Here we have the 9th studio LP from Minneapolis, Minnesota activist & battle emcee Brother Ali. Exploding within the underground off his 2003 sophomore effort Shadows in the Sun & of course his 2007 follow-up The Undisputed Truth, he would continue this string of acclaimed releases with Us as well as the Jake One-produced Mourning in America & Dreaming in Color and All the Beauty in This Whole Life. Can’t forget to mention Ali’s debut EP Champion, his debut mixtape Left in the Deck or the Evidence-produced Secrets & Escapes either. His 4th EP Brother Minutester marked his departure from Rhymesayers Entertainment after nearly 2 decades, reuniting with Ant on Mello Music Group for Satisfied Soul almost a year after Love & Service.
The title track is a rap rock intro showing confidence of himself being the only one who can injure himself whereas “Deep Cuts” hooks up some pianos to talk about it always being love from his end calling God the eternal & everlasting. “Higher Learning at the Skyway” brings the guitars back in the equation wanting to make sure one’s speaking the lexicon just before the gospel-influenced “Drum” talks about gathering around the instrumental like a campfire.
Meanwhile on “The Counts”, we have Ant keeping it a little funky so Ali can address those who stay ready to count him out whenever they get the chance to do so leading into “Cast Aside” talking about being unable to describe having too much to say. “Ocean of Rage” kinda has a jazzy boom bap vibe letting y’all know to catch him by the moonlight letting the cool breeze through, but then “Under the Stars” explains you can’t do what you want when nobody wants you.
“Personal” goes for a more stripped back approach trying not to take shit personally & letting you be the first to know if he ever changes while “2 Dudes” brings the pianos back in the fold getting distracted by the city lights in an effort to navigate correctly. “Better But Us” soulfully talks about things improving other than a relationship where he & his partner fight & fuss while “Name of the One” talks about praise getting raised in the rays of the sun.
As for “Immortalized”, the pianos seep in once more calling himself an authorized street preacher while “Head Heart Hands” talks about getting all 3 of those parts of him right. The summery “Mysterious Things” sounds observes the enigma of human beings while the song “Handwriting” talks about seeing his impossible dreams become reality. “Sing Myself Whole” ends Ali’s debut with MMG showing his singing chops feeling all alone.
If the Rhymesayers mainstay’s gonna make himself at home with Mello Music Group going forward, then what a way to make his debut on the label. Ant’s production feels like a sonic mosaic of dusty drums, warm vinyl crackle & ghostly rhythms that feel like they’ve been pulled from the deep pockets of America’s forgotten record shops to make room for Brother Ali’s thought provoking, spiritual lyrics full of jagged self-reflection & unflinching critique rooted in hope & defiance.
Score: 9/10
