ArtsEtc.
Ali not greatest on ‘Truth’
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Marilynn Johnson:
- Björk stays eclectic, adds hard beats (May 10, 2007)
- Dancing in the Street (May 3, 2007)
- New Blonde disc no joke (April 24, 2007)
- Volunteers, director fuel Film Fest (April 17, 2007)
- Ali not greatest on 'Truth' (April 13, 2007)
Sharing tools:
E-mail this article:
With a crackle, a ring, a sample, some power chords and booming voice, Brother Ali begins The Undisputed Truth, his second album on popular label Rhymesayers. The opening song "Whatcha' Got" is fast-paced and straightforward, instantly commanding the attention of the listeners and prepping them for the songs to follow.
The Undisputed Truth details the Minneapolis-based rapper's struggles since the 2004 release of Champion, during which time he dealt with divorce, a fight for the custody of his young son and the death of his mother from cancer. The album reflects these ordeals, presenting listeners with a much more serious tone than when they were first introduced to Brother Ali, as Atmosphere's opener on the God Loves Ugly tour. The question this album ultimately poses is: Can the typically young hip-hop audience relate to the very adult conflicts faced by Ali, an albino Muslim?
"Freedom Ain't Free," the album's first single, opens with a reggae beat and sweet violin topped with Ali's voice, which effortlessly evokes a somber and contemplative mood. In his lyrics, Ali considers the attitude of those who don't try for fear of failure, as well as his realization that the world is ambivalent about whether he gets by. He declares at the start that he's ready to tackle his problems alone: "I don't like my life I gut it, rebuild it/ Keep nothing from God and my children."
In bold statements such as these, Ali comes off as though he has all the answers, and doesn't reveal the slightest bit of confusion over the questions he battles with. He even seems to put himself on a pedestal with bravado, "So I use blood and sweat to butter my bread/ 'Cos this cold world couldn't give a fuck if I'm fed." He states he is a one-man army, describing a distance that aptly depicts how the new songs make the listener feel. Ali has his battle gear on, and he doesn't want to let anyone in.
Ali directs further rage against the government in "Uncle Sam Goddamn," a self-declared "show tune" that opens with the lyrics, "Welcome to the United Snakes, land of the thief, home of the slave … genocide, rape and fraud," over a blues-influenced accompaniment. But the land Ali describes seems unrealistically negative. He does not fully explain or examine the grim world he describes, leaving the listener unsatisfied and alienated.
The multilayered background music is the highlight of "Uncle Sam," testifying more to the skill of producer ANT than that of Brother Ali himself. This song shows up more than halfway through the album, and by this point it seems apparent that the strength of the disc comes from the production, which is based off a unique mixture of guitar and samples by ANT. Too often Ali's lyrics can't match up, and come off as preachy and trite.
To a listener who has as many complaints about the government as anyone else, no divorces and no children, the message of the lyrics in Ali's songs strikes a chord that's hollow and incomplete. He plays the role of the condescending martyr, from the photograph on the album's cover where he appears to be in prayer, to the disapproving but unconstructive lyrics. Ali's verses don't reveal enough vulnerability to feel honest and approachable.
That said, the production of this album is enough to make it stand on its own among other hip-hop releases. It's worth listening to, just to hear how ANT interweaves a wide variety of instruments with Ali's gruff voice.
Brother Ali will bring his socially conscious hip-hop to Madison next week when he headlines a show at the High Noon Saloon Friday.
Grade: 3 out of 5
7 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Muckrakers
President’s Visit Marked a Speech to One of the Last Groups Not Critical of Him
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
HOUSES FOR Fall 2010. All houses are on W Dayton or N Bassett. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 bedrooms. All have parking. madisoncampusrentals.com
I heartily disagree with your criticism of “Uncle Sam Goddamn”. If you know the history of race in this country, not to mention power, it makes perfect sense. He just assumes a higher level of understanding and insight than the reviewer has. To those who will buy this CD, the song is not only understandable, its groundbreaking in its statement of long-understood but rarely evinced truth.
I as well firmly disagree with the reviewer. Brother Ali’s album states the truth and how he feels about his life and the world around him. It takes a close minded person to attack an individual’s work with such negative criticism, especially by a person who probably does not have half of the talent as Brother Ali.
Although I agree that ANT’s production makes this album, your review of Ali was just flat out ignorant. In fact, your generalization of Ali’s message in “Uncle Sam Goddamn” only gives credence to the problems he’s rapping about — America is so numb and tired of hearing about this that we dismiss it like “yeah, we get it,” instead of actually facing the problem. And you even take it one step further, marginalizing Ali’s sincere lyrics by comparing them to your own “complaints about the government.”
Yeah, I’m not really supprised how wrong the reviewer was about Uncle Sam Goddamn. Our schools teach a very skewed version of history an many of our citizens cannot handle to think of the horrible past this country has had. Brother Ali hits the nail on the head when he says were only 2 generations away from our dispicable slavery trade. Many like to forget that. I presume that is somthing the reviewer would like to forget.
I listened to this song in the Atlanta airport and noticed that out of the 400 airport workers I passed waiting for my flight. I didnt see one white person. Slavery is still very fresh in the south. And for $5.65 an hour, slavery is in many ways not gone.
The message on this album is far from hollow, but i bet it can have that sound when you put headphones over an empty space. Peace
Brother Ali’s words are both filled with emotion and enlightenment. To criticize ones views, no matter how different from yours just proves to create unneeded and unwarranted conflict. The above review of Brother Ali’s The Undisputed Truth is both too harsh and totally misconstrued. Take “Uncle Sam Goddamn” for instance. Its an incredibly raw, real, and not to mention clever and creative song about the faults of the American Dream. None of the issues addressed in this song are nowhere near,”unrealistically negative.” On the contrary, they are realistically informative. Besides, by degrading ones use of the freedom of speech, the critic is only fueling many of the fires witnessed in this song. -John Alsace
You know, I am also one to agree about the message in Goddamn. I ASSUME the reviewer is a rich (probably white) person with a vendetta against anybody who goes against his lifestyle with such lyrics as these.
The working poor is the enemy of America. We are the people who want the rich to pay their fair share. We want minimum wage to keep up with inflation. Furthermore, revolution will ensue as more people tire from a declining economy and a sociopathic government, apparently apathetic of the fact we suffer as they gain.
I’m just one of millions sick and tired of this shit.
Despite the negative review above, Ali’s Undisputed Truth is an excellent album.