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.
I Can't Wait
Brother Ali Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
B-b-b-b-baby, I-I-I-I can't wait
Wait, wait, I done tumbled into love again
Ladies first, safety last, nothing under him
Watch it crumble then, build it up again
Long kiss, good fright, you let it tuck you in
Nothing other than, human suffering
Let your frozen bones shutter in the summer wind
Loves riding shotgun, never buckled in
Make your blood rush so percussively
That you don't adjust to see the drum's new custody
Running full tilt faceless
Eyes wide you collide through that plate glass
Straight smash, open wide, gaping gash
Make this the last time that you late for class
Step in, effect like Armageddon
I thought by now you'd learned your lesson
B-b-b-b-baby, I-I-I-I can't wait, your love
B-b-b-b-baby, I-I-I-I can't wait, your love
Baby
Your love
Baby
See there kid, heads up
Collect your busted body parts, get a leg up
Chasing your own tail if I don't fetch ya
Your tail gotta a nice art but the end sucks
Try again
You keep diving in the small child end
And any chance to survive is thin
I pretend the boy won't cry again
Are they trying to snap or play the world's smallest violin?
Tragedy and love mine
Play it again Sam, rocking your hindsight blinders
And I insist on meeting love like the visitors
Fuck the other ones, skip the drum and then just be gone
B-b-b-b-baby, I-I-I-I can't wait, your love
B-b-b-b-baby, I-I-I-I can't wait, your love
Baby
Your love
Baby
The lyrics to Brother Ali's song "I Can't Wait" talk about the overwhelming feeling of falling in love, and the risks and uncertainties that come with it. The opening lines, "B-b-b-b-baby, I-I-I-I can't wait, your love" expresses the urgency and anticipation of being in love. The next line, "Wait, wait, I done tumbled into love again," acknowledges how love can take us by surprise and happen unexpectedly.
The next lines, "Ladies first, safety last, nothing under him, watch it crumble then, build it up again" could be interpreted as advice to be cautious when it comes to love, but also to be willing to take risks and rebuild even when things fall apart. The lines "Long kiss, good fright, you let it tuck you in, nothing other than human suffering" convey the idea that love can be both beautiful and painful, and that we must be willing to embrace both aspects of it.
The lines "Loves riding shotgun, never buckled in, make your blood rush so percussively, that you don't adjust to see the drum's new custody" highlight the intensity and passion of falling in love. It can make us feel like we are living in the moment and not paying attention to anything else. Finally, the lines "Try again, you keep diving in the small child end, and any chance to survive is thin" express the idea that love can be difficult and that we must keep trying despite the risks of getting hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
B-b-b-b-baby, I-I-I-I can't wait, your love
The singer is eager to experience the love of the person addressed
B-b-b-b-baby, I-I-I-I can't wait
Repetition of the singer's eagerness to experience love
Wait, wait, I done tumbled into love again
The singer has fallen in love yet again and is trying to exercise caution
Ladies first, safety last, nothing under him
The artist is suggesting that the listener prioritize themselves and avoid risky behavior in relationships
Watch it crumble then, build it up again
The artist acknowledges the possibility of love ending but encourages the listener to rebuild and try again
Long kiss, good fright, you let it tuck you in
The singer describes a passionate but potentially scary experience of love
Nothing other than, human suffering
The singer acknowledges that love can bring pain and suffering
Let your frozen bones shutter in the summer wind
The artist is encouraging the listener to open up and embrace love despite fear
Crash test dummy friend turned up to ten
The artist warns against choosing reckless and untested partners
Loves riding shotgun, never buckled in
The artist notes that love can be unpredictable and uncontrollable
Make your blood rush so percussively
The singer encourages the listener to experience a passionate and intense love
That you don't adjust to see the drum's new custody
The artist warns against becoming complacent or losing sight of love's intensity
Running full tilt faceless
The singer describes the urgency and intensity of pursuing love without regard for what others think
Eyes wide you collide through that plate glass
The singer suggests that love can be overwhelming and even painful
Straight smash, open wide, gaping gash
The singer uses violent imagery to describe the impact of love
Make this the last time that you late for class
The artist suggests that the listener should avoid repeating mistakes in love
Step in, effect like Armageddon
The artist suggests that love can be all-consuming and have a catastrophic effect
I thought by now you'd learned your lesson
The singer questions whether the listener has learned from past experiences with love
See there kid, heads up
The singer addresses the listener affectionately as they give advice
Collect your busted body parts, get a leg up
The artist encourages the listener to pick themselves up and move on after a difficult love experience
Chasing your own tail if I don't fetch ya
The artist suggests that the listener is pursuing love in a self-destructive way
Your tail gotta a nice art but the end sucks
The artist criticizes the listener for focusing on superficial qualities in love at the expense of meaningful connection
Try again
The singer encourages the listener to persevere despite past failures in love
You keep diving in the small child end
The artist suggests that the listener is not ready for the intensity and complexity of mature love
And any chance to survive is thin
The singer warns that recklessness in love can lead to disaster
I pretend the boy won't cry again
The singer reflects on their own past experiences with love and emotional vulnerability
Are they trying to snap or play the world's smallest violin?
The singer questions whether others are taking their love struggles seriously or ridiculing them
Tragedy and love mine
The artist notes that love and tragedy often go hand in hand
Play it again Sam, rocking your hindsight blinders
The artist suggests that they are trying to learn from past mistakes in love even if it is difficult to see clearly in hindsight
And I insist on meeting love like the visitors
The singer asserts that they are open to vulnerability and new experiences in love
Fuck the other ones, skip the drum and then just be gone
The singer encourages the listener to focus on genuine and fulfilling love and forget about those that do not meet their standards
Baby
Reiteration of the artist's eagerness to experience love
Your love
Desire to experience love with the person addressed
Baby
Reiteration of the artist's eagerness to experience love
Contributed by Leah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.