Brother Ali is a rapper who is annoyed by the constant questions about his genetic disorder called albinism¹ (he often makes fun of the media's constant urge to mention his condition in the first lines of their reviews or newspaper articles), so... :X
Because Ali's disorder he is also legally blind. But... what is legal blindness?
"According to the entry on blindness in the Yahoo! Health Encyclopedia, anyone with vision worse than 20/200 that cannot be improved with corrective lenses is considered legally blind. In addition, people with a visual field of less than 20 degrees diameter (10 degrees radius) are also considered legally blind. The American Optometric Association states that a person with 20/20 vision can clearly identify a row of 9mm letters from 20 feet. A legally blind person with vision of 20/200 has to be as close as 20 feet to identify objects that people with normal vision can spot from 200 feet. So a legally blind person needs a distance of two feet to spot the letters on a standard eye chart that is 20 feet away."
Because Ali's disorder he is also legally blind. But... what is legal blindness?
"According to the entry on blindness in the Yahoo! Health Encyclopedia, anyone with vision worse than 20/200 that cannot be improved with corrective lenses is considered legally blind. In addition, people with a visual field of less than 20 degrees diameter (10 degrees radius) are also considered legally blind. The American Optometric Association states that a person with 20/20 vision can clearly identify a row of 9mm letters from 20 feet. A legally blind person with vision of 20/200 has to be as close as 20 feet to identify objects that people with normal vision can spot from 200 feet. So a legally blind person needs a distance of two feet to spot the letters on a standard eye chart that is 20 feet away."
Another particularity about Brother Ali is that he is Muslim. Before his conversion to Islam his name was Jason Newman. And he explained to NPR Music how it happened:
"You know, a kid like me from the Midwest, who was so enthralled by the poetry and artistry of people like Rakim... It made me want to know, what's he talking about?" Brother Ali says.
"He said, 'All praise due to Allah' — that's a blessing. I wanted to know what that was," Brother Ali says. "And so when Chuck D and KRS-One were saying things like, 'Farrakhan's a prophet, I think you oughta listen to him,' that is initially what made me track down the Quran."
About "The Undisputed Truth" (the album with the song that features whistlings) he said in an interview with Pause Magazine:
P: So, your new album is called The Undisputed Truth, and last I heard, you were Muslim. So, my question to you is: what is truth?
BA: That’s not the meaning of it. I’m not saying that I’m telling you the ultimate, objective, absolute truth. I’m saying that I’m gonna give you the uncut truth the way I see it. I’m gonna show you myself, as I really am. I’m not gonna try and front, and make myself look cooler, or talk a lil bit smarter or a lil bit more righteous. I’m just gonna be who I am. So that’s what that means. Everything on there is really personal. Even songs where people say “oh, you’re making political songs now.” I mean, that’s kinda true, but even those are really personal. It’s the way I see it, and the way things make me feel as a man. So, that’s the meaning of that. It’s not that I have THE truth and I’m gonna tell it to you and you need to follow it. It’s like “I’m gonna be honest with you for a minute.” That’s what it means.
P: So, what is truth?
BA: Well, obviously I have things that I believe in. But that’s not the point, the point is “this is really me.” I’m being honest and open and transparent. The point is not to try to teach you, or convert you, or preach Islam, or even try to make you listen to old school hip hop or or try to make you what I like, or anything like that. It’s “this is how I am.”
In his website we can read that:
Brother Ali's last album, the critically acclaimed, The Undisputed Truth, was a landmark in hip-hop, an album that carried weight equally with critics and fans alike, an album of bold statements and bolder beats, politically and socially aware without being preachy.
"Walking Away" is about the breakdown of Brother Ali’s first marriage (here).
"You know, a kid like me from the Midwest, who was so enthralled by the poetry and artistry of people like Rakim... It made me want to know, what's he talking about?" Brother Ali says.
"He said, 'All praise due to Allah' — that's a blessing. I wanted to know what that was," Brother Ali says. "And so when Chuck D and KRS-One were saying things like, 'Farrakhan's a prophet, I think you oughta listen to him,' that is initially what made me track down the Quran."
About "The Undisputed Truth" (the album with the song that features whistlings) he said in an interview with Pause Magazine:
P: So, your new album is called The Undisputed Truth, and last I heard, you were Muslim. So, my question to you is: what is truth?
BA: That’s not the meaning of it. I’m not saying that I’m telling you the ultimate, objective, absolute truth. I’m saying that I’m gonna give you the uncut truth the way I see it. I’m gonna show you myself, as I really am. I’m not gonna try and front, and make myself look cooler, or talk a lil bit smarter or a lil bit more righteous. I’m just gonna be who I am. So that’s what that means. Everything on there is really personal. Even songs where people say “oh, you’re making political songs now.” I mean, that’s kinda true, but even those are really personal. It’s the way I see it, and the way things make me feel as a man. So, that’s the meaning of that. It’s not that I have THE truth and I’m gonna tell it to you and you need to follow it. It’s like “I’m gonna be honest with you for a minute.” That’s what it means.
P: So, what is truth?
BA: Well, obviously I have things that I believe in. But that’s not the point, the point is “this is really me.” I’m being honest and open and transparent. The point is not to try to teach you, or convert you, or preach Islam, or even try to make you listen to old school hip hop or or try to make you what I like, or anything like that. It’s “this is how I am.”
In his website we can read that:
Brother Ali's last album, the critically acclaimed, The Undisputed Truth, was a landmark in hip-hop, an album that carried weight equally with critics and fans alike, an album of bold statements and bolder beats, politically and socially aware without being preachy.
"Walking Away" is about the breakdown of Brother Ali’s first marriage (here).
I can't say I blame you either 'cause if you made records, you ain't gunna catch me listening to that shit.
But if you do, I just want you to know I didn't make this to hurt you.
Lord knows you done hurt enough.
Just, I don't know, try to make some real shit, you know?
Bye, you ain't never gunna see me again if I can help it, little felon, take it easy,
Fresh out of force tears, kisses, and hugs,
You about to lose the company your misery loves,
I ain't never did nothing but try to cure your disease,
Atleast help the symptoms, instead you infected me,
I'm not the kind of man to draw a line in the sand,
If you gotta draw at all then it's time for you to scram,
P.S., you can keep all this shit,
and hang around your broke friends and call yourself rich,
The stugglin' I did with you was all for nothin',
It was never enough, your heart set on sufferin',
I admit that I was weak in the beginnin',
I wanted someone to need me instead of a friendship,
I didn't think I deserved a true partner,
So I transferred the arrangement I had with my mama,
Since you never listened to a word I ever said,
Maybe seeing this door slam will get it through your head.
I don't love you, I don't think I ever did,
And if you hadn't tried to kill me I'da stayed for the kid.
There's nothing more for us to say,
Got my mind made up, i'm walking away,
Sometimes we just outgrow the road that we play,
Hope you find a happy ending to your story someday.
Round and round and round we used to go,
I never fucked you right, I made enough bread, I know,
If i'm such a bastard and mistreated you so,
Then how's it your losing your mind to see me go?
Truth be told, I held you together,
For all them years, and I cheated on you never,
Defended your honor, took in your mama when she tried to rehab and had to back through the drama,
You got a sick stone under your ribs, where a heart is supposed to live,
Sick, twisted, and vindictive, with your windows dim,
Baby you're not wicked hard bull fish, you must shiver,
How you threaten to kill the most precious, gift that you'll ever be blessed with?
And that shits twisted, demented, and depressed as shit,
And alone because you faithfully slayed your friendships,
Since you never listened to a word I ever said,
Maybe seeing this door slam will get it through your head.
You don't love me, I don't think you ever did,
And if you hadn't tried to kill me I'da stayed for the kid.
There's nothing more for us to say,
Got my mind made up, i'm walking away,
Sometimes we just outgrow the road that we play,
Hope you find a happy ending to your story someday.
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