Brother Ali
Us
Release Date: Sep 22, 2009
Genre(s): Rap
Record label: Rhymesayers
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Album Review: Us by Brother Ali
Excellent, Based on 5 Critics
Based on rating 10/10
A message to all rappers and artists in general in 2009, courtesy of the Beatnuts: “Watch out now!” Brother Ali, you bad mufucka, you have done it again. But should this come as a shock? Each and every album or EP he releases is, at the very least, good, if not great. With six previous efforts under his belt, this Minnesota emcee—known for his storytelling, incredible lyrics, and gripping voice—very rarely disappoints.
Based on rating 8/10
P.O.S. :: Chill, dummyDoomtree RecordsAuthor: Patrick TaylorI've been a fan of Stefon "P.O.S." Alexander since his debut nearly 10 years ago. On "Audition" and 2009's "Never Better," he proved himself to be one of the few artists who could successfully meld punk rock and hip-hop. Fellow Minnesotans ….
Based on rating 7.8/10
A girl whose first sexual experience was a molestation is encouraged to overcome her trauma and learn to feel real love. White Americans are confronted with their role in the legacy of slavery and their responsibility for the cultural and social structures it left behind. Immigrants, a child of divorced parents, and a self-hating gay teenager get a keep-your-head-up.
Based on rating 7/10
While hip-hop struggles to redefine itself after years of standing on the precipice of self-parody, experimenting with pop, electronica, and dance, Brother Ali continues to remind listeners what's so good about the pure form: the stories, the intricate sentences, the wordplay, the rhymes (and Rhymesayers bigshot Ant shows how good production not based on samples can be). Us, the rapper's third full-length, is a strong record that emphasizes the substance and power of the genre, the message and the ability to convey it his most important tasks. Ali is, above all, a storyteller, hell-bent on making his characters as believable as possible, and he does so with an amazing amount of empathy.
Opinion: Excellent
If you’ve gotten a chance to check out Brother Ali’s website, it’s truly a humble situation. The Midwest rapper employs the use not so much to push his own means and ideas but as a welcoming invitation for fans to share their stories. In apt fashion, he encourages others to leave comments and ask questions so that we can all learn from each other.
'Us'
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