Us
by Brother Ali
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24

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  1. DawoudA
    Oct 16, 2009
    4
    I don't understand why everyone is giving this goofball a free ride. The wince-worthy sincerity of his lyrics is the kind of sincerity that only a profound self-deception can engender. I think he's in that magical category where only people that are feeling what he's doing are reviewing him, and he gets this magical skew that propels his Metascore beyond hip hop albums that I don't understand why everyone is giving this goofball a free ride. The wince-worthy sincerity of his lyrics is the kind of sincerity that only a profound self-deception can engender. I think he's in that magical category where only people that are feeling what he's doing are reviewing him, and he gets this magical skew that propels his Metascore beyond hip hop albums that clearly eclipse this effort. I mean, I guess it's okay and all. He's not an incompetent artist or anything. But folks, really, a white black Muslim? Nobody's going to say anything? Seriously?… Collapse

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Billboard.com
    82
    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.
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  2. Pitchfork
    78
    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.
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  3. Slant Magazine
    80
    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.
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