Brother Ali is a hip hop artist hailing from the mecca of rhymes, Madison, WI. Having been birthed as an albino named Jason Newman, his striking appearance only accentuates his exceptional lyrical abilities. Though a rising artist, some of the notables under his belt include his well-received demo album, Rites of Passage, and a good run in the 2000 Scribble Jam Festival rap battle. Having gone from releasing a celebrated debut album to being homeless, Ali bounces back with his second LP titled The Undisputed Truth.

As an artist noted for his unapologetic and unabashed style, Ali starts off his album with no “intro” as a chaser. His first track “Whatcha’ Got” starts with only solemn organ music before Ali kicks the door in. This opening track is very aggressive with looping, background guitar riffs and BA’s 80’s-style delivery and flow. He even pays homage to that style with a mid-track bridge that is reminiscent of the BDP days of old. With his opening track, he sets the table for what type of meal is ahead and gives an idea of where he’s coming from even if you haven’t heard any of his previous music.

On “Lookin’ At Me Sideways”, Ant, BA’s producer and labelmate from Atmosphere, incorporates a more soulful sound which melds well with Ali’s aggressive sound. Quite honestly, the first time I heard this song I had no idea Brother Ali was White. His sound is so edgy and perturbed, but not in a “Slim Shady” type of way. BA doesn’t feel the need to shock you into listening to his lyrics. His content stands on it’s own feet. Even though this track is a re-production from Murs’ Walk Like A Man LP, it’s a good one that more fully develops who BA’s “thugged out nerd” character is for first time listeners.

By the time we make it to “Pedigree”, BA begins to explain his motivation and makes clearer his spiritual associations. It becomes a bit more obvious he is of the Islamic faith with the track’s hook; “one behind the next in line, it’s inspection time let me check yo’ design, Your pedigree don’t hold up next to mine, I’m a thoroughbred of the most excellent kind”. A very strong track that has good production from Ant and rolls quite well in how it contrasts with his next track “Daylight”. A bit “lighter” than previous tracks, Ali speaks within the beginning of the track how hard it is for others to define him and how who he is both personally and artistically lies outside of being able to be boxed in. Also mentioned in this track is how he grew up learning and absorbing things about life from Black men and because of that he feels defined by that. White listeners may not be able to fully relate to this part of who he is, but they still externally relate to him and thereby praise him without understanding how he became the rapper he is. BA recognizes that he benefits from this very thing that he internally despises. That’s weighty thought and predication that many rappers are fearful of exposing on a rap album. This track is a well-timed change of tempo that still builds on the depth provided from previous tracks.

By the time you get to “Uncle Sam God****”, you’re looking at an almost complete rendition of this album. In case there was any confusion over some of BA’s beliefs, he takes the opportunity on this particular track to lay out his thoughts and opinions on America’s structure, it’s past, and it’s exploitation of anything and everything that moves. For some reason, I don’t think he’s a registered GOP member.

After listening to The Undisputed Truth, the album pretty well lives up to it’s billing. Brother Ali is every bit the rapper his counterparts and contemporaries say he is. Aggressive, sharp-minded, witty; the praise could go on and on. Of course, Ant laid him with some very fine beats and the arrangement of the album lays out very well. Tracks like “Pedigree”, “Truth Is”, and “Whatcha Got” are on the BANGERS WATCH LIST and easily stand on their own away from the album. The only missteps were “The Puzzle” and “Daylight”. They had their own signficance but the album as a whole needed a little fat to be cut and I personally would’ve started there.

This album is a great listen and adds more proof to the theory that Rhymesayers Entertainment may easily be the best label out there; NO QUALIFICATIONS OR EQUIVOCATIONS! I can’t believe I’m about to say this, BUT I actually would’ve liked to hear BA w/ a feature from Slug or Psalm One. They have such strong, aggressive lyricists that stand on their own abilities it would be wonderful to hear a feature on this album to put it over the top.

I give this album a B rating. Great listen that I really liked listening to, but comparing his album to efforts by those on his level this effort wasn’t quite 1st Team All-Star roster. Here’s to Brother Ali going from T-Mac to Tim Duncan.