The Undisputed Truth [PA]

Performer: Brother Ali
Engineer: Joe Mabbott
Distributor: Alternative Dis. Alliance

Notes: Personnel: Brother Ali (rap vocals); Mankwe Ndosi (vocals); Eric Anderson (keyboards); Joe Mabbott (percussion). Audio Mixer: Joe Mabbott. Photographer: Jonathan Mannion. Hands down the hottest albino rapper out there, Brother Ali is part of the Minnesota-based Rhymesayers crew that includes Atmosphere and Eyedea & Abilities. On his second full-length release, THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH, Ali hits with a slew of socially conscious lyrics, ranging from outwardly aggressive and politically charged to angst-ridden and introspectively emotional. His flow is hungry yet always in command over 15 butter, street-level beats courtesy of ANT. Ali lays out the complex details of his racial identity on "Daylight," decries the military's role in the lives of low-income Americans on "Letter From the Government," and speaks from the heart to his young son on "Faheem." Brother Ali, the albino MC signed to Rhymesayers, made a lot of noise when his debut, Shadows on the Sun, came out in 2004, and his follow-up, The Undisputed Truth, just proves that there was a reason for all the acclaim. Ali shows himself to be one of the most talented MCs in contemporary hip-hop, in both the underground or mainstream. Unlike other conscious rappers, he isn't so concerned about proselytizing, about making a point, that he forgets that an important part of hip-hop is having fun and dancing, at least for those few minutes, for those looped 16 bars. Producer Ant only helps complete this undertaking, making old-school-influenced musical beats that taste of funk and rock while still sounding current and accessible. It's a throwback to De La Soul's heyday, when smart, reflective rhymes were just as important as swagger and having fun. Even in the most vitriolic songs on the album (and it's long, clocking in at just over an hour with 15 tracks), Ali never comes across as heavy-handed or preachy. On the bitingly critical "Uncle Sam Goddamn," for example, the MC spits lines like "Talking bout you don't support a crackhead/What you think happens to the money from your taxes?/Sh*t the government's the addict" and "Three out of 12 months your salary pay for that madness" as warm, bouncy bluesy guitar and basslines -- traditional American music -- are picked out and repeated, while on the reggae-inspired "Freedom Ain't Free" he slows down his delivery, which lets the strength of his words come through without him having to sound angry or shout. Ali's a supremely honest rapper, and his sincerity is palpable as he talks about the problems he's faced, the struggles he's overcome, his hopes for the future, his confidence in his own talents. The Undisputed Truth is an album that proves unequivocally Brother Ali's verbal superiority, and the fact that his practiced, good-natured delivery, his intricate, intelligent rhymes, are among the best in the game. ~ Marisa Brown

Spin (p.86) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Producer Ant perfectly underscores Ali's gruff cadence...with a melodic lope that scrunches soul vocals underneath loops of bluesy guitar." Alternative Press (p.194) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Ali has evidently paid attention to old school tourmates like Rakim; even when he's just paraphrasing Public Enemy, his rhymes carry genuine heft." The Wire (p.45) - "Minneapolis MC Brother Ali is a fierce battle rapper and a deep soul....Rhymesayers' in-house beatmaker Anthony Davis handles all THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH's fantastic production, smartly pairing reggae to personal freedom anthems..." CMJ (p.38) - "[He] resurrects hip-hop that rocks just as it rivets, that testifies just as it philosophizes."

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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