Brother Ali

Brother Ali

Brother Ali is a hip-hop artist from Madison, United States, born in 1977. He works as an emcee, producer and host, and is associated with conscious hip hop, hip hop and underground hip hop. He is part of the Rhymesayers circle and also releases music on Nafsin Waheedah Music.

Early work and style

He comes into hip-hop through break dancing and later takes to mic work after hearing Miilkbone on record. His music draws on the golden age of hip-hop and combines storytelling, personal reflection and a strong connection to hip-hop tradition. He also plays congas and beat-boxes, and his writing and production are central to his work.

Recordings and albums

In spring 2000, he releases Rites of Passage on Rhymesayers Entertainment, a sixty-minute cassette-only album that introduces his self-production and broad writing range. The record includes his views on the music industry, religion and urban life in America.

He later works with producer Ant on Shadows on the Sun, an eighteen-song album featuring Slug of Atmosphere. After that he releases Champion in 2004, then records The Undisputed Truth after a period of personal upheaval. His fourth studio album, Us, appears in 2009, and Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, his fifth studio album, follows in 2012.

Live performance and collaborations

On stage he performs with only a DJ, and his live presence is described through comparison with a gospel preacher. He has played numerous shows with Guru, Mos Def, De La Soul, El-P, Aceyalone, Souls of Mischief and Living Legends. From September to November 2002, he performs 63 shows in 71 days with Atmosphere and Murs across North America.

He also appears on projects including DJ Abilities’ For Persons With DJ Abilities, BK One’s For the Love of Music and The Phoenix with Musab on the Twin Cities Music Year Book 2001 CD. He produces six songs on Musab’s Respect The Life album. He also competes in the 2000 and 2001 finals of the annual Scribble Jam MC battles and appears on the Scribble Jam 2000, Scribble Jam 2001 and Best of Scribble Jam videos.

Artistic identity

Brother Ali’s voice, large stature and albino features make him a distinctive figure in hip-hop performance. His work combines technical skill, personal narrative and social observation, with a clear grounding in the culture’s competitive and storytelling traditions.