Brother Ali is out pushing his rhymes in support of his most recent album, US, released last week. C=T sent out contributor LoSTklaws to catch the action.
Tuesday night had the smell of real underground Midwest hip-hop! Starting the night was a very energetic and positive master of ceremony, Toki Wright. A relative unknown, and it was the first time Denver has been blessed to hear one of the new additions to the Rhymesayers camp! His performance was not only energetic; he has a very lyrical flow that has the vibe and feeling of ‘97 hip-hop.
Over the last several years it seems that people have forgotten the fact that emcees are poets and poetry is a key ingredient in hip-hop. It seems that when you listen to the radio there’s nothing but guys babbling about women, cars, and drugs. So when you hear an emcee speak about struggle, determination and happiness, you realize that hip-hop is everyday life over a break beat. For all you kids that forgot what a break beat is, please refer to Kurtis Blow’s “The Breaks”.
Once Toki Wright had opened our minds with a true school vibe, BK–One crept in and conducted a hip-hop menagerie of classic from the 1980’s, to now. Not only was BK–One a DJ that has been sharpened by the wheels of steel, he has become a DJ that understand how to motivate and move a crowd. We’re gonna pause for the cause right now and remind all of you readers of the last time you were at a club, rave, concert…. and the DJ, band or whatever made you get up and dance like a fool. Those moments are the best and only a truly skill and experienced musician can make an entire crowd go bananas. BK–One kept us hyped and our feet moving.
Next up to the plate was a man that has nothing but history of west coast venom, Evidence! Simply stated this man knows how to move the crowd! His performance was the culmination of a true underground talent that has been emceeing all around the work in small venues for the last 8 years. As expected, Evidence at the Ogden was a match made in heaven. However it was at the end of Evidence’s set that it became clear to me that he respectswords and knows that they are stronger than any sword. Evidence asked a question that made everyone one pause. He asked what is the difference be between positive and negative energy. ”If the prefix of a word is con, then is it’s negative and if it’s pos is it positive? So if progress is a good thing then is congress a bad thing?!!?!!” Maybe. With that alliteration in mind Evidence continued to proceed with one of the illest acapellas that I’ve heard in some time. Using the prefixes “pro” and “con” Evidence freestyled a rhymes that was as powerful as stomach acid from a fat kid that ate nothing but hot wings and Jagermeister! I’m telling you this cat put the true meaning back in MC! Straight up Tom Cruise, dancing on Oprah’s couches type craziness. I don’t get to say this much but….”Thank god for a real lyricist!”
Final destination of the night was the ever smooth, Brother Ali! Every time I see this cat he gets smoother and smoother. He came with the same raw swagger I love to hear every time! If you’ve never heard or seen Brother Ali imaging a hefty albino man who has used every good and bad experience in his life to let the world know “I am who I am, these are God’s fingerprints!” Although, Ali’s performance was stellar, it’s his delivery that makes the crowd love him. He’s an intelligent emcee and he wants you to understand and think about what he is saying. Thus when he talks the crowd not only listen but gets illuminated. I saw it when I looked around the audience. Everyone’s eyes were a little brighter, their necks were leaning a little more, heads were not just nodding to the music but also in agreement and understanding to what the man on stage was saying. By the end of the night we all knew that it was not just a concert featuring Toki Wright, Evidence, Brother Ali and accompanied by BK-One;it was church and the message was be the change you want to see in the world, learn to love your life, and be true to yourself!
Words & Pics by LoSTklaws
Words & Pics by LoSTklaws
He’s also on a major tour and plays two more shows here in Colorado.
Tour Dates
09/30/09 Fox Theater, Boulder, CO
10/01/09 The Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO
10/02/09 In The Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
10/03/09 The Venue, Boise, ID
10/04/09 The Badlander, Missoula, MT
10/06/09 The Boulevard, Spokane, WA
10/07/09 Neumo’s, Seattle, WA
10/08/09 Element Nightclub, Victoria, BC
10/09/09 Venue, Vancouver, BC
10/10/09 The Nightlight, Bellingham, WA
10/11/09 Hawthorne Theatre, Portland, OR
10/12/09 WOW Hall, Eugene, OR
10/14/09 Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
10/15/09 The New Oasis, Reno, NV
10/16/09 The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
10/17/09 Slim’s, San Francisco, CA
10/18/09 Avalon Nightclub, Santa Clara, CA
10/20/09 El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
10/21/09 Cane’s, San Diego, CA
10/22/09 Club Red, Tempe, AZ
10/23/09 Club Congress, Tucson, AZ
10/26/09 Bash Riprocks, Lubbock, TX
10/27/09 Granada Theater, Dallas, TX
10/28/09 Emo’s Alternative Lounge, Austin, TX
10/29/09 Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
11/01/09 The Social, Orlando, FL
11/04/09 Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
11/05/09 The Ottobar, Baltimore, MD
11/06/09 First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA
11/07/09 Irving Plaza, New York, NY
11/08/09 The Paradise, Boston, MA
11/09/09 Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
11/10/09 The Asylum, Portland, ME
11/11/09 Pearl Street, North Hampton, MA
11/13/09 Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights, OH
11/14/09 Skully’s Music Diner, Columbus, OH
11/15/09 Uncle Pleasant’s , Louisville, KY
11/17/09 Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI
11/18/09 Metro, Chicago, IL
11/19/09 Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WI
11/20/09 First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN