Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. What gives Brother Ali's slice-of-life ruminations their impressive heft is the rapper's eye for everyday detail and the handmade appeal of his vintage-funk arrangements.
  2. It's an album that draws its strengths from the simultaneous expression of sympathy toward the people in the songs and anger toward the shit they've gone through.
  3. The smart tracks build up the complexity of Ali's persona, while the dumb ones diminish it. The juxtaposition of these two different modes creates a fuller exposition than what you'll find on most hip-hop albums.
  4. 80
    Happiness hasn’t blunted his keen social insight, though, as he empathizes with latchkey teens (“Tight Rope”), reflects on friends trapped in the street life (“Slippin’ Away”), and rues slavery’s consequences (“The Travelers”).
  5. On Us, his deeply humane new album, that mad-prophet intensity can be exhausting, exhilarating, and downright transcendent.
  6. The same goes for nearly every cut in this hip-hop opera, a rare work of rap that simultaneously inspires self-confidence and aggravation with the broken world around us.
  7. This album is so near-flawless it would be easy to go on and on about how you need to hear it as soon as possible.
  8. Us is uplifting, thought-provoking, funny, heartbreaking, and bootyshaking.
  9. The songs on Us are long--most track in past four minutes--and the album can start to drag during some of the later verses, but as a statement on the health of hip-hop, it's an assured yes that all is well.
  10. There aren’t any questions about the quality of Us, an album filled with exceptional music; it’s a downright excellent release.

Awards & Rankings

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. ArthurS
    Dec 7, 2009
    10
    Amazing album. Ali makes lyrics that you really can relate to.
  2. AnthonyM
    Nov 10, 2009
    10
    This is hot. In all seriousness, I don't think there's a better rapper out there. There may be a couple who are just as good, but This is hot. In all seriousness, I don't think there's a better rapper out there. There may be a couple who are just as good, but no one is better. Full Review »
  3. DaleW
    Oct 30, 2009
    8
    The vibe on "Us" tends to be slower and more mellow than previous releases, but this is the album Brother Ali needed to make: more mature, The vibe on "Us" tends to be slower and more mellow than previous releases, but this is the album Brother Ali needed to make: more mature, with less autobiographical songwriting. Half of the tracks are about himself, the other half are true, heart-wrenching stories from other's difficult lives. Great, intelligent songwriting and more excellent beats from Ant. I initially like each new Brother Ali LP less than the previous, but they grow on me and soon become my favorite. I'm sure it'll be the same with "Us". Full Review »