By: Zach Hasler
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Brother Ali - Publicity photo from Rhymesayers
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For the couple weeks prior, I was pumped up, jazzed, straight psyched for this gig. In what was slated to be the illest hip-hop event in the Fargo-Moorhead area since the Atmosphere/Blueprint/P.O.S tour sound-bombed the same venue a couple months back, the righteous Brother Ali rolled up with the lyrical talent, intense messages, and pure swagger that have earned him a reputation as one of underground’s finest performers.
The evening was led off by Ernie Rhodes (MC of Dialogue Elevaters), followed by The Crest. Both acts did well as table-setters, and I was particularly impressed with The Crest; I’d missed their last couple shows in this area and kept hearing positive reviews. They brought a defiant energy to the room, and it was clear that they were having a great time on stage.
For those unfamiliar with Brother Ali, he is key member of the Rhymesayers team. His first release, Rites of Passage, is now out of print. It was followed up by the phenomenal Shadows on the Sun, an absolutely awe inspiring album that was produced by Ant and released by Rhymesayers in 2003. The excellent Champion EP (also made with Ant) followed in ’04, further cementing Ali’s place in the game. In concert, be brings a religious intensity to the mic, delivering meditations, stories, & punchlines with equal fervor and ability.
Ali was accompanied by BK One on the decks, and grade-A hype man Toki Wright (of The C.O.R.E.). The simple truth: Brother Ali holds it down. He has a stage presence that ranks with the best, holding the crowd in the palm of his hand. BK One opened the set by splicing some choice Public Enemy & Cypress Hill beats, and it wasn’t long before Ali was tearing through the remix version of his vicious battle track “Champion.” Everyone with a pulse had their hands up, their heads noddin’, and their minds in the moment.
During the 90 minute set we were treated to the visceral ghetto sketch “Room With a View,” the high school beat-down tale “Win Some, Lose Some,” and a number of other jams that displayed the live powers of Ali, BK, and Toki. (The latter completely lived up to the “hype man” title, by the way; dude hops around like a toad in a hailstorm.) With the emotionally charged “Picket Fence” and a couple of short a cappella pieces by Ali, the impact of the evening was particularly obvious. “Rain Water” served as a perfect closer, ending with Ali alone on stage leading the crowd through the chorus a cappella. The bottom line: do not miss a Brother Ali performance in your town. He distributes belief, grabs a hold of souls, and paces the stage like he owns it.
Ali & Ant are releasing “The Undisputed Truth” in August, and it’s one of the most anticipated underground hip-hop records of the year.
Location Info:
Playmakers Pavilion/The Venue
Artist Info: Brother Ali, Ernie Rhodes, The Crest
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