Brother Ali was born
in Madison, WI, and spent his early childhood moving from city to
city in the midwest (mostly in Michigan). Ali’s family
settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1992. He attended Cooper High
School in New Hope, MN. It was in Minneapolis that Ali converted to
Islam and was given the name Ali (he was born Jason Newman). He has
a son, Faheem, from his first marriage, and remarried in 2008.
According to the song "Fresh Air" on his September 2009 album "Us,"
he bought a house and lives there with his wife and son.
Ali’s first release was a cassette only demo
tape called "Rites Of Passage”. Ali handled all of the
production, recording and arranging of the project himself. That
tape is what cemented his relationship with local Indie Hip Hop
label Rhymesayers Entertainment. Rites Of Passage was released in
2000 and was sold almost exclusively at shows.
In 2003 Brother Ali released his first studio
project titled "Shadows On The Sun”. This time he was joined
by Atmosphere producer Ant, who provided all of the instrumentals.
Although the album had no major national distribution,
"Shadows” was heavily praised by independent Hip Hop fans and
publications. Ali used the album to explain his childhood and
identity.
The Champion EP was Ali’s next CD. Released
just a year after "Shadows”, it was presented as an extension
of the full length. Leading with a reggae inspired remix of
Shadows’ "Champion”, the 9 song EP offered up
highlights such as "Rain Water”, a song about Ali losing his
mother and grandfather to cancer and suicide.
In spring of 2007 Rhymesayers released "The
Undisputed Truth”, Ali and Ant’s full length follow up
to "Shadows On The Sun”. "Truth” tells the story of
Ali’s divorce from his first wife, his struggle to gain
custody of their young son, Faheem and the homelessness he faced as
a single father. The first of his releases to be distributed by
Warner Brothers Music, Truth debuted at #69 on Billboard’s
Top 100.
Brother Ali released an EP and DVD package titled
"The Truth Is Here” in March 2009. The album is made up of 9
tracks including a collaboration with Rhymesayers label-mate Slug
of Atmosphere.
Ali and producer Ant are also releasing an album in
September, 2009. The album was originally titled "Street Preacher"
but later changed to "Us". Ali, his DJ BK-One, and fellow
Rhymesayers crew members Toki Wright and Evidence will be touring
this fall across the nation on the Fresh Air Tour.
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