In 2018, Brother Ali was neck deep in making his self-produced Brother Minutester series of one minute songs for Instagram. These freestyled mini-offerings were a way for Ali to escape the pressure of formally releasing music. This installment began with a soulful guitar sample and the on-stage banter of the great Erykah Badu saying “Keep in mind that I’m an artist, and I’m sensitive about my shit”.
Ali hit the one minute mark that usually signals the end of a Brother Minutester track and knew this one had to be fleshed out into a full length song. He details the all-too-often “underground legend” experience of large publications’ staff fawning over artists they rarely write about in their magazines. Ali also opens up about his long-time struggle with permanently damaged vocal cords. He describes the impotent feeling of performing with a broken instrument and the fear of having failed the fans.
Written and Produced by Brother Ali
Released in 2018
