Tag: brother ali

Posted in Album of the Month, Music chat, New Albums, podcast, Spin it or Bin It

Podcast EP.55 | Brother Ali | Satisfied Soul.

Posted on by misterstory

EP.68 | Robyn | Sexistential – This Is Not Happening – An Album Of The Month Podcast

Welcome to Episode 68 of This Is Not Happening, an Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Guy brings a Robyn's latest release 'Sexisitential'. In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month, the theme is 'Sad Bangers'.           —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Robyn |  Sexistential ——Robyn is a unique, iconic figure in contemporary music. She's been making and releasing music since 1995, her career spans 4 decades already and she shows no signs of slowing down. Her pop career started when she was 15, she's about to celebrate her 47th birthday, this is insane staying power!Sexistential is her 9th studio album if you count the Body Talk series as full albums? It's only 29 mins long, it doesn't mess about and no track or the album in full overstays it's welcome. There is lots to get into in the discussion, has she still got it? Is she doing new things? Is this still relevant and if so who for? How artists change and what we expect from them as they age?Have a listen, tell us what you think.Listen to the original album here.Watch some of her videos here , particularly the singles from this album.Buy this album or some merch here.  And listen to her talk about the album here.                 —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | Sad Bangers —————- Robyn's biggest track is 'Dancing On My Own' is the archetype of a genre that Guy made up 'Sad Bangers'. This is our theme for Spin It or Bin It this month.  It's got to be sad, and it's got to bang. Simple (in theory).The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?David chose Destroy Everything You Touch by Ladytron.Joey chose 'Teardrops' by Womack and Womack.Guy chose 'Lovesick' by Friendly Fires.Nolan chose 'Blue Monday' by New Order.What would you have chosen? What's missing from our playlist?We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
  1. EP.68 | Robyn | Sexistential
  2. EP.67 | Eliza | The Darkening Green
  3. EP.66 | Jill Scott | To Whom This May Concern
  4. EP. 65 | Zach Bryan | With Heaven On Top
  5. EP. 64 | Rosalia | LUX

The awesome albums keep coming early in 2025 and we’d love to introduce on to you today. Welcome to Episode 55 of This is Not Happening (TINH), an Album of the Month (AOTM) Podcast. 

In Part 1 we deep dive into an Album that one of us has chosen and in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or Bin it’.  We pick a theme and each pick a song that represents that theme. We judge the selections by asking the question ‘Spin It or Bin It’?

In Part 1, Nolan, resident Hip Hop head stays true to form and brings a new album from a 47 year old artist! Brother Ali’s ‘Satisfied Soul’.

In Part 2, following Brother Ali’s exploration of peace, love, faith and religion, our Spin It or Bin It, our theme this month is ‘Religion’.

                               —– Part 1 | Brother Ali | Satisfied Soul —–

Nolan has been trying to introduce Brother Ali to us for years but … there’s a lot of music and not a lot of time. Previous album releases have not lined up with podcasts but this time they did! Satisfied Soul is an album that is worth any music fan spending some time with. It is not a niche hip hop album for niche hip hop fans. It’s soul music. It’s pop music. It’s Hip Hop. It’s intelligent. It’s massively thought provoking and massively accessible to anyone with an open mind and an open ear. 

Get on it. Please.

  • Listen to the album here.
  • This track is not from this album … but too good not to share Cadillac.
  • Nolan’s awesome ‘Intro to Brother Ali’ playlist can be found here.
  • Buy some stuff here.               

                             —– Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | ‘Religion’ —–

Popular music and religion have been uncomfortable bedfellows since … forever. We agreed to each select a track that ‘tackles’ the theme of religion in any way shape or form;

Here is a link to a this 4 track playlist. 

Posted in Album of the Month, New Albums

AOTM March | Brother Ali & Ant | Satisfied Soul

Posted on by nolankane706

This month we delve into the latest release from Brother Ali, an artist that has become a mainstay on the pod over the last few years and is finally getting the love he deserves as we visit his new album Satisfied Soul. 

Brother Ali has been a jewel in the indie hop hop scene for over 20 years. Although always on my radar, his music only started to become a big part of my world just over 10 years ago and to the pod a few years ago when we discussed his track Sensative on spin it or bin it. His back catalogue is impressive, and essential listening (for a quick intro you can find a playlist here). 

Ali is a far cry from your stereo typical hip hop artist. Born a caucasian albino, Ali felt he was more excepted by his black classmates growing up. Influenced by hip hop since a young age, he discovered Islam through a conversation with KRS One in his teens and credits him largely for the journey that later lead him to converting (this is mentioned on the album). Someone once said to me that they thought Brother Ali was misunderstood which is polarising for his music. I completely disagree with that. I can’t think of an artist that is more certain and eloquently puts across his views on his spirituality, morals, politics and his love of hip hop better than Brother Ali. It’s because of that some find his music polarising.  Following up on the largely ignored 2024 release Love & Service (Ali has stated it was blocked for it’s political messages), Ali is firmly in his purple patch. Partnering with longtime collaborator Ant, the two make their debut on the exceptional hip hop label Mellow Music. 

Breaking the mould of what we often think is the perfect album length, Satisfied Soul almost doubles it with a hefty 17 tracks spanning over 57 minutes. Though this comment may haunt me, I think they’ve pulled it off. Ali and Ant’s navigation of wholesome, soul drenched hip hop is a pleasure. 

This album is a mixed bag of emotions; it’s serious, it’s lighthearted, it’s reflective, it’s a prevision, it’s spiritually inclusive. Ali is a confident storyteller, a hip hop journeyman that emits a mature self confidence that is infectious. Ant has created a musical curation perfect for the 17 track journey. From pure hip hop gems like Deep Cuts and The Counts to the lighthearted stories shared in Two Dudes there is a lot to go at and enough variation to keep you hooked. 

To be an artist that’s career spans over 20 years is tough. How do you stay relevant? How do you keep connected to your audience? Based on this collection, you could argue that personal evolution and honestly between yourself and your audience is the trick. 

Satisfied Soul has lived up to the high expectations that were set after hearing the initial EP at the back end of 2024. I look forward to hearting your thoughts….