The hottest thing to come out of Wisconsin since cheese goes by the name of Brother Ali.
With his third release, "The Undisputed Truth," Ali sets out to prove that he isn't just another Albino rapper trying to ride his lack of skin pigmentation to the big time.
Sounding like a mixture between Ice Cube and A2J, Brother Ali showcases his agile yet laid back flow over 15 tracks with the help of Rhymesayer producer Ant, whose trademark reigns over soul infused funk. Opener "Whatcha Got" is an immediate attention grabber as Ali raps over a rock riff that sounds as if it belongs in an '80s metal song.
"Lookin at Me Sideways" follows the upbeat tempo set by the opener, but does so over Ant's modernized take on classic funk. Beat-wise, the album reaches a standstill as it approaches its midpoint. The songs sound repetitive and contrived, yet Ali manages to save them with his subtle style and heartfelt lyrics. "Daylight" is a paramount example as Ali raps about his upbringing and the obvious differences.
"They ask me if I'm black or white, I'm neither / race is a made up thing, I don't believe in it / my genes tie me to those that despise me / made a livin' killin' those that inspire me," raps Ali.
"Freedom Ain't Free" serves as a genuinely endearing track rarely found in hip-hop. Ali vividly paints the story of his interpersonal battles with demons, his finding of the Muslim faith, and how he turned himself into the respectable persona and MC that he is today. Clearly he is aware of the hefty fee involved with freedom.
"Letters From The Government" and "Uncle Sam Goddamn" showcase Ali's knack for writing politically charged rhymes. "Letters" depicts the not-so-farfetched idea of a reinstated draft and how Ali would burn up his notice like he does chump MC's on the regular. "Uncle Sam" bluntly calls out the corruption and outright slavery still present in the good ol' US of A.
"Welcome to the united snakes / land of the thief, home of the slave / the grand empyreal guard where the dollar is sacred and power is God," Ali raps.
"The Undisputed Truth" is a commendable effort to say the least. Brother Ali manages to bring intelligence and grit to the rap game while steering clear of the hip-hop failsafe of glorifying violence and degrading women. There is no doubting that with this record Ali has taken the title of best albino in the game from Krondon of the Strong Arm Steady crew and shows no plans of giving it back.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
