‘Satisfied Soul’ — Brother Ali — Album review

February and new music are synonymous; get the handshake emoji out. And returning to my ears, after almost ten years of me unjustifiably being out of the loop with his releases, is Brother Ali. And the activist and hip-hop artist’s latest album*, I can confirm is a triumph.

Very much a champion of peace and hope, not to mention being super-established in his field, Brother Ali isn’t your typical rapper who just spits verses about drugs and money. ‘Satisfied Soul’ is further evidence of that, and it’s had the BBC Radio seal of approval via Romesh Ranganathan and Don Letts already.

Something of a 17-track sermon, it’s not your average record — and it sure isn’t short. You’ll have seen ‘D.R.U.M’ feature on a release roundup, as it’s a really slick, aptly drum-led piece by himself and Ant — who supplied the production throughout. But there are some new favourites to point out…

The self-titled opener has a calm righteousness with a beat to match, offering a strong start to proceedings. Find yourself at the second song, ‘Deep Cuts’, which appears to have words of prayer, chants from children and DJ’s scratches all interwoven, and you’ll notice the steady tempo knitting it all together. It’s as mellow as you’d want from a rapper offering some positive preaching amid their poetry.

The lead single, ‘D.R.U.M’, is enveloped by ‘Higher Learning at The Skyway’ and ‘The Counts’. Guitar-string strums among other token instruments and gospel-style vocals on the latter pitch this as a solid contender for a winner. But you’ll then be instantly drawn into the old-school ‘90s grooves that back the woeful ‘Cast Aside’.

You really go through the emotional motions, too; ‘Oceans of Rage’, ‘Under The Stars’, ‘Personal’ and ‘Handwriting’ all have their unique quirks, in sound and message. And there’s added poignance to the soft and sombre, yet powerful, closing number, Sing Myself Whole’.

But I have to put it out there that I enjoy hip-hop the most when it’s got pace and energy positioned alongside well-considered hooks. That’s why the uptempo ‘Two Dudes’, all loud, tinkling piano keys, with their joyful arcades-at-the-seaside whimsy, is such a treat. You can truly clap along and feel the rhythm of ‘Better But Us’ as well — it’s got that signature, vintage rap blueprint. The sort of stuff that Oddisee, Atmosphere and CunninLynguists did sonically, just later than OGs like Wu-Tang. Can’t get enough of the classic strings/brass/drums combo? Then you’ll dig ‘Name of the One’.

Me penning a few paragraphs about this art from Brother Ali probably won’t do it justice; this guy is a wordsmith with a mindful mission as his sole goal. Through crossing into religion at the same time, he’s able to harness his mic and share his truths with communities of rap fans, as well as those who stand for what he does. Clever, accomplished stuff — and oh-so-enjoyable to spin. It’s ripe for the turntable as well, so let it benefit from the warmth of that first flicker of needle-pierced vinyl.

If you only download one track, let it be: ‘Two Dudes’