The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
16
new
SPILL FEATURE: FAREWELL TO THE EINSTEINS OF CONSCIOUSNESS – A CONVERSATION WITH TORONTO’S UBIQUITOUS SYNERGY SEEKER
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: REGNVM ANIMALE – IGNIS SACER
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: GRIEVOUS ANGELS – “CHILD OF GOD”
SPILL FEATURE: TOMORROW COMES FROM TODAY – A CONVERSATION WITH CHARLIE ANGUS OF GRIEVOUS ANGELS
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RHYE – HOME
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: SCOTT KLEIN – “WHAT’S MY NAME”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: SOUTH OF FRANCE – “SIDEWALK”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: HOT LIPS – “FEMICIDE”
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: KATEY MORLEY – HEARTS & HEADS & THOUGHTS & DEEDS
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: LEAHY – “GOOD WATER”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BILL JR. JR. (A.K.A. VANCOUVER SINGER-SONGWRITER RUSSELL GENDRON) TO RELEASE ‘HOMEBODY’ ON JANUARY 26 | SINGLE “DEAR NEIGHBOUR” OUT NOW
SPILL NEW MUSIC: CAPE TOWN PUNK-DUO THE SOAPGIRLS RELEASE “HEART IN BLOOM” – A LOCKDOWN TRIBUTE TO HOPE AND LOVE
SPILL NEW MUSIC: STRIPPERS UNION RETURN AFTER 10 YEAR HIATUS WITH NEW DOUBLE-LP ‘THE UNDERTAKING’ VIA THE ORCHARD | FIRST SINGLE “WE ARE THE UNDERWORLD” RELEASED
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ROCK HEARTTHROB RICK SPRINGFIELD MEETS CLASSIC ROCK HEROES BADFINGER FOR A SPECIAL NEW SINGLE “LOVE IS GONNA COME AT LAST”
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: THE LUXURIOUS FAUX FURS – LIKE A REAL SHADOW
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: UNMANNED – UNMANNED
  • MORE
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • TOTD
    • Books + Movies
    • Scene Unseen
    • About
REGISTER
@
LOGIN
Album Reviews
257
previous article
SPILL FEATURE: VANCOUVER, YOKO ONO & CRICKETS - A CONVERSATION WITH ORA COGAN
next article
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: NAPOLEON DYNAMITE - "BEAUTIFUL" REMIX (FT. ADRIANO)

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BROTHER ALI – ALL THE BEAUTY IN THIS WHOLE LIFE

Brother Ali

Brother Ali
All The Beauty In This Whole Life
Rhymesayers Entertainment

Articulating his journey of pain and healing, Minneapolis MC Brother Ali, conquers his demons with his first official release in five years, All The Beauty In This Whole Life. Produced entirely by Anthony “Ant” Davis, the album is a soulful collection of personal stories detailed with trial and triumph, ultimately finding Ali salvation from a dark past.

With a hard-hitting delivery and words that pack an even greater punch, All The Beauty In This Whole Life tackles real issues affecting real people. The first track, “Pen to Paper,” sees Ali looking inward as he shares the criticisms he’s faced for expelling the truth in his art as a form of activism against prejudice and discrimination in the U.S., notably surrounding issues of police brutality and racial identity, which he discusses in detail on “Dear Black Son” and “Before They Called You White.” He addresses the problem with technology and social media on “Special Effects” featuring deM alaS, fearing the loss of human connection. “Out of Here,” one of the final and heaviest of tracks, finds Ali opening up about the suicides of both his father and grandfather, singing “Every man before me in my fam died by his own hands/how am I supposed to understand my own role in the plan/when nobody who grows old stands a chance?”, only to conclude with the title track, in which redemption is sought by remaining true and living a life of purpose, guided by love and virtue. Through highs and lows, contrasting moments of grief with gratitude, All The Beauty In This Whole Life depicts life’s winding road, with eloquence and grace.

A successful rapper is one who has something meaningful to say, penning words that will resonate with a broad audience. Ali has achieved just that; in an increasingly polarized world at the hands of inequality, he remains cemented as a critical commentator of Western culture through his experiences as a Muslim, Albino, American, with no choice but to be socially conscious of the everyday struggles that plague the masses. In a quest for the truth, he exposes the world’s ugliness, and in turn seeks beauty by envisioning ways to reach peace in our everyday lives despite the hardships we face. In a period of great political divide, Ali couldn’t have chosen a better time to come out of the shadows.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BROTHER ALI – ALL THE BEAUTY IN THIS WHOLE LIFE

Author

Emily Nichol

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
10
8.0
Total Spill Rating
10
Total Fan Rating
1 rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewsall the beauty in this whole lifebrother aliown light (what hearts are for)rhymesayers entertainment
album reviews, all the beauty in this whole life, brother ali, own light (what hearts are for), rhymesayers entertainment
About the Author
Emily Nichol
Emily Nichol
Emily is a sociology student at McMaster University with a passion for social change, focused on issues surrounding gender equality and societal mental health. She believes that music, whether going to concerts or listening alone, is the best way for people to feel connected. After abandoning her small-town roots for opportunities in Toronto, she intends to merge her two loves of writing and music in the hopes of satiating her wayward soul. Follow her on Twitter at @emmniic18.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsrhymesayers entertainment
 
7.0
Regnvm Animale
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: REGNVM ANIMALE – IGNIS SACER

by Bryan Williston on January 24, 2021
Regnvm Animale Ignis Sacer Deutsche Bulvan Bolag ‘Unchecked growth sees capitalist greed choking democracy, while global temperatures rise at an alarming rate.’ With such a [...]
 
7.0
Rhye

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RHYE – HOME

by Robert Defina on January 22, 2021
Rhye Home Last Gang Records Toronto-born Michael Milosh has been able to cultivate something both unique and engaging with Rhye–a sultry, soothing mix of R&B and indie pop which toes the line [...]
 
7.0
Azure Ray

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AZURE RAY – AZURE RAY (20th ANNIVERSARY VINYL EDITION)

by Samantha Stevens on January 16, 2021
Azure Ray Azure Ray (20th Anniversary Vinyl Edition) Flower Moon Records To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of their self-titled debut album, Azure Ray has [...]
 
10
Danielle Durack

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DANIELLE DURACK – NO PLACE

by Nathan Pike on January 15, 2021
Danielle Durack No Place Undertow Music “Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re [...]
 
8.0
Front Line Assembly
5.7

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL

by Trista Whitman on January 15, 2021
Front Line Assembly Mechanical Soul Metropolis Records After over three decades of music from industrial greats Front Line Assembly, they’ve now released their 17th album, [...]
Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: REGNVM ANIMALE – IGNIS SACER
7.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RHYE – HOME
7.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AZURE RAY – AZURE RAY (20th ANNIVERSARY V...
7.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DANIELLE DURACK – NO PLACE
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
8.0
5.7
Latest Live Reviews
View All
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on January 7, 2021
87
 

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: WARDRUNA – ‘KVITRAVN’ PRESENTATION (ONLINE PERFORMANCE)

by Samantha Wu on December 10, 2020
158
 
Evanescence

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: EVANESCENCE @ ROCK FALCON STUDIO, NASHVILLE (TN)

by Melinda Welsh on December 5, 2020
48
 
Alice In Chains

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: MoPOP PRESENTS: ALICE IN CHAINS @ MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE, SEATTLE (WA)

by Gerrod Harris on December 1, 2020
62
 
Lowest Of The Low

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LOWEST OF THE LOW @ LEE’S PALACE, TORONTO

by John Graham on November 28, 2020
1296
Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL FEATURE: REMEMBERING LEX GORE: A SPILL MAGAZINE MEMORIAL – TRIBUTE BY SUSANA MEZA
2710
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN LENNON – GIMME SOME TRUTH. THE ULTIMATE MIXES
651
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARY HOPKIN – ANOTHER ROAD
596
 
SPILL FEATURE: THAT GOOD OLD FASHIONED RAZZMATAZZ – A CONVERSATION WITH DALLON WEEKES OF I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME
589
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT – LIVE AROUND THE WORLD
559
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III
542
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
518
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ALTER BRIDGE – WALK THE SKY 2.0
498
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GUIDED BY VOICES – STYLES WE PAID FOR
479
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JON ANDERSON – 1000 HANDS
468
 
SPILL FEATURE: TO FEEL OUR HUMANITY IN SOLIDARITY – A CONVERSATION WITH NINA HAGEN
446
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: CHURCH OF TREES FEAT. CAROLE POPE – “WORLD’S A BITCH”
437
 
SPILL FEATURE: GIVE THE DRUMMER SOME – A CONVERSATION WITH CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA
365
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES