All systems knowledge creator
Embrace the awesome, all-seeing author of nature
Artistic shaper of all small and major
The cradle maker, the life giver and taker
God, displayer of the garden I was placed in Brother Ali – Phantom Of The Opera
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Ali uses these six bars to mention some of the characteristics of the God he and all Muslims believe in, Allah.
Bunch of dudes in a stupid outfit Brother Ali – Not a Day Goes By
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YES! This whole rap game is polluted because there’s way too many rappers in it that can’t even rap and are wearing stupid outfit! The reason why they’re spitting bad rhymes is just to make some money and get some tooth grills.
This line is a reference to Immortal Technique’s song “Rebel Arms” because in it he said:
When I'm out of here, I swear to God I drop a tear Brother Ali – Dial Tone
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The shahada is an Islamic creed which declares belief in the oneness of Allah and acceptance of Muhammad as God’s prophet. After the shahada, the converter officially converts to Islam.
Mosque means everything to Ali because it’s where he converted to Islam by saying the Shahada.
The reason why he tears is something in Islam called Khushu, in English what we call sincerity and humility.
The term ‘Khushoo’ is the display or practice of one’s utmost sincerity and abject humility in the absolute awe, fear, and Majesty of the Lord Most Exalted Who Created.
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A reference to Christopher George Latore Wallace — The Notorious B.I.G.. He died March 9 1997 when he received four bullets in his chest. Brother Ali really misses him and so do many musicians.
KRS One, Chuck D gave me assignments
If I said I lost it they would send me to the office Brother Ali – Never Stoppin'
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When Ali was younger, the experience he got from listening to music was more than that he got from school. As he mentioned, he was into KRS-ONE and Public Enemy.
What he meant with “They would send me to the office” is that if he forgot any line from their songs, he’d go back to his room and listen to them again.
So you're a philosopher, my uzi weighs a ton Brother Ali – Dial Tone
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He’s generally referring to black musicians. He has often explained that, from an early age, he felt “most at home amongst African Americans”.
Ali refers to two song from two of his biggest influences:
“So you’re a philosopher” is the line that Boogie Down’s track “My Philosophy” starts with.
“Miuzi weighs a ton” is a song by Public Enemy.
KRS-ONE, the rapper from Boogie Down Productions, is the man that first brought Ali on stage when he was only 13 years old, as Ali detailed in this interview with Disarray. And Public Enemy are a hip-hop group that Ali was raised by, as he says on the track he did with them “Get Up Stand Up:”
Cause I was raised by The Enemy
And ever since then that’s been my identity
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Ghetto and crime, on the grind, pulling iron out Rakim – It's Nothing
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During the period Rakim mentioned here, there was nothing good to rap about because all that was happening around him was crime and murders.
Everyday together, Always
I really feel, that I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe this could be, the end Rakim – Dedicated
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He lost contact with a woman he used to be best-friends with. He is not feeling good right now and that really hurts him because he thinks that’s the end of their friendship.
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Pac is many artists' favorite rapper, including Brother Ali.