Ali Newman, a.k.a.
Brother Ali, shown above, found hip hop music to be a major inspiration growing up the influence of his musical heroes can easily be found in his sound. (Photo provided) With a life that sounds like it comes straight out of a movie, hip hop artist Brother Ali is proving that rappers come from many different walks of life. Brother Ali faced a childhood only John Irving could have penned.
Born albino and blind, Brother Ali (Ali Newman) faced many challenges growing up. Teased and bullied throughout most of his school years, Newman said music was something that came naturally to him. There, his differences did not seem to matter.
He is set to play at Ottawa s Babylon Oct. 12. I ve been involved in music since I was a little kid.
[Hip hop] was the music the older kids were into [...
] I just loved the music and sound, said Newman. Growing up in Minneapolis, Minn., during the 80s, Newman experienced a different musical atmosphere than most are used to, and he is a product of that time.
Despite being bullied, he spent his high school years breakdancing, rapping, MC-ing and street battling against other local rappers. I never liked organized battling because it s not natural, he said. There, you re put against an opponent and there are rules; battles on the street are more real, he said.
Newman has taken this experience to become one of the most successful up and coming rappers out there right now though you ve likely never heard of him. He has found most of his success in the U.S.
, but has also slotted many Canadian dates on his latest tour promoting his latest release, The Undisputed Truth. The album follows recent events in his life, including the breakup of a 10-year marriage and the difficulty of facing his young son and telling him that he and his wife are no longer together. [The album] allowed me to rebuild my life, he said.
The album aptly takes an honest approach in a no-holds-barred style of music. Many other issues are discussed in the album as well. The content of some of his music is centred upon his dissatisfaction with the American government.
One of his most controversial and popular songs, Uncle Sam Goddamn, criticizes the war in Iraq, and says politicians are more interested in war than with the plight of the underprivileged in the U.S. The song made waves when Newman was taken off a tour because the song, and his music video offended unnamed corporate sponsors, he said.
Though Newman said he was never told outright to change the lyrics of the song, he said it was obvious his words offended some people. They thought, in general, it was risky though they would never admit it. But when it comes to touchy subjects, Newman is all about saying what he wants.
I m just trying to be as honest as possible [...
] When you put your soul into the music it evokes something, he said. He added that he wants listeners to feel exactly where he is coming from and understand and relate to his music, even if they do not share his opinions. Still, Newman is adamant that he does not try to have a real message like other artists try to have.
I write about everything that affects me and my world, he said. It s my personal point of view, and just another one of the many things that makes up who I am [..
.] There aren t any messages I try to put in [the music]. Newman incorporates all aspects of who he is into his songs and, as a Muslim, much of his music contains religious undertones.
I talk about it, but I m not trying to teach or preach. It just seems natural, he said. He said he finds his influences in what he calls the golden era of hip hop, where innovative artists such as Rakim changed what hip hop was.
Other artists, such as Nas and 50 Cent, also pay tribute to Rakim in songs and cite him as a major influence. That old-school type of rap is the kind Newman said he grew up on. It s when people first started to realize the potential of what hip hop could be, he said.
He said he was drawn to its message and content of the music. This sound and his honest approach have produced a brand of rap that is garnering much attention. Still based in Minneapolis, Newman said he has no intentions of moving and is intent on staying in the place which formed who he is today.
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