In spring of 2000, Ali dropped a sixty-minute story telling and thought sharing album titled, Rites of Passage on Rhymesayers Entertainment. The self-produced cassette-only anthology introduced Brother Ali's beat making muscles and extensive writing skills. He played the congas, beat-boxed and still found time to lay out his views on the music industry, religion and urban life in America.
On stage with only a DJ, Ali's magical gift for capturing the imagination of his audience has been compared to that of a gospel preacher. His voice, large stature and albino features make him a unique and commanding presence. Brother Ali has perfected the live performance, having played countless shows with: Guru, Mos Def, De La Soul, El-P, Aceyalone, Souls of Mischief and Living Legends just to name a few. From September through November 2002, Ali earned his final road-dog tags showcasing his individual skills performing 63 shows in 71 days with Atmosphere and Murs covering North America.
Brother Ali has maintained credibility over time with guest appearances on many such projects as: DJ Abilities', For Persons With DJ Abilities, BK One's, For the Love of Music, The Phoenix with Musab on the Twin Cities Music Year Book 2001 CD, producing six songs on Musab's, Respect The Life album and battling in the 2000 and 2001 finals in the annual Scribble Jam MC Battles (Ali is featured on three of the Scribble Jam videos: Scribble Jam 2000, Scribble Jam 2001 and the Best of Scribble Jam).
Ali joined producer Ant (of Atmosphere fame) and went to work creating an intensely powerful album that promised to be one of the foremost efforts of 2003. Shadows on the Sun is an eighteen-song album produced by Ant, written by Brother Ali and featuring a guest appearance by Slug (also of Atmosphere). Shadows on the Sun is a testament of Ali's depth, range and growth as an artist.
Following the release of Champion in the spring of 2004, Ali ran into a number of roadblocks that halted his usually steady recording process. This included him parting ways with his wife, being homeless, and trying to secure custody of his son. Armed with a wave of stories to share, Ali recorded The Undisputed Truth, once again with Ant in his corner. In 2009 he released Us, his fourth studio album. Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, his fifth studio album, was released on September 18, 2012.
Here
Brother Ali Lyrics
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Woman I'll give you the grand tour
There's no reason for you to look closer but you do so I show you
It ain't pretty here now but it will be
One day I promise when the sun rays are honest
I chip away at the tint on the windows
Stain on the glass it's a pain in the ass
Meanwhile I warn you not to stand near me
I think I built the fence a little late
The deamons were already in now they can't escape
I been toe to toe with most of em' though
As a whole they must parish in order for me to grow
Huddled in the gloomy little cracks that they inhabit
They pass away the day I deactivate my habits
Each one gets buried in the back yard
In tiny little graves marked only by a black scar
Kindly watch your step
The silence isn't finished being awkward yet
Trophies lay in the basement to stay safe
Today's mistakes are in a lighted trophy case though
And I want you to know
I only invited you 'cause I ain't thought you would show
But I'll be damned if you ain't grab my hand
And presented yourself on the threshold of the Heartland
You'll notice antique swordes adorn the walls
They're really not there for decoration at all
I saved them shits from old relationships
And I swing'em at you later if you stay in the mix
Don't you realise nobody's really been inside here
Since it was last drenched in dried tears
Decorating was a senseless idea 'cause only the blind lonely prince resides
Here
We dine here on a balanced diet
Ego when it's loud self hatred when it's quiet
Inside the castle this is what the life is
Sign here after you read the fine print
It's not much but all of it's yours
Take great caution if you wanna explore
Watch your head when you opening the doors
And always remember that the choice was yours
"Are you here to confuse me"
"Are you here to confuse me"
"Are you here to confuse me"
"Are you here to confuse me"
Are you breathing?
The lyrics to Brother Ali's "Here" create a vivid picture of someone showing another person around their inner world. The singer describes their struggles with addiction and mental health, and how they have been chipping away at the darkness in order to find the light. The invitation into this world is hesitant, as the singer warns the other person to watch their step and be cautious if they choose to explore further. The closing line of the song, "Are you breathing?", imbues the lyrics with a sense of urgency and emphasizes the importance of living fully in the present moment.
The image of a castle, complete with antique swords hanging on the walls, creates a metaphor for the singer's inner world. The castle is a symbol of power and strength, but it's also isolated, lonely and full of pain. By showing the other person around, the singer is attempting to bridge the gap between the inner and outer worlds, to connect with another human being and share the burden of their struggles. However, the hesitancy and warning throughout the song also suggest that the singer is aware of the risk of being vulnerable and opening up to another person.
Overall, the lyrics to "Here" convey a sense of honesty, vulnerability, and raw emotion. The singer is struggling with addiction and mental health issues, but is also aware of their own strength and resilience. The invitation to another person into their inner world is a powerful act of connection, but it's also fraught with risk and uncertainty. The final line, "Are you breathing?", reinforces the importance of being present, alive, and connected to the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you here to confuse me
Asking if the person is purposely trying to deceive or mislead him.
Woman I'll give you the grand tour
Despite not wanting anyone to see the darkness within, he will show them the harsh reality of his life.
There's no reason for you to look closer but you do so I show you
Although he doesn't want anyone to see his pain, he shows it to others when they show interest.
It ain't pretty here now but it will be
Although his life is difficult in the present, he has hope for a brighter future.
One day I promise when the sun rays are honest
He has faith that honesty and truth will prevail in his life.
I chip away at the tint on the windows
He is working on removing the barriers that prevent others from seeing who he truly is.
Stain on the glass it's a pain in the ass
The stains on the windows represent the difficulties in his life which are difficult to remove.
I scrape and I scratch 'til my arms grow weary
He is tirelessly working to remove the barriers to his true self.
Meanwhile I warn you not to stand near me
He warns others that he is not perfect and may be difficult to be around.
I think I built the fence a little late
He realizes that he built the walls around himself too late to fully protect himself from the darkness in his life.
The deamons were already in now they can't escape
The demons in his life had already entered his life and now they are there to stay with him.
I been toe to toe with most of em' though
He has fought against the demons in his life and has faced them head-on.
As a whole they must parish in order for me to grow
He recognizes that he must defeat the demons in order to move on and grow as a person.
Huddled in the gloomy little cracks that they inhabit
The demons in his life are hidden in the dark parts of him that he rarely allows others to see.
They pass away the day I deactivate my habits
He will defeat his demons the day he overcomes his negative habits and behaviors.
Each one gets buried in the back yard
As he defeats each of his demons, he metaphorically buries them in his past.
In tiny little graves marked only by a black scar
The scars from his past serve as the only reminder of his struggles with his demons.
Kindly watch your step
He warns others to be careful as they navigate his life with him.
The silence isn't finished being awkward yet
The silence between them is still awkward and uncomfortable.
Trophies lay in the basement to stay safe
His successes and achievements are hidden away and kept safe in order to protect them.
Today's mistakes are in a lighted trophy case though
He displays his mistakes in a prominent place as a reminder of what not to do in the future.
And I want you to know
He wants the person to understand something.
I only invited you 'cause I ain't thought you would show
He didn't expect them to actually show up and is surprised that they did.
But I'll be damned if you ain't grab my hand
He is surprised by their willingness to help him and is grateful for it.
And presented yourself on the threshold of the Heartland
Their willingness to help him represents a turning point in his life, moving towards a brighter future.
You'll notice antique swordes adorn the walls
The swords represent the pain and hurt from past relationships.
They're really not there for decoration at all
The swords are not there just for aesthetic purposes.
I saved them shits from old relationships
He holds onto the hurt from past relationships as a reminder of what not to do in future relationships.
And I swing'em at you later if you stay in the mix
He warns others that he may lash out at them if they get too close to him.
Don't you realise nobody's really been inside here
No one has truly seen the darkness in his heart or his struggles.
Since it was last drenched in dried tears
The last person inside his life experienced the same pain and tears he has experienced.
Decorating was a senseless idea 'cause only the blind lonely prince resides
Decorating his life would be meaningless because he is the only one living there and he is isolated and lost.
We dine here on a balanced diet
He consumes negative emotions and positive emotions in equal measure.
Ego when it's loud self hatred when it's quiet
He struggles with both an over-inflated ego and self-hatred, depending on his mood.
Inside the castle this is what the life is
This is what his life is like on a daily basis.
Sign here after you read the fine print
Do not jump into his life without fully understanding the pain and struggles that come with it.
It's not much but all of it's yours
His life may not be much, but anyone who enters is a part of it and is valued.
Take great caution if you wanna explore
He advises others to tread carefully if they want to explore his life with him.
Watch your head when you opening the doors
Entering his life requires caution and an awareness that pain may lie ahead.
And always remember that the choice was yours
Ultimately, anyone who enters his life has chosen to do so of their own free will.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DAVIE D.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind