Brother Ali Hip-Hop Artist / Activist Brother Ali is a highly respected Hip Hop artist, speaker and activist from Minneapolis, MN. His decade long resume includes six critically acclaimed albums, mentorships with Iconic Hip Hop legends Chuck D and Rakim and Previous Speaking Engagements: performances on late night talk shows with Conan O Brien and Jimmy Fallon. He’s been the subject of Al-Jazeera and NPR pieces and was a keynote speaker at this year’s Nobel Peace Prize Forum. He’s landed coveted press features such Keynote presenter - Nobel Peace as Rolling Stone’s 40th anniversary “Artist to Watch” and Source Magazine’s “Hip Prize forum, Topic: Hip Hop, Islam and Hop Quotables”. Global Politics
Ali has won the hearts and minds of Hip Hop fans world wide with his intimate song writing, captivating live performances and outspoken stance on issues Featured performer/presenter - of Justice and Human Dignity. In 2007, Ali was flagged by The US Department Chicago University with Dr. Cornel of Homeland Security for his controversial critique of America’s human rights West, Amy Goodman of Democracy violations in his song/video “Uncle Sam Goddamn”. In the summer of 2012, Ali was Now and Tavis Smiley, Topic: Poverty arrested in an act of civil disobedience as an organizer of Minnesota’s Occupy in America. Homes movement to defend Twin Cities homeowners from unjust foreclosures.
Brother Ali’s latest album, Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color is his Solo lecturer - Stanford University, manifesto on the political, socioeconomic and cultural suffering in modern hosted by Jeff Chang, Topic: Activism, American life, as well as a declaration of hope and possibility for a brighter future. Islam and Hip Hop. The album is introduced by Dr. Cornel West.
Dr. West had this to say about Ali and his work. “Brother Ali is fundamentally Keynote presenter - University of committed to truth and justice. He’s part of a great tradition in this country Minnesota, Topic: White privilege and and around the world that highlights the wretched of the earth, allows them to institutional racism with relation to undergo an awakening and shatters their sleepwalking. I want the world to know spirituality. that Ali is my brother and I have so much great love and respect for him. We’re part of the same tradition concerned with Truth and Justice. He does it in his own smooth, sophisticated way. Sometimes he’s funky and sometimes he’s direct, Subject - Al Jazeera The Stream (Al but I love the way he tells the truth. The album itself (Mourning in America and Jazeera). Topic: Islam, hip-hop and Dreaming in Color) is such a force for good and a food source for people’s souls. the occupy movement. People can feel the love on the vanilla side of town and on the chocolate side of town. It’s a human thing. A love thing.” Frequent guest - All Things Brother Ali is currently working on his first literary offering, tackling the topics that Considered, Fresh Air and Smiley & are discussed in his speaking engagements and workshops. West.
Talk topic availibility: Frequent blogger - Huffington Post Hip Hop And Equity and numerous national and local This talk outlines the role of White Male Supremacy and Capitalism in shaping media outlets. Topics Include: the current state of mainstream and underground Hip Hop. Ali outlines solutions homophobia and institutional racism. towards an equitable Hip Hop community and challenges Hip Hop heads to realize the cultural catalyst that is Hip Hop culture.
Insights From an Outsider on Hip Hop, Race and Islam in America In this memoir-style lecture Brother Ali discusses his unique experience as the albino child of white parents raised in the Muslim American community that developed out of The Nation of Islam. He chronicles his journey through Hip Hop, identity, spirituality and activism.
Brother Ali