Friday, May 16, 2008

Random stank-butt funk

There are a few musicians I’m a “completist” about. If their name is anywhere on the credits, I wanna own that music. Keyboard wizard Bernie Worrell, for example. And bass player Jamaaladeen Tacuma.

I’m that way with guitarist Jef Lee Johnson too. Which is why I recently downloaded a few tracks off a 2007 album by Ursus Minor. I found out Jef was a charter member of that jazz-funk quartet.

Ended up turning myself on to a Minneapolis rapper named Brother Ali. He’s white, he’s an albino, he’s legally blind, he’s a Muslim, and he can rap.

Click here and listen to the Ursus Minor track “Doin’ the Do,” featuring Brother Ali.

The hook is strong, I like Jef Lee Johnson’s chicken-scratch rhythm playing, and I really like how Ali interacts with the musicians. (“Guitar-picka from Phila on some other shit...”)

Just a little random funk to get you ready for the weekend.

5 comments:

  1. I really dug this--wait, the guy rapping is a white albino? He's awesome. I listened to it before I read all your post. Wait--really?

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  2. ^ Caught me flat-footed also, Kellybelle. :^D

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  3. "He’s white, he’s an albino, he’s blind, he’s a Muslim, and he can rap."

    You got 4 out of 5 there. Brother Ali isn't blind.

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  4. ^ According to this magazine, Ali is legally blind.

    That tends to come with albinism, by the way.

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  5. Yeah I've got all Bro Ali's albums, he's mentioned a few times that he's legally blind. UBM you should also check out the group "Atmosphere", they're on the same label as Bro Ali. A few songs I recommend to check out: "The Woman with the Tattooed Hands", "Not Another Day", and my new favorite, "You"(link included).

    http://tinyurl.com/5obq8e

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