By shelz.
Brother Ali is an unlikely emcee whose pedigree is about as far from convention as you can get. Yet, the crowned prince of the Rhymesayers movement has proven repeatedly that lyrical talent isn’t always cultivated in one’s thoughtful days following a long fruitful drug career or only found on the black side of town.
His content has always been thoughtful, well-written, and dramatically delivered. As his new release hits store shelves the question arises: Does the good brother’s sermon fall flat or has he been able to add yet another gem to his pretty solid catalogue?
The first thing you note when reviewing this is that Brother Ali covers a large amount of topics. There’s a story for everyone, from fake thuggin’, to pancakes and cartoons with the kids on Saturday mornings. He deals with the Middle Passage, child abuse, the plight of DL brothers, conspicuous consumption, and the difficulties the children of divorce face, among a heap of others.
When artists tackle a myriad of issues on one release like this, it tends to come out scattered and unfocused; a group of songs thrown together with no concept behind it. However, Brother Ali manages to dodge that trap with tight narratives that mirror our diversity while connecting them through the concept of collective experience. The subject matter is heavy but Ali does not bemoan. He gives you food for thought and even a whisper of a silver lining. It’s sad truth infused with optimism set to some lush, funk-riddled beats courtesy of Atmosphere’s Ant.
There are a few songs where the beats do become a little tedious though, but Ali is able to salvage the songs with his story telling prowess. However, there are several tracks where Ant’s dense production matches Ali’s words and he manages to deliver the backdrop in a way that compliments Ali instead of fighting his delivery for dominance.
A few of the songs that really stand out include “House Keys,” an sordid morality tale about the ultimate get back on some bothersome neighbors. Ali’s hype filled, wavering delivery takes a chill pill as he weaves the tale over Ant’s calm, almost dreamy track and gives a warning to all the hard heads who can’t keep their wild business under raps. “Fresh Air” is pure funk. Upbeat and happy, yet realistic lyrics chronicle a man who has accepted the good and bad, and the pain and tears of his life and respects it all. Anyone who spends their jealousy filled days lamenting that they aren’t walking in someone else’s shoes should take a listen. “The Travelers” is a sad description of the Middle Passage and how it has afflicted the Black Diaspora as well as the sons of the masters. Ali’s acceptance of a cold, guilty legacy from slavery is well communicated and fits perfectly into the grooves of the somber beat.
Features on this release are sparse, well placed and delivered almost perfectly by the supporting cast. Chuck D starts the album with a gospel intro reminiscent of your favorite Sunday sermon as he introduces the key note speaker and Stokley Williams leads the choir on the La-La-La’s. Ali and Freeway unite again after last year’s blazing “The Truth” and bring Joell Ortiz along for the ride on “Best at It.” There is plenty of well earned bragadossio tossed around and some might decide Slaughterhouse’s lone Brooklyn representer bodies this track most adeptly of the three. However, no one falters and it’s a well deserved break from the seriousness that pervades most of the album.
If there is any issue with Us outside of Ant not being able to maintain his consistency throughout, it’s that Ali’s delivery, while distinct, isn’t as crispy as it should be at times. When the pace is fast and the emotional level is high, his voice lacks its normal clarity. However, that’s his signature and it’s one of the many quirks that defines him as an emcee.
Bottom line? It’s good. Really good. US is a sweeping look at what makes us the same, what unites us as regular ole people in a world full of both catastrophe and hope sans overblown hood hyperbole. If you like your narratives straight with no bullshit chase, cop it.
Out Of 5
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