowship.

Make sure to check out other top MCs on Freestyle 101, including hardcore rappers like Fat Joe, M.O.P., LOX, Heltah Skeltah, and Immortal Technique; legends like Mobb Deep, Ice-T and Kool Keith; nerdcore artists like MC Frontalot, MC Lars, Del the Funk Homosapien, and many more.

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