The very fact that this is the second Brother Ali record released this year says something about this particular rapper’s dedication. With the odds stacked against him (he’s a traditional Sunni Muslim trying to break America), Ali looks and says nothing expected of a ‘typical’ MTV rap star. “I’m the luckiest son-of-a-bitch that ever lived,” he says on the bombastic ‘Fresh Air’, and to instantly sum up the reason for all his labour: “I spend life doing shit I love!”
Signed to Minneapolis’ chic hip-hop label, Rhymesayers, Ali has thrown a good deal of soul into ‘Us’, his fourth full length album. As with previous recordings, production duties are gainfully handled by Atmosphere’s Ant, ensuring a bountiful hour of buoyant beatery filled with stabbing horns and whirling organs amongst a myriad of other live instruments.
Album introduction ‘Brothers And Sisters’ opens with hip-hop legend Chuck D asking an anonymous audience to welcome Ali. Having described him as a “Soldier of love who carries with him a message of true hope and true peace,” ‘The Preacher’ launches into his humble philosophy and vision of the world with great determination and veracity. With an unshakable belief and lyrical talents to match, this should be Ali’s defining moment – his opening number. And, yet, with the timbre of Ali’s voice best suited to Ant’s mid-tempo, thudding, funk numbers – the energy comes across misguided, falling hopelessly flat.
2007′s ‘The Undisputed Truth’ was delivered with fire throughout, but the Ali on ‘Us’ is simply no longer that angry. ‘The Undisputed Truth’ Ali was (according to the inlay sheet that accompanies ‘Us’) “Young, divorced, single dad, homeless,” and though he may still be able to spit verses better than a million other MCs, he’s now a recently happily remarried man with a baby daughter. In this drastically different psychological position, his observations naturally emanate from a more peaceful realm. It’s not that the hunger has died, but comparing the tone of ‘Daylight’ from ‘The Undisputed Truth’ to ‘Games’ on ‘Us’, though similar, there is less of that unflinching attitude exhibited across the whole of ‘Us’.
Like Chuck D, Brother Ali is in danger of becoming the elder statesman of hip-hop before having made the impact necessary to hold that title. Ali has set his sights high and is steadily working his way towards it, gripping the underdog’s rope tighter as he climbs. But, still, the breakthrough eludes him and ‘Us’ will, sadly, not see Ali – a gifted, conscious rapper – overground.
Despite all that, this is another solid album from the young Minnesotan with a lot to say. By tackling prostitution, slavery and homophobia, Ali will eventually grab the public to share his truth. For as long as he carries that desire – he’ll always be worth listening to.
