CHAMPION OF DIFFERENCE

Minneapolis emcee, and indie-rap superstar, Brother Ali counts some of hip-hop's biggest names among his fans, including Chuck D from Public Enemy. Brother Ali’s music does not invite casual listening: It refuses to recede into the background. The Minneapolis rapper grabs listeners by the throat, a crazy-man gleam in his eyes, and angrily demands to be heard. But to even call Brother Ali a rapper wouldn’t be entirely accurate. He's a vocalist that confesses, protests, and tells stories to music. And as you might expect from someone named Brother Ali, his story is one worth listening to. His new album, US, is arguably the most important independent hip hop release of 2009.