Brother Ali
| Brother Ali | |
|---|---|
Brother Ali performing in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jason Douglas Newman |
| Born | July 30, 1977 |
| Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, producer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | Rhymesayers Entertainment/Warner Music Group |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | Brotherali.com |
Ali Douglas Newman (born Jason Douglas Newman, July 30, 1977), better known by his stage name Brother Ali, is an American hip hop artist, community activist and member of the Rhymesayers Entertainment hip hop collective.
Ali was born in Madison, Wisconsin and was born with albinism, a disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. He spent his early childhood moving throughout the Midwestern United States (mostly in Michigan). Ali's family settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1992 and he attended Robbinsdale Cooper High School in New Hope, Minnesota. He began rapping at age eight, in the midst of traveling from place to place with his family.
Ali converted to Islam at age 15 and followed Imam Warith Deen Mohammed. During this time, Ali was selected to join a group of students on a Malaysian study tour, in which they explored the way that a more liberal Islamic society could peacefully coexist with different religions.
On August 13, 2007, Brother Ali appeared on The Late Late Show and performed his single "Uncle Sam Goddamn" from The Undisputed Truth. On October 19, 2007, Ali appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and performed "Take Me Home" from The Undisputed Truth. On December 16, 2009 Ali appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and was featured with late night band The Roots.
On July 24, 2013, Brother Ali appeared on the Maximum Fun podcast Judge John Hodgman as an "Expert Witness".
Ali has a son, Faheem, from his first marriage, and his music frequently addresses his role as a father, parent, and husband. Ali remarried in 2006. The song "Real as Can Be" off his EP The Truth Is Here says he also has a daughter on the way. In the song "Fresh Air" on his September 2009 album Us, he goes on to say "Just got married last year/ treated so good that it ain't even fair/ already got a boy now the baby girl's here/ Bought us a house like the Berenstain Bears."
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