Going Strong
Ryan Hunt | 03/10/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"B. Ali is right back at it. True to his sound (ANT as well), true to fans, and true to himself. This is one solid little package. The EP itself is well worth the price, let alone the bonus DVD! The pre-order edition also came with a Brother Ali poster/lyric sheet, sticker, and an Atmosphere and POS sticker from the new albums. Thank you by the way Rhymesayers for the incredible value and product.
I'll do a brief overview of both the CD and DVD.
The EP:
More great beats from ANT (some reminiscent of Shadows on the Sun/Champoin) and of course, more inspired words of truth delivered with Ali's signature flow and passion. Once again, Ali invites you into his life and tells you what's been up lately. The first song particuarly, recaps some of the events that have occurred in his life over the last tour and what not. I won't give any stories away, but I will say that as always, Ali is upclose and personal. Also, as always, his words are well thought out and well placed, and his flow continues to be a favorite.
Basically, it's more great ANT and Ali doin' their thing. It's all there- the beats, the rhymes, the delivery, etc. If you have been a fan of Ali especially, you should in NO way be disappointed. With the new album out this fall, you couldn't wet your appetite any better.
The DVD:
This is a very nice addition to the Ali collection. The bulk of it is Ali's sold-out homecoming show at First Ave in Minn after The Undisputed Truth tour. In between the songs there are cuts of Ali talking one on one with the camera about the tour, coming home, his hometown (includes a take of him in his old hood), etc. The show itself is a great one. Good sound quality as well. I don't want to spoil anything, but the end of the show is cool.
Aside from the show and tid-bits in between, the music video for Uncle Sam is good and the behind the scenes was nice- it was filmed in DC in front of the Whitehouse and surrounding memorials. The video for "Take Me Home" was especially cool I thought. Ali plays a multitude of charters in everday life and the production is very good. It was also comical to see the part with him and BK One at the office in suits.
The last thing on the DVD was a treat- in part becuase I had not heard the song- "The Truth" from the Jake One White Van Music release from last Oct. I should be slapped for missing it- the album has it all- Ali, MF Doom, Slug, and too many to list. Anyway- the Freeway/Ali cut "The Truth" is on.
So botton line- get this, especially if you are an Ali fan. If you're new to the man, get this too, but listen to his other stuff first if you want to get a true appreciation for all the hard work and dedication this man has been putting into this music. It's nice to see him getting the props and sold-out shows he deserves.
"
3.75 Stars! Good, but not that good!
Southern Rap Pro | Boogie Down, TX | 06/16/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Alright, so I first really checked for Brother Ali when I heard him on Jake One's CD - he was dope there so I picked up The Undisputed Truth. That CD was good to me, but not as magical as I expected given the hype. I picked this up and am both disappointed and happy. There are like 3-4 tracks on here that are absolutely dope dope dope. The other half of the EP is kind of just there though. Average Ali tracks and the beats are just so so. I think the fans are overrating for the classic tracks, which are dope, but overall the EP is just a bit above average given the weaker tracks. DVD is a nice bonus though and would give the rating higher if you add points for it."
The Truth? It's Right Here! (5 stars)
Alan Pounds | Minneapolis, MN | 04/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I couldn't imagine a better voice to support Minnesota's thriving hip-hop scene other than Brother Ali. The quality he brings to the table each and every time out is simply astonishing. While Ali continues to grow as a lyricist and songwriter, Ant continues to make tremendous strides as a producer, bringing even more heat and impressiveness to this extended EP (which is 34 minutes in length). This duo holds the mass appeal that the mainstream aspect of the game truly needs. This is real hip-hop in it's truest sense.
Fresh off of his critically acclaimed sophomore album, "The Undisputed Truth", Ali picks up where he left off. Ali continues to grow as a person, and his music is a testament of his real life tales and struggles - the "truth" as Ali will continue to pound into your skull. He reaches listeners on a personal level, and this material is arguably his best to date, as I say with every Brother Ali release (even though "Shadows On The Sun" still my personal favorite). Ant's soundscapes continue to evolve with infectious funk, boom bap, and jazz flavored elements, among others. Every beat and lyric here is truly gripping in my humble opinion. My favorite cuts are "Real As Can Be", "Philistine David", "Palm The Joker", "Talkin' My Sh**" (my favorite), & the excellent closer "Begin Here". The DVD portion of this package is also very nice, which features a great concert at the legendary First Avenue club in Minneapolis. There is also a commentary track which is very interesting. Highly recommended to any hip-hop listener."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1