Brother Ali
w/Evidence, Toki Wright and BK One
The Nightlight Lounge
October 10th, 2009
$16
Get tickets around town at:
Nightlight Box Office, Avalon, Everyday Music, Archives, Casa Que Pasa and The Black Drop Coffeehouse.
Get tickets online:
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=2183974
For fans of Atmosphere, Living Legends, The Wu-Tang Collective, MF Doom, A Tribe Called Quest.
His new album came out on Sept 22nd and early reviews have it as a possible hip hop album of the year. Ali has shared the stage with Atmosphere, KRS-One, Rakim and MF Doom. It’s his time to shine, don’t miss it.
Brother Ali has no reservations in saying that he’s “trying to be one of the greatest of all time” (on the Molemen track “Life Sentence”). Inspired by golden era legends like KRS-One and Rakim, this undisputed Master of Ceremony began rapping as a means of survival.
Growing up albino (colorless hair, skin and eyes, poor vision, and extreme sensitivity to the sun) in a world of cruel kids made it strikingly obvious to Ali that he needed a high-powered way to earn some respect and prestige among his peers. As a result, ever since elementary school he hasn’t slowed down with his lyrical grind. In his rare moments of silence these days, if you catch his eyes, you’ll notice that this Minneapolis denizen is rapping in his head. For Ali, hip-hop doesn’t stop when he exits the studio or stage.
Around the turn of the millennium, Rhymesayers Entertainment couldn’t overlook Ali’s talent and drive when he submitted his self-produced demo, Rites of Passage. Its release help make him a welcome member of the RSE family alongside Atmosphere, Musab, and Eyedea and Abilities.
As the Village Voice raved, “When Ali raps…I can’t do anything but sit and stare at my stereo, engrossed by the raw emotion and tricky wordplay.” This breakout effort (produced by ANT of Atmosphere) saw Ali present himself as a “modern urban Normal Rockwell” who’s a “cross between John Gotti and Mahatma Gandhi.”
Since the release of Shadows, Ali has become just as revered for his performances, in which the MC takes audiences through heavy passionate ballads to high-energy crescendos and back. Among his 500-plus shows, Ali has shared stages with the likes of Atmosphere, Brand Nubian, Rakim, MF Doom, and Murs throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. And he hasn’t been limited to playing clubs and concert halls as he has participated in renowned music festivals like Coachella, Sweden’s Hultsfred and the Eurokeenes Festival in France.
VISIT HIS MYSPACE
