Brother Ali's "Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color"

Brother Ali "Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color"

Album cover for Brother Ali's "Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color." Borrowed from the Rhymesayers website

This is a cross post. It was originally posted on The Radiogirl Blog.

A few weeks ago I was playing around on the iPad using the Flipboard app. I like that I can connect my SoundCloud account to Flipboard.

And so I was checking out my SoundCloud stuff and noticed something new from Brother Ali. This guy's the real deal; straight, no chaser. And this new thing "Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color," yeah, to say it's nice and I like it means I just don't have the time to write how I really feel. Actually, the music speaks for itself.

Start w/"Mourning in America" ... if you can handle that.

Oh, and there's this segment from NPR:
Brother Ali: A Voice For The Suffering

So hip hoppers, whaddaya think of this one? kfox.

Mister Rogers Goes Hip Hop

Brother Ali posted this vid on Facebook the other day. I had to check it out to see if it was authentic. Seems it is.

Everyone's fav neighbor was getting some dance lessons; hip hop dance lessons; breakdancing lessons! Love that.

Time to do some pop lockin hip hoppers. kfox.

Brother Ali's Latest CD "Us"

"Us" by Brother Ali (2009)

Brother Ali is a long timer ... he's been dropping rhymes for sometime. He's a part of the Rhymesayers camp too (that doesn't just mean hip hop, but quality hip hop).

"Us" is Brother Ali's most recent project. This cd is killer. "Fresh Air" is supposed to be the first release from the disk. It's got some tempo to it and he's got some bounce in his flow. During the hook on the track, it reminds me of some old school funk like Slave or Lakeside. As a matter of fact, I might want to check the liner notes to see if he's sampling something from back in the day.

"Fresh Air" is not my fav track on "Us". "House Keys" is like watching a movie in your mind. The scenery that Ali paints about living in an apartment building are so vivid that you'll think you can leave your place and go there. He creates that kind of realness w/words.

What I like about Brother Ali is his ability to quickly weave words in a way that gives you an immediate visual. And he's not always boasting about himself. He's talking about the community, the impact of government and big business on the world and more. He's a rhyming master storyteller.

So here's something for you to spend your Egyptian pounds/Euros/Pesos on ... something fresh and something new.

Don't let anyone take your mic hip hoppers. Get your shine on. kfox.

Video: Brother Ali "Us"

He's at it again and it's all good. Brother Ali is dropping a new joint in September and he's got the teaser out there for us. Along w/the new joint comes the tour with two stops in Ohio: Cleveland and Columbus. Word.

So check the vid w/its positiveness then check the deets on "Us":



And that's what's good hip hoppers, foh show ... kfox.

Soundset '09 Is Almost Here

Folks are getting amped for this year's Soundset '09. It's just days away in Minnesota. Sunday, May 24, 2009. The lineup is stellar. And the all day festival is recession-friendly at $30.

Check out my previous post on Soundset '09.

Brother Ali has been talking it up on Facebook and I'm chattin it up here. Just don't want you hip hoppers to say that you didn't know. Check for the viral videos on Sunday. kfox.

Soundset '09

You will be happy to know that Soundset '09 is not until Sunday, May 24, 2009. And I know that you had not planned on traveling to Minnesota, but now, you have good reason to be there.

The line up for this year's Soundset is beastly! It's a blessing that this all day festival is on Sunday because you will need the next day and then some to recover. The ticket prices are reasonable too ... starting at $30 for general admission.

Now to the lineup:
Atmosphere
The Pharcyde
Brother Ali
MF Doom
POS
Freeway & Jake One
Immortal Technique
Eyedea & Abilities
Sage Francis w/B. Dolan
El P w/Mr. Dibbs & TMQ
Prince Paul
Heiruspecs
Blueprint w/dj Rare Groove
Buck 65
dj Numark
Abstract Rude
Aceyalone & Myka 9 = Haiku d'etat
Blue Scholars
Sims of Doomtree
Cunninlynguists
I Self Devine
One Be Lo
Awolone
Unknown Prophets
Mike Mictlan & Lazerbeak
Toki Wright
Grieves
Little Buddy Mclain
Kristoff Krane

When you can get all of these heads in one place, it is creative chaos. You don't want to miss it. Only I am the exception since I work on Sundays. I know, crazy, right?

So hip hoppers, make it happen and be where the action is. kfox.

Paid Dues Festival :: 3.28.09

Wow, this one is coming up quick and that means that others are right behind it. And who the heck has the cheese to one if any of the fine festivals that are scheduled for this year.

I'm going to hit on the Paid Dues Fest since it's up first. If you are going to spend your unemployment cash on a show, this is the one. Just because you don't have a job, doesn't mean that you can't enjoy yourself. Besides, it's not like you are laying down $70 bucks for one act ... oh, no ... you will get some bang for your buck here, baby.

I won't elaborate on each artist ... but I'd foot the bill for Brother Ali, Atmosphere and Grouch alone; oh and Cage is a beast! Tickets start at $40 and that does not include any fees. Also, it's a Cali show ... I know, I know, it's looking more and more like me and you won't make this one, right?

Hoping though that someone makes it and shares the love: some Twitter updates, some YouTube vid ... give a dog a bone!

Here's the complete Paid Dues Festival Lineup ... and it's backed by Murs 3:16 and Guerilla Union:
Atmosphere
Tech N9ne
Living Legends
Brother Ali
B-Real
Grouch & Eligh
Cage
Eydea & Abilities
BLU & Exile
LMNO
The Bayliens
DJ Val the Vandle
VerBS
Hosted By: 2Mex

Well, there will be other festivals hip hoppers ... let me know what you're getting into. kfox.

Jake One's "The Truth"

I stumbled on this this gritty and grimy track w/its slow beat and searing lyrics on the Rhymesayers webbie. It's Jake One accompanied by Freeway and Brother Ali. Ali's delivery stands out as strong and dank.

Here's the vid:



Time for me to diversify my hip hop palette ... what are you hip hoppers listening to? kfox.

Brother Ali & Atmosphere on Tour ...

... this is both good and bad news, but mostly bad news, that is if you are stateside. You see, this tour starts and ends in international territories.

Brother Ali is hyping his "Undisputed Truth" disk, while Atmosphere pimps "When Life Gives Your Lemons, Paint that @$#* Gold". I'm down w/the Brother Ali disk, but I have yet to hear the entire Atmosphere project; sinful, I know.

"The 3 The Hard Way Tour" features those two and an assortment of others depending on the date ... but you'll be missing out on the likes of Pharoahe Monch, Kidz In The Hall, Kool Keith and more.

There is some good news though. If you are Jones-n for some Rhymesayers action, then peep their YouTube Channel.

Not anti ...

... just the truth.

I've been meaning to post this video for several weeks now, but, well, I am just now getting around to it.

I really like the song by Brother Ali. But then I saw the video - powerful!

Get your Hip Hop On!

So, it is true that I missed all of the hip hop shows in Cleveland over the past few weeks. I really wanted to peep the Brother Ali show. But don't dispair because if you are true hip hop fan, you not only checked out the Rhymesayers crew, but you also sat in on the El-P/Definitive Jux set. And there is more on the horizon; that's right, it is time to get your hip hop on:

~The Underground Nation: Darren Anthony, T-Mates and Therlbread~
On Thursday, May 17, 2007
@ the Beachland Ballroom
15711 Waterloo Road
@ 8 p.m.
Tix are $5 in adv; $8 @ the door ... call 216.383.1124

~Lifesavas and Strange Fruit Project~
On Thursday, May 17, 2007
@ the Grog Shop
2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights
@ 9 p.m.
Tix are $10 ... call 216.241.5555

~The Ill Disciples~
On Friday, May 18, 2007
@ the Agora Theatre & Ballroom
5001 Prospect Avenue
@ 8:30 p.m.
Tix are $6 ... call 216.241.5555

~Slum Village~
On Sunday, June 3, 2007
@ the Grog Shop
2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights
@ 9 p.m.Tix are $12 ... call 216.241.5555

~Peanut Butter Wolf DJ Set~
On Wednesday, June 20, 2007
@ B-Side
2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights
@ 9 p.m.Tix are $10 ... call 216.241.5555

~Sage Francis and Buck 65~
On Wednesday, July 11, 2007
@ the Grog Shop
2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights
@ 9 p.m.
Tix are $15 ... call 216.241.5555

The Changing Face of Hip Hop

Every so often I post the hip hop charts from WMCO. New hip hop music makes it way to my office on a weekly basis. Some of it stands out from the pack, some of it is judged by its cover (and the judgment is usually accurate). But the point is, the music is new and the charts are always changing ...

So here goes :: this week's badasses!

My favs are DJ Vadim, Sage Francis, and Red Cloud; fav never to make the list: Gutterfly.

1
EL-P
I'll Sleep When You're Dead
Definitive Jux
2
J DILLA
Ruff Draft
Stones Throw
3
DJ VADIM
The Sound Catcher
BBE
4
WAX TAILOR
Hope And Sorrow
Decon
5
BROTHER ALI
The Undisputed Truth
Rhymesayers
6
MOVE.MEANT
The Scope Of Things
Wax Paper
7
GABRIEL TEODROS
Lovework
Massline
8
SAGE FRANCIS
Human The Death Dance
Epitaph
9
REDCLOUD
Hawthorne's Most Wanted
Syntax
10
BUSDRIVER
RoadKillOvercoat
Epitaph

Dream on and aim high ... kfox!

The Hip Hop Calendar for C-Town!

...that would be Cleveland!

~Hip Hop Meets Jazz~
On Saturday, April 21, 2007
@ Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Road
Doors open @ 10 p.m.; showtime @ 11 p.m.
F/Bill Ransom, Sekou Sundiata, and DJ Mister Rourke
Tix are $25 ... call 216.987.4400
**as a part of the Tri-C Jazz Fest

~HIP HOP PERFORMANCE w/Brother Ali~
On Sunday, April 29, 2007
@ the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights
@ 9 p.m.
Tix are $12 ... call 216.241.5555

~HIP HOP PERFORMANCE w/El-P~
On Friday, May 4, 2007
@ the Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Road
@ 9 p.m.
Tix are $15 ... call 216.383.1124

~HIP HOP PERFORMANCE w/Bone Thugs N Harmony~
On Tuesday, May 8, 2007
@ the House of Blues, 308 Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland
@ 8 p.m.
Tix begin @ $26.50 ... call 216.241.5555

~HIP HOP PERFORMANCE w/Solillaquists of Sound~
On Wednesday, May 9, 2007
@ the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights
@ 9 p.m.
Tix are $7 ... call 216.241.5555

So hip hoppers, be about it and show some love! kfox.

Need more time to listen

Checkin out some new music in my favorite genre ... though I must admit that I have not given some of these a full listen:

Brother Ali "The Undisputed Truth" - I began listening to this one at work, but then I left it at work when I really wanted to listen to it at home ... so the jury is still out on this one.

J Dilla "Ruff Draft" - I've listened to several tracks and it's good (I know that's a cop out, but it'll have to suffice for now).

Stephen Marley "Mind Control" - I love, love, love the title cut; also contains tracks w/Mos Def as well as Damien "Junior Gong" Marley; this one is awesome from front to back; oh, "The Traffic Jam" is crazy cool-great beat!

Other notables:
Gabriel Tedros
El-P
Cadence Weapon
Omni

New disks that I don't have (but if I had them, would I make the time to listen to them ... ? Heck yeah!):
Talib Kweli
KRS-One

Movin forward and ah ain't lookin back, kfox!