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If you aren’t yet familiar with Brother Ali, I strongly advise you to wake up! Just about a year after the release of his last full length album, The Undisputed Champ (2007), Brother Ali gets right back to it with The Truth is Here EP (2009) on Rhymesayers Entertainment. Brother Ali and Ant, along with all of Rhymesayers Entertainment continue to deliver quality Hip-Hop music to their fans. Not only do they consistently deliver top notch music, but they also hold it down with their business acumen. Rhymesayers Entertainment remains at the top of the Indepedent scene by consistently releasing quality Hip-Hop, leveraging new media technologies and connecting with fans while on tour.

Brother Ali does this directly through his music. He always responds to and directly addresses critics, false rumors and current events with just his mic and his words. Every track put out provides us with new insights into Brother Ali, but yet this man always maintains a level of mystery about who he is, which always keeps me wanting more! You can feel the passion and honesty on the first track of the EP, Real as Can Be, where Brother Ali shares his experiences from tour over a smooth, funky Ant beat. The next track, Philistine David, jumps right into a hard-hitting, headbanger track, which was originally released on Jonathan Demme’s 2007 documentary Jimmy Carter Man From Plains. This track may spark some controversy as it’s written from the perspective of a teenage suicide bomber and the struggles facing this individual, but you also get a glimpse into Ali’s mastery of words and unique storytelling abilities. Talkin’ My Shit is one of my favorite tracks on this EP — ridiculous feel good Hip-Hop beat with Ali spitting entertaining flows that will guaranteed to have your head knockin’! Other highlights include The Believers, which pairs up Brother Ali and Atmosphere and Palm the Joker, which could be one of Ant’s sickest beats.

As with other members of the Rhymesayers camp, Brother Ali has a unique ability to connect directly with fans on a deeper level and maintains a positive presence within the global community. During Obama’s Presidential Campaign, Brother Ali released a track called Mr. President (You’re the Man) where he says,

“Stand on your feet the new black commander in chief /
You see the voice of the people can’t be defeated /
We got together and demanded what we needed.”

This man has come a long way and I encourage those that are not familiar with his music to start from the beginning. Pick up a copy of Rites of Passage (2000) or Shadows on the Sun (2003) and work your way up towards this current release. You’ll have a much deeper appreciation of Brother Ali as an individual and will understand why he’s the undisputed champ. I’m excited for the upcoming full length release, but until then, this EP will remain at the top of my playlist.