http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5185455&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rssAs a member of Minneapolis' Rhymesayers collective (alongside Atmosphere, Eyedea & Abilities, and others), Brother Ali perfectly encapsulates that heralded crew's aesthetic. He has a knack for insightful lyrics, but he tempers these emo tendencies with tough-guy bravado and a stinging litany of battle-ready insults. Inspired by pioneering emcees like Slick Rick and KRS-One, he began rapping at the age of 15. In 2000, he released his cassette-only debut, <i>Rites of Passage</i>, followed by the excellent <i>Shadows on the Sun</i> in 2003. Though that album was well received by critics and the Rhymesayers faithful, it failed to catch on with the general public, and Ali spent the next two years fighting poverty and engaged in a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, whom he claims was both mentally and physically abusive toward him and his son. The blood and tears were on full display on his next disc, <i>The Undisputed Truth</i>. For that record, Ali scaled back some of the bravado and explored his inner emotional fissures. Once again, the album gained critical praise and a cult following, but failed to make an impression on the wider listening audience. - Sam ChennaultThe Midwestern Basementen720Mon, 7 Dec 2009 23:27:53 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5185455&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss As a member of Minneapolis' Rhymesayers collective (alongside Atmosphere, Eyedea & Abilities, and others), Brother Ali perfectly encapsulates that heralded crew's aesthetic. He has a knack for insightful lyrics, but he tempers these emo tendencies with tough-guy bravado and a stinging litany of battle-ready insults. Inspired by pioneering emcees like Slick Rick and KRS-One, he began rapping at the age of 15. In 2000, he released his cassette-only debut, <i>Rites of Passage</i>, followed by the excellent <i>Shadows on the Sun</i> in 2003. Though that album was well received by critics and the Rhymesayers faithful, it failed to catch on with the general public, and Ali spent the next two years fighting poverty and engaged in a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, whom he claims was both mentally and physically abusive toward him and his son. The blood and tears were on full display on his next disc, <i>The Undisputed Truth</i>. For that record, Ali scaled back some of the bravado and explored his inner emotional fissures. Once again, the album gained critical praise and a cult following, but failed to make an impression on the wider listening audience. - Sam Chennault http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.30054803&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss The Midwestern Basement Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Brother Ali Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.30054803 alb.30054803 Brother Ali art.5185455 9.99 Us alb.30054803 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/1/2/7/1797217_170x170.jpg 2009-09-22 00:00:00.0 2009-09-21 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.30054803&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.30054803&variant=data&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29606146&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss The Midwestern Basement Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Brother Ali Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.29606146 alb.29606146 Brother Ali art.5185455 0.99 Fresh Air - Single alb.29606146 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/3/5/0/1770538_170x170.jpg 2009-08-11 00:00:00.0 2009-08-10 00:00:00.0 true true single http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29606146&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29606146&variant=data&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.28001632&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss The Midwestern Basement Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Brother Ali Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.28001632 alb.28001632 Brother Ali art.5185455 7.99 Truth Is Here alb.28001632 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/6/2/0/1650264_170x170.jpg 2009-05-12 00:00:00.0 2009-05-12 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.28001632&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.28001632&variant=data&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26554722&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss The Midwestern Basement Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Brother Ali Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.26554722 alb.26554722 Brother Ali art.5185455 7.99 The Truth Is Here alb.26554722 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/0/5/6/1586508_170x170.jpg 2009-03-10 00:00:00.0 2009-03-10 00:00:00.0 true true main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26554722&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26554722&variant=data&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26554721&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss The Midwestern Basement Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Brother Ali Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.26554721 alb.26554721 Brother Ali art.5185455 7.99 Truth Is Here alb.26554721 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/0/5/6/1586507_170x170.jpg 2009-03-10 00:00:00.0 2009-03-10 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26554721&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.26554721&variant=data&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.14089701&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss The Midwestern Basement Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Brother Ali Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.14089701 alb.14089701 Brother Ali art.5185455 6.99 Truth Is alb.14089701 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/1/0/2/1292016_170x170.jpg 2007-04-10 00:00:00.0 null true true main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.14089701&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.14089701&variant=data&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.13990687&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss The Midwestern Basement Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Brother Ali Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.13990687 alb.13990687 Brother Ali art.5185455 8.99 The Undisputed Truth alb.13990687 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/0/7/9/1009707_170x170.jpg 2007-04-10 00:00:00.0 null true true main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.13990687&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.13990687&variant=data&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6665038&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss The Midwestern Basement Tue, 3 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Brother Ali Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.6665038 alb.6665038 Brother Ali art.5185455 6.99 Champion alb.6665038 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/7/2/1/1261279_170x170.jpg 2007-04-03 00:00:00.0 2004-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false single http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6665038&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6665038&variant=data&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.299601&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss The Midwestern Basement Tue, 3 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Brother Ali Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.299601 alb.299601 Brother Ali art.5185455 8.99 Shadows On The Sun alb.299601 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/7/2/1/1261278_170x170.jpg 2007-04-03 00:00:00.0 2003-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.299601&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.299601&variant=data&rws=%2Fbrother-ali%2Fdiscography.rss