I usually compare Brother Ali to Roy Halladay (Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, arguably best pitcher in baseball). Roy is [one of] the best at what he does, but doesn’t really get the credit for it as much as he should. He’s good enough to be on every writer’s “Top Pitcher” list and every fan’s “Best Pitcher” discussion, but he isn’t. Halladay is overlooked, underappreciated, and will consistently be amazing at what he does. The same can be said for Brother Ali, who is unjustly left out of many conversations regarding some of the best hip hop emcees of this era. Three outstanding LPs, two near perfect EPs, various show stealing features (including “Second Time Around” from last year), a marvelous live show, varying word play ranging from blunt to clever to outrageous. The list goes on. If that isn’t enough ass-kissing for the moment, be prepared for more, because Brother Ali continues to do no wrong with his fourth LP, Us.
To anyone new to Brother Ali, you are in for hip hop treat. Possibly one of the best pairings of this genre in this decade, Ant of Atmosphere alongside Ali deliver a one-two producer-emcee punch rivaling the chemistry of Pete Rock and CL Smooth and Erick and Parrish. Moreover, this unofficial duo has dropped consistently great tracks over the span of the last four projects. Us is no different, as it offers up a barrage of flavour ranging from boom-bap to soul to militant to laid back to high tempo. The additional beauty of all of this? Ant uses live instruments to create his craft throughout.
What listeners get from Brother Ali on Us matches that of Ant’s production: versatility in every sense of the word. Look to the gospelic “The Preacher” to hear the Brother rap the word according to Ali over intense electric guitars and amped horns. Watch as Ali goes effortlessly from passionate reverend to relaxed hedonist on “Fresh Air” then goes on to be an optimistic (or pessimistic?) bonfire-storyteller on the racially focused “Breaking Dawn.” One of the show-stopping moments is on “Best@it” featuring Joell Ortiz and Freeway. What is undoubtedly a lyrical murder by all three wordsmiths turns out to be a platform for Ali to let loose like a semi-automatic all over the track for 3 minutes speaking about earning your status in hip hop and receiving justly praise as “the best.” The transition Ali makes halfway through his verse is a smooth momentum shifter, and furthermore, the transitions he has made on this one album rival the amount some of hip hop’s finest have made during their entire career.
There’s plenty of good to say about each and every song on this album. If there is one misstep on Us, it’s that it may not equal the peaks Shadows of the Sun and The Undisputed Truth do hold. At this point, great material from Ali is expected and encountered on the daily, and like Halladay, if he isn’t throwing 1-hitters and going a full 9 innings, something isn’t right. So simply put, Ali’s flaw? He’s too damn good.
Us may be too in-depth and “serious” for some listeners to be able to have a fun listen with it; it’s more of an Oscar contender than it is a summer blockbuster. Whereas the previous two LPs and EPs gave listeners that option to explore some popcorn for our ears. Still, Ali gives you “Bad Mufucker Pt.2,” “Crown Jewel,” and “Round Here” to show you that he’s still a battle rapper no one should mess with.
But I’d be damned if I said songs like “You Say (Puppy Love)” and “Slippin’ Away” didn’t make even the most stone cold heart and most hardheaded drug-dealer sit back and think retrospectively. For that, it takes a very special emcee to deliver mind-and-soul changing moments. Ali is that emcee. He is that emcee that takes every element of life and completes it to make the puzzle that is us.
91/100
Best@it
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Tight Rope
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The Preacher
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
MIDWEEST
dope review..this album is dope..one of the years best albums..go cop
He had me at The Preacher.
i think best@it is fresh, but the other 2 tunes aren’t as dope. Not sayin’ they suck but just a small notch below. Brother Ali has his moments i must admit. He’s good, but sometimes I feel a lil too much sorrow when i lissen to his albums. Dunno if thats good or bad. lol
damn.. tight rope is unreal… Best At It is just that straight smack ya upside ya head rap… Tight Rope is like, real in depth. He addresses three different issues stylistically… its so subtle.
I do feel you on the Sorrow tip
People barely even want to think in 2009, let alone feel.
A LOT of heads I talk to have mentioned that, when they explain why they’re not bumping/supporting Ali. If you want to live life like that…sucks to be you. The rest of us, who are grown up enough to know, daily, that life is pain just as much as life is beautiful…well, we got a soundtrack.
^^^oh lord… i really hope that wasn’t a direct diss to myself or anyone that may not feel EVERY single joint Brother Ali has, Justin. Please say it aint so.
Nay. Ali has plenty of tracks I’ve never even played twice.
It WAS aimed at dudes who are too uncomfortable to sit through a story-telling song about slavery, sexual abuse, or other people’s struggles + emotional lives. And that’s….a lot of dudes.
But this problem ain’t Unique to the Big Pale Guy, either, all intelligent/honest hip hop acts have been struggling with that problem. It’s cultural, not musical.
Yeah i agree w/ u Justin. There are a lotta ppl that wanna solely hear about idiotic things and it’s saddening. Plus stroytelling alone has become a 4gotten element in hip-hop. Its as if anything w/ actual substance is completely slept on or looked at as negative.
Minnesota is in the bldg., this to me is the album of the year so far.
Top 5 of the year definitely. The Travelers is my favorite out of the album along with Best@It.
i definitely champion Ali and this new project. one of the dopest things i’ve heard all year, in any genre. there’s no excuses for anyone to not cop this-i got my last two Ali joints at Target for like $8 each.
Album is def one of the best I’ve heard. “Best @ It” is dope. Joell Ortiz rips that joint. He is my rapper of the year thus far.
Dar is on point where to cop it !!!
In my top 5 of this year. Raekwon, Cyne, Brother Ali, Mos Def are my top 4 for sure and it’s a toss up w/ Dynas, Chamber Music, UGK & PUTS are a toss up for 5
Yes, another album that I predicted would be better than BP3 is actually better than BP3. “Crown Jewel” gets so many plays from me, the beat is addicting. Another great project from Mr. Ali.
Matt…you’re such a prophet.
And, this collab is the perfect jam to prep for the upcoming tour – SICK!!!
http://www.okayplayer.com/news/Video-Audio-Brother-Ali-Evidence-Toki-Wright-BK-One-The-Freshest-Kids-.html
DJ Bozo…we posted that video and DL link last month.
http://kevinnottingham.com/2009/09/25/brother-ali-evidence-toki-wright-bk-one-the-freshest-kids/
everything you said about Ali and Halladay in the opening paragraph can also be said about Ant…dude has been lacing classics (IMO) for over 10 years…the major reason why I even started listening to underground hip hop was because of the beats I heard on those Atmosphere albums…
yep, same could apply to Ant.
He rarely gets mentioned up there with the best of the best.. he has every right to be as well. His use of live instruments is untouchable… akin to that of ?uesto
indeed, it takes a special producer to get that hip hop feel out of trained musicians…I personally know several extremely talented drummers, guitarists, bassists, singers, etc… but the musical interactions I’ve had with them trying to combine their skills and my beats have left me wanting so much more. I know this is because of my own deficiencies than their inexperience with hip hop, which makes me appreciate Ant (and Quest.) sooooooo much more.
bought this, i suggest yall do the same.
and he’s on tour with Evidence! check out brotherali.com or his myspace for info. you can catch me at the nyc show 11/7!
btw…great review. ive been an ali fan for awhile now and the way you describe him and his music it perfectly on point.
word up bone, was the Halladay reference on point?
Eh! I’ve always tried to feel Ali….I just can’t! I loved him on “The Truth” and a few other features but that’s it. He still has my respect though!
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