Band Aide: Brother Ali

By Kyle Gunderson
Contributing Writer

Have you heard of Brother Ali? If you haven’t, then you have been missing out on one of the finest rappers to come out of Minnesota in the past decade.

Brother Ali is part of the Rhymesayers crew and has started to receive international acclaim for his passionate, meaningful, and at times menacing lyrics.

Straying away from commercial style, Brother Ali has built his career on vulnerable and downright truthful rapping. Much of his subject matter consists of personal issues such as his albinism and his strong belief in religion.

Brother Ali’s albums have been produced mainly by Ant who also produces for the Minnesota legend Atmosphere. His most recent album, “Us,” was released last fall and is described as “Aware. Ali has turned his gaze inward, and started examining the human condition from the outside in. A profound personal glimpse into a vulnerability seldom seen or heard in music, ‘Us’ touches on the strengths and flaws of the human condition, exploring drug abuse, divorce, homophobia and many more topics that most people are scared to touch in their own lives, much less on an album for the world to see.” 

“Us” is full of guest apperances featuring collaborations with Chuck D, Freeway, Joell Ortiz, and Stokely Williams. Brother Ali will be kicking off the Breakin Dawn Tour right here in Fargo, at the Aquarium on March 29, where he will be joined by BK-One and California rapper Fashawn. The tour will then head north to Canada, down the U.S. east coast, and across the South. His dedication for this album is relentless. In support of “Us,” Brother Ali has traveled to 77 North American cities.

Get out on the 29th and show him a little water can’t stop Fargo from having a good time. The show will be 21+ID, and as of the evening of March 17, the price of admission hadn’t been decided.

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If You Go

What: Brother Ali, BK-One, Fashawn
Where: The Aquarium
When: Mon, March 29, 9 pm
Info: 701.235.5913