Concertwire.com

Originally influenced by Earth, Wind & Fire and born into Hip-Hop through break dancing, Brother Ali is a student of Hip-Hop’s golden age. Ali’s music ranges from purpose to passionate, yet always soulful and true to the boastful heritage of hip hop culture. Brother Ali's album, the critically acclaimed, The Undisputed Truth, was a landmark in hip-hop, that carried weight equally with critics and fans alike, full of bold statements and bolder beats, politically and socially aware without being preachy. His new album, Us, is a progression that will make Brother Ali one of the most enduring figures in hip-hop. 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. As with previous endeavors, the beats here are courtesy of Ant, whose production work seems to be getting more soulful and lush by the minute. The guest appearances only accentuate Brother Ali's strengths, with Chuck D, Freeway, Joell Ortiz and Stokley Williams of Mint Condition making strong appearances.