Camden Barfly
15.09.09
The name Rhymesayers has become synonymous with undiluted talent and of producing the best hip hop around for a great number of years. So when Brother Ali announced he’d be coming to London for his first full-length headline show, attendance was a no-brainer.
With new album Us almost upon us (his third full-length is released on September 21st), Ali took to the stage with DJ BK-One and proceeded to rock a 200 strong crowd who had not long been in from the monsoon that was pouring down outside the venue.
Ali has an aire about him that exudes positivity and his smile isn’t one of duty, but one of genuine love for his art and the warm being thrown back at him from his audience. Old favourites like Forest Whitaker, Room With A View and Champion mixed in with newer material like the exhilaratingly upbeat Take Me Home and Truth Is Here and material from his new record, such as the title track and Fresh Air.
There was no part of the set that dipped below amazing, including BK’s one man delivery of a track from his upcoming Radio Do Canibal album. Ali was there for the fans and the fans were there for him – he even allowed the encore to be picked by the crowd and performed Dorian, the first track of his I ever heard.
‘This is the first time we have played most of these songs,’ he declared at the climax ‘and when I’m old and grey, I’ll have memories of every one of you.’ – a fitting uplifting end to a night that left everything grinning as they left the room.
The truth is here and his name is Brother Ali.
Abjekt.
(Photos by Phil Procter)
