Minneapolis rapper Brother Ali has announced plans for his fifth full-length, a 16-track effort entitled Us. The record, like all his previous efforts, will be released through Rhymesayers Entertainment on September 22.
According to the issued press release, Us sees Ali moving his view away from the outside world and moving towards examining the human condition. The album will focus on many of human nature’s strengths and weaknesses which include drug abuse, divorce, and homophobia. Produced by Atmosphere’s Ant (who worked on his previous albums), the record contains guest appearances by other socially conscious artists, including Chuck D, Freeway, Joell Ortiz, and Stokley Williams of Mint Condition.
Ali will launch an extensive North American tour to coincide with the release, kicking off the day of the album’s release with a show in his native Minnesota and running through November. The hip-hopper will be joined on the trek by labelmates Evidence (of Dilated People), BK One, and Toki Wright. Tickets go on sale on August 1st via Ticketmaster.com.
Us Tracklist:
01. Brothers and Sisters (feat. Chuck D and Stokley Williams)
02. The Preacher
03. Crown Jewel
04. House Keys
05. Fresh Air
06. Tight Rope
07. Breakin’ Dawn
08. The Travelers
09. Babygirl
10. ‘Round Here
11. Bad Mufucker Pt. II
12. Best@it (feat. Freeway and Joell Ortiz)
13. Games
14. Slippin’ Away
15. You Say (Puppy Love)
16. US (feat. Stokley Williams)
Brother Ali 2009 Tour Dates:
09/22 – Duluth, MN @ Pizza Luce
09/23 – Mankate, MN @ What’s Up Lounge
09/24 – Iowa City, IA @ The Industry
09/25 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Nutty’s North
09/26 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
09/27 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada
09/29 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater
09/30 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
10/01 – Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
10/02 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
10/03 – Boise, ID @ The Venue
10/04 – Missoula, MT @ The Badlander
10/06 – Spokane, WA @ The Boulevard
10/07 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
10/08 – Victoria, BC @ Element
10/09 – Vancouver, BC @ Venue
10/10 – Bellingham, WA @ The Nightlight
10/11 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
10/12 – Eugene, OR @ Wow Hall
10/14 – Arcata, CA @ Humboldt State University
10/15 – Reno, NV @ The New Oasis
10/16 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
10/17 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
10/18 – Santa Clara, CA @ Avalon Nightclub
10/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
10/21 – San Diego, CA @ Cane’s
10/22 – Tempe, AZ @ Club Red
10/23 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
10/24 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
10/26 – Lubbock, TX @ The Foundation
10/27 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
10/28 – Austine, TX @ Emo’s
10/29 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
11/01 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
11/04 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
11/05 – Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar
11/06 – Philadelphia, PA @ 1st Unitarian Church
11/07 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
11/08 – Boston, MA @ The Paradise
11/09 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
11/10 – Portland, ME @ The Asylum
11/11 – Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street
11/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
11/14 – Columbus, OH @ Skully’s Music Diner
11/15 – Louisville, KY @ Uncle Pleasant’s
11/17 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
11/18 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
11/19 – Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theater
11/20 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
