Review: Brother Ali – The Croft, Bristol

Posted on 17 March 2010
By Sammy Maine
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Support this evening came from Bristol born and bred, Blacksmith. With a cheeky glint in his eye and a knack for a rhyme he got the crowd off to a flying start.

With tune topics ranging from ex-lovers to everyday Bristol happenings, Blacksmith was a well deserved candidate to open up for Brother Ali.

As Brother Ali casually stepped through the crowd, up onto The Croft’s tiny but intimate stage, the crowd salivating with hip hop passion could barely control themselves.

The new messiah of rap had arrived and he was ready to have a party. Opening up with crisp beats and old skool classics, Brother Ali made sure the crowd knew just how much he was enjoying their company, smiling every time a couple of hardcore fans sang along and ‘waved their hands in the air like they just didn’t care.’

After touring Europe for the past few weeks, Ali was glad to be back on English speaking turf… and we were glad to have him. Spitting lyrics that challenge society, race and prejudice, he welcomed us to raise our fists in the air and fight against ‘the man.’

The set list consisted of tunes old and new, including ‘Uncle Sam Goddamn,’ ‘Us’ and ‘Fresh Air’ with each and every member of the audience under full control of their new majesty.

But this wasn’t a show, no… it was a party. Ali explained the distinction between audience and performer at ‘a show,’ and wanted none of that. Instead he wanted audience and rapper to perform as one – something that was pure and beautiful as I watched a sold out crowd sing and sway as a unit.

The highlight of the evening came from an accapella rhyme – a deeply personal rendition of his mother’s upbringing. As the room stared in silence and gratitude, Ali’s openness and creativity can only solidify him as one of today’s best writers, rapper and most importantly, poet.

What stands out about Brother Ali is his eye for detail – every beat and every rhyme had been carefully thought out and practised relentlessly. Even after 90 minutes of pure energy, he is unfalterting and runs over curfew.

The crowd is behind his every word, and Brother Ali can stand proudly as the new king of hip hop. Stating half way through that he makes no money whatsoever from touring, you can tell that this man was born to do what he does best, and that he’ll have a damn good time doing it.

Brother Ali
16/03/10
The Croft, Bristol

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