There are a lot of reasons to like Brother Ali. He is often associated with fellow Minneapolis native Atmosphere and has benefited greatly from their friendship. As hip-hop's best-known albino rapper, he stands out physically and as a symbol of courage. But in his latest release, "The Undisputed Truth," these reasons take the backseat as Ali comes into his own as one of the best active underground artists in the game.
Overall, the album has a diverse range of feelings to its lyrics with pretty cool instrumentals that always match the feel of the lyrics appropriately. While 2003's "Shadows on the Sun," produced by Atmosphere's Ant, had more funk- and soul-influenced beats, "The Undisputed Truth" demonstrates a more bass-heavy reggae influence.
"Listen Up" captures one's attention with loud, fun and passionate lyrics and intense background drum beats. The song, like its title suggests, was made to pump people up. Occasional horns and randomly strewn metal make this song an eclectic mix of instrumentals. Ali reminds the listener to "Keep clever/ Every other line is something profound," which becomes ironic in the chorus, as he chants, "We gonna shock the party and do it right," which would sound more natural coming from Justin Timberlake. Don't let scenester snobs catch you rocking out to this, Ali's only over-polished slip up.
Similarly polished is the feel-good song "Take Me Home," though its soulful beats will put listeners at ease. A calm and happy vibe accompanies keyboard melodies and a funky bass line with tons of horns and slides for extra sexiness. The catchy chorus, "I promise if you take me home/ I'll sing you a song, throw me a bone," sounds more laidback than cheesy.
"Letter from the Government" is more of a reality check. The beats behind these political lyrics, which successfully outline "the struggle," turn monotonous - a painfully slow bass lets one feel the trudging of a life trapped in (or, in his words, raped by) an unfair system.
"Pedigree" definitely has the most distinct background melody. The bass-heavy sound epitomizes the reggae dub theme that appears all over the album. The lyrics contrast this mood and are some of the album's most aggressive: "It's inspection time/ Let me check your design/ You're pedigree don't hold up next to mine/ I'm a thoroughbred of the most excellent kind."
"Puzzle" has got some great electric guitar on it, which is always a pleasure to hear in non-rock genres. The lyrics shout Atmosphere, with their introspective topics and the concise rhymes that don't stray too far from a single tone.
"Whatcha' Got" is a little harder than the rest of the album. Those who like the more high-energy Brother Ali will love this mix of intense drums and electric guitar over bold and brassy lyrics. Though this energy dominates most of the song, it is contrasted with instances of complete silence, as well as an old-school breakdown in which Ali describes how he can "rock the house" and showcases his versatility.
Overall, the instrumentals are very solid and original, the one quality that continues to draw more and more average fans, who might normally overlook the lyrics, into the underground rap scene. For everyone else, the excellent production serves as a great complement to Ali's rhymes. The fact that two of the strongest songs, "Take Me Home" and "Whatcha' Got" sound so completely different is a testament to the broad appeal of this album. Anyone with any interest in hip-hop at all who has not yet discovered Brother Ali will find that, especially with "The Undisputed Truth," he offers a little something for everyone.
