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Listen to track 15, "Dorian" (Storytelling at it's best!)
Shadows On The Sun is Ali’s true debut, and he does nothing but shine. Ali packs as much energy and heart into this album as I’ve ever heard, with Atmosphere producer extraordinaire, Ant, matching him every step of the way. That is instantly evident on the opening track Room With A View as Ali gets open over Ant’s jacked up horns. Versatility is defined in the next several tracks as Ali goes from battle raps (Champion) to tongue-in-cheek storytelling (Prince Charming) to teaching life lessons (Win Some Lose Some). Blah Blah Blah, which features Slug, is just an incredible beat that is dismantled by the emcees talking smack to their peers.
The battle rhymes are dope, but much like Slug, Ali is at his best when he gets personal. Forest Whitiker ranks up there as one of the most inspirational songs I’ve ever heard. If this strength doesn’t hit home, you should probably check your pulse; “hey yo dependin’ on the day, and dependin’ on what I ate/I’m anywhere from 20 to 35 pounds overweight/I’ve got red eyes and one of’ems lazy/and they both squint when the sun shines till I be crazy/I’m albino man I know I’m pink and pale/and I’m hairy everywhere but fingernails/I shave a cranium that ain’t quite shaped right/face type shiny I stay up and write late nights/my wardrobe is jeans and faded shirts/a mixture of what I like and what I wear to work/I’m knock-kneed and got a neck full of razor bumps/I’m not the classic profile of what the ladies want/you might think I’m depressed as can be/but when I look in the mirror I see sexy ass me/and if that’s something you can’t respect then that’s peace/my life’s better without you actually/to anyone out there who’s a little different/I say damn a magazine these is God’s fingerprints/you can call me ugly but can’t take nothing from me/I am who I am you ain’t gotta love me.”
Every song on this album deserves some mention, but unfortunately I am not afforded that kind of space. Just know this, there is not one misstep on this album. From front to back and back to front, Shadows On the Sun is flat out incredible. Ant once again proves he is easily a top-ten producer and Ali has released the best album of the year. I don’t remember the last album I listened to 40 times in a week. If you miss this album, you gotta rethink why you are even listening to hip-hop…this is classic material.
*Review taken from hiphopdx.com*
1. Room With A View
2. Champion
3. Star Quality
4. Prince Charming
5. Win Some Lose Some
6. Pay Them Back
7. Blah Blah Blah feat. Slug
8. Shadows On The Sun
9. Prelude
10. Forest Whitiker
11. Bitchslap!
12. Back Stage Pacin'
13. When The Beat Comes In
14. Missing Teeth
15. Dorian
16. Soul Whisper
17. Picket Fence
18. Victory! (Come Forward)
*a-FILI-ated*
Yep, that review is spot on. Brother Ali is my favorite MC and when you got Ant from Atmosphere laying down all your beats, you know the album is gonna be incredible. Trust me, you want real hip hop, then cop this album. One of the best hip hop albums ever, period! If you like the album, message me and I'll hook you up with more Brother Ali material. I'll post up the classic EP which was released the following year then you'll have to get at me for the other albums.
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