By Daniel Pellissier | www.nwestfresh.com
It seems there is confusion amongst people today concerning independent hip-hop. On Saturday, October 10th, Bellingham was blessed with one of the most thoughtful, message-sending hip-hop artists in North America—Brother Ali. Coming all the way from South Minneapolis, Ali landed at the Nightlight for one night out of his forty-nine consecutive shows in a row (yes, forty-nine straight). Accompanied with fellow Rhymesayers artists Evidence, Toki Wright and BK-One, Ali and gang brought a show to the stage that truly represents what independent/underground hip-hop stands for.
As the lines between underground, hipster-hop, and mainstream thin and blur, it is reassuring to say-the-least that there are artists who still send a message of truth, honesty and self-reflection—songs that show the struggles, smiles, tears and laughter of a real person, accomplishing true personal goals, and failing too. Rappers are real people, so why not rap about what is really happening to them? Anyone can go into debt putting fancy rims and stereos in their car. Anyone can write a song about their affinity for Vans shoes or how much ecstasy they do in Oakland, California. But not everyone can write about some of the hardest decisions they have had to make like leave their wife and take their son with them, knowing they have nowhere to go and no material possessions when they get there. Not everyone can overcome the physical world that dictates where they are placed in the stretched line of successfulness. It’s long, and when people cut in that line to jump-start a false sense of hard work, they are eventually caught, and ultimately thrown in the back. But real people do exist, and some work harder than they should, making sacrifices and staying restless in the name of others so that they don’t have to.
But this article isn’t about Brother Ali’s show on October 10th. This article isn’t about how hard he killed it. This article isn’t about his new album, US. This article is about the people that came and saw Ali perform.
