Us [Digipak]

Performer: Brother Ali
Artist: Stokley Williams; Chuck D; Freeway; Joell Ortiz
Engineer: Joe Mabbott
Distributor: Alternative Dis. Alliance

Notes: Personnel: Joe Mabbott (vocals, organ, drums, percussion); John Harrison, Stokley Williams, Mankwe Ndosi (vocals); Dustin Kiel (guitar, slide guitar, banjo); Nate Collis, Nate Collis (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, sitar, background vocals); Dustin Sorensen (strings, horns); Erick Anderson, Erick Anderson (piano, organ, keyboards, talk box); Steve Roehm, Steve Roehm (vibraphone); Brian MacLeod (drums); Anthony Davis (scratches). Audio Mixer: Joe Mabbott. US, Brother Ali's second record in the 2009 calendar year, finds the prolific MC and Rhymesayer mainstay as reflective (and effortlessly poignant) as ever. He's also as musically bipolar as ever, basking in his newfound life as a father while name-dropping the Bearenstain Bears on one track ("Fresh Air"), while bemoaning the mixed-up, messed-up state of the world on the next ("Tight Rope"). He also remains one of rap's premier creator of character sketches as on the sitar blues of "Breakin' Dawn." The production on US is as top notch as ever, slipping from golden age glory to intricate pop montages.

Rolling Stone (p.125) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "US sounds great, with Ali's sensitive, stentorian voice plowing through sleek jazz and blues loops from producer Ant." Spin (p.74) - "For him, hip-hop means fighting for justice, and as Chuck D attests in US' introduction, Ali is a 'soldier in the war for love.'" Billboard (p.37) - "What gives Brother Ali's slice-of-life ruminations their impressive heft is the rapper's eye for everyday detail and the handmade appeal of his vintage-funk arrangements."

While large white albino Muslims don't generally make for traditional pop music celebrities, that didn't stop Brother Ali (born Jason Newman) from pursuing hip-hop superstardom. The Minneapolis-based MC is a member of the Rhymesayers crew, and frequently works with other Rhymesayers stalwarts such as Slug and Ant. His often outspoken political lyrics, rejection of traditional notions of success and beauty, and fiercely independent approach haven't garnered him any favors with the mainstream. Still, Ali's amazing mic skills, infectious songwriting, and undeniable integrity have made him one of the underground's most intriguing figures. He toured with Ghostface Killah and the legendary Rakim on the 2007 Hip Hop Live! tour.

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