Hidden gems in the mega rough…Slug and Brother Ali

By tdf, August 12, 2014

I should listen to more music. I should fill in the gaps of valuable input to my Now via the vocal output of others, intensify with a colourful soundscape those moments when my senses are alert and vibrating with nourishment from the scene where I find myself.

Lines on a page, virtual or otherwise have life, because they come from life, if well written. Whereas music brings that life to momentum. Song can move, can inspire, and unlike a book, a novel, a poem, it is far more likely to grab your attention until it’s climax. And given the rancid dull contrast I have recently encountered, as I have experienced the transition from traveling through beautiful, testing, engaging foreign climes for 6 weeks, then returned here to Melbourne, and uneasily acquiesced to the banality of not only a work and rest and shit and eat and drink and smoke routine, but the wretched and unwavering deficit of Spirit…a rhythm, with no trauma, no drama, just the continuation of what has already gone before, day after day, night after night…Indeed, my european jaunt has taught me, what I already knew; Make Each Day and Night Count. Make it Unique.

In absence of an inferno of a political rant, or heartfelt yearning for my idea of shangri-la which can only ever exist in my mind, it seems the Right Time to turn to the sound artists…And rather than join the herd, I will aim to unearth, the machetes in the giant haystacks. I will endeavour to equip you and myself in turn, with aural amulets to make your Now truly mean something. For is that not all we ever seek? To mean something…

I feel the need to share the tunes which have moved me, shaped me, inspired me…for they are not of my creation, yet they make me feel like I am a part of something bigger than whichever character I choose to show as my Ego…appears to be.

Let us begin this voyage with a man I met in Brighton, many moons ago. A chum of Slug (aka Sean Daley) of Rhymesayers fame. Whilst he may well have taken my drunk, stoned demands for ‘Tell Slug thanks for coming to brighton and to keep coming back’, he was wicked on stage and remains a very capable artist.

Brother Ali featuring Madson – You Never Know

Brother Ali – Uncle Sam Goddamn [Official Music Video]

Brother Ali – Truth is

Moving swiftly onto another man cut from a similar cloth…Slug was introduced to me courtesy of an old skool hiphop DJ skater I was living with in the year 2000. I cannot recall his name, perhaps due to the daily skunk intake and muppet racemania battles. Perhaps he was Richard or Rich. It seems Right. ‘Rich’ received a Cd from his then girlfriend as a birthday gift. His bent was far more Public Enemy, than Ant and Sluggo, so he gave the CD to me, offering with the gift, with neither smile or warmth,’this seems more up your street’. That move precipitated a lengthy journey through the Minneapolis born wordsmith’s efforts on the mike and introduced me to many of his tribe.

I met Slug at a Brighton concert in 2003, whilst confronting the result of a cognac X Brighton Cheese combination at a club somewhere near The Level. He was quality. Friendly, open, sincere and so fucking special on stage. His music has changed over the years, as every man who puts his all into his music or art or anything with suitable fanaticism, should and does find. Yet, what remains, what is retained, is his brilliant sincerity and constant talent.

Atmosphere – Fuck You Lucy