T-minus 10 minutes until the show began and a disconcertingly small crowd amassed at the High Noon Saloon for Brother Ali. For a Madison native, growing social activist and headliner of Minneapolis-based record label Rhymesayers, Brother Ali’s fame seemed disproportionately reflected by the meager group that was in attendance.
Many attendees milled about at the bar and in the balcony, sporting the craft beers and receding hairlines of grad students in their late 20’s. J. Cole, IAMSU! and A$AP Rocky reverberated through the venue as we waited for onstage activity.
MaLLy, another Minneapolis rapper and host for the night, appeared a few minutes past 9 p.m. to begin the evening. The crowd grew to over 100 at this point, but failed to show anything more than lukewarm reception to MaLLy’s set. Some heads began to bob, but most of the crowd remained rigid and nonreactive.
MaLLy’s flow seemed poorly matched with his beats, and the discredited use of Run The Jewels’s beat from their song “DDFH” initiated some suspicion as to whether or not the rest of his beats were similarly pilfered.
Bambu followed as a second opener, and had noticeably more luck with the audience, which was clearly warming to his more professional beat choices and tempered flow. Bambu dropped bangers as well as politically-charged rhymes and monologues, mentioning health insurance, taxes and the Israel-Palestine conflict in the span of just a few songs.
The end of Bambu’s set was met with legitimate appreciation for his set, and he left the stage only to have MaLLy return, which noticeably dampened the attitude of the audience. He clearly had difficulty sustaining the energy that Bambu built up, performing glorified karaoke by playing Snoop Dogg tracks and joining in for the clusters of lyrics that he knows.
Two hours after curtain and the audience was thoroughly restless for Brother Ali. Stage lights darkened as MaLLy left the stage, brightening again with a recognizable Ali beat as the man himself rapped his way onstage. Topi on his head with a black dress shirt and baggy slacks, Ali instantly reenergized the then-bustling crowd with his driving tracks and rapid flow.
Brother Ali promises to make hometown performance an engaging experience sans cellphones
Ali’s distinctive voice came through crystal clear as he transitioned seamlessly from track to track, strategically opening with high-energy songs to amp up the crowd. His tactic worked — the audience, which grew to 200 strong, was highly receptive to Ali’s presence. He ambled comfortably across the stage with eyes turned towards the ceiling and hands flicking in rhythm to his lyrics. His rhymes maintained studio clarity and tempo, demonstrating Ali’s experience as an artist and an entertainer.
His lyrical content got slower and heavier in sound as the evening progressed. Poverty, cultural divides and religious issues emerged as dominant themes when Ali revealed his brilliance as a writer and social activist. His call-and-responses were voluntarily offered back with a vigor that amplified Ali’s own enthusiasm. The crowd was fired up and entirely subject to the theme of Ali’s tracks — hyped up and bouncing for his spirited songs, yet tranquil and sympathetic when the tone turned serious.
Those in attendance weren’t just vibing — they were truly appreciative of Ali’s presence. Hardly anyone was there just to get drunk and dance, instead earnestly appreciating Ali as an artist. Brother Ali’s set fluctuated in theme and tone while maintaining constant control over the emotion of the audience, who reacted in-sync with Ali for the duration of the 75-minute set.
The crowd leaving the High Noon Saloon seemed genuinely grateful for the experience. Folks appeared content, confident and relaxed by Ali’s beats and rhymes. Despite a staggering build-up for his appearance, Brother Ali reaffirmed his talent as a performer Thursday night at the Saloon, delivering a masterful performance representative of his reputation as an artist.
