I see all this from the desk that I write my rhymes from/
Pen starts to scribble on it’s own, my minds numb/
But you can call me modern urban Norman Rockwell/
I paint a picture of the spot well.
On the tenth anniversary of his incredibly dope Rhymesayers debut Shadows On The Sun, Brother Ali recently sat down with City Pages’s Chaz Kangas to discuss his introduction to Ant, the recording process, how certain songs didn’t make the cut, how he’s grown since it’s release and more. Check a preview quote below and head here for the full interview.
At what point did recording for Shadows on the Sun the album begin?
As soon as I got with Rhymesayers. I brought them Rites of Passage, and Siddiq and Musab and I were friends, and they introduced me to Ant, who seemed reluctant to work with me. He made it clear he thought I was talented, but I don’t think necessarily saw the kind of songs I wanted to write. But, he said we could try something out. At that time I used to write songs in my head, and the first two songs I brought him that we deliberately made together were “Room With a View” and “Bitchslap.”
“Room With A View” is also the first Ali song I heard and ever since Ant’s horns blasted through my speakers I was hooked. Before my days at HipHopDX and a half decade before 2DopeBoyz was even an idea, I remember Shadows was the only album I played for at least a month straight. Easily one of my favorite albums from the past 15 years.
