Brother Ali speaks clearly through the static

On Friday night Times Square’s Nokia Theatre will host the Hip Hop Live Tour, featuring local rap legends Rakim and Ghostface Killah, joined by Minneapolis underground heavyweight Brother Ali. Reached somewhere between Chicago and Bloomington, Indiana (the tour’s Monday and Tuesday shows) Ali explained – through cell phone reception black-outs – that aside from demanding much less behind-the-scenes work on his part, this tour isn’t that different from smaller ones he’s been on. “It does mean that a lot of people at these shows have never heard of me, or if they have they’ve never listened to me. In that sense, I really try to bring that intensity and energy so they’ll leave with a good first impression,” Ali explained, “so it doesn’t change my performance that much.” One thing he might want to change, though, is his cell phone service provider – or maybe he can pick up a better phone after Friday night’s show, it’s at the Nokia Theatre after all.

Whatever he does after the show, you won’t find Ali at the afterparty. His focus onstage translates to a humble presence behind the scenes, something at odds with the typical images of the rap lifestyle. This apparently goes for his co-headliners as well. “Me, Rakim and Ghost, we’re all grown men,” Ali says, “we all have families. There might be guys in the crew who are into partying and doing crazy things, but we’re past that.” Sure, the family man alibi is convincing, so is the religion explanation: Ghostface, Rakim and Brother Ali all identify as Muslim.

For Ali’s part, he is very committed to his faith, at odds as it is with the hip hop lifestyle. “I believe in the Qur’an,” Ali explains, “I’m not saying I’m perfect, but it’s a tool I’m using to be the best version of myself that I can be.” And certainly his faith has seen him through some difficulties, many of which he addresses in his most recent album Undisputed Truth. Between his divorce, concern for his son’s welfare during tours, and a difficult relationship with his father, Ali gets personal. But this process came naturally. “I’ve always wanted to make deep and personal music,” he says, “For me, good music should have you feeling like you’re experiencing life through the person you’re listening to, and that’s what I’ve always tried to do.”

Certainly Ali – not to mention Ghostface and Rakim – has mastered this skill of making us see the world through his music. His lyrics, feelings and expression – unlike his cell phone reception – are incredibly clear. To see these three onstage together backed by a ten-piece band is sure to be one of the better multi-star, multi-generation hip hop tours yet.

Nokia Theatre, Times Square, 1515 B’way (at W. 44th St.), 212-930-1950; 8, $40.

This preview also appears on the NYPress.com's blog, and can be found here.