Brother Ali and Evidence, wordsmiths and veteran artists on the Minnesota-based independent hip hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment, have recently announced Fall 2019 co-headlining tour. The two aforementioned accomplished emcees have released a total of six (Brother Ali) and two (Evidence) studio albums on the Rhymesayers imprint, respectively. The tour will commence on November 7th in Santa Ana, California. According to a press release found on the official Rhymesayers website, after “…two critically acclaimed releases – Brother Ali’s All The Beauty in This Whole Life, and Evidence’s Weather or Not – the emcees have joined forces for this one powerful package.”
Ali (born Jason Douglas Newman on July 30, 1977) a passionate activist/performer has been one of the more prolific voices in the independent hip hop scene. Known for his more introspective, deeply personal and social conscience rap style, Ali is inspired by his religious practices of Islam that shape his music. Ali is also vocal about his struggle growing up with albinism and the importance of his role as a husband and father. These reoccurring themes of family and his background are heavily present on Ali’s latest musical offering, 2017’s All The Beauty In This Whole Life.
Getting his start in the late nineties being 1/3 of the West Coast underground hip hop group Dilated Peoples, Evidence (born Michael Taylor Perretta on December 10, 1976) is an accomplished hip hop artist/producer. Evidence has garnered some major accolades for his production work including “… a Grammy Award for co-production on Kanye’s College Dropout and two JUNO Awards for his work with Canadian hip-hop group Swollen Members.” In 2007, after releasing four studio albums with Dilated Peoples on Capitol Records, he released his debut solo album The Weatherman LP on ABB Records. Under the Rhymesayers label, Evidence has continued to build a solo career releasing his 2nd and 3rd studio albums 2011’s Cats & Dogs and 2018’s Weather or Not, respectively, which concluded his Weather trilogy.
Speaking in regards to going on tour with Evidence, Ali spoke highly of his label mate saying, “Evidence is one of my favorite people to tour with,” he said. “His catalog is insane and he’s just an incredible performer. He brings a vibe to a live show that I’ve never felt with anyone else.”
The feelings were mutual when Evidence reciprocated Ali’s sentiments saying, “Ali is one of the best live performers, period. As a fan of his music, I get reminded of his greatness every time I see him live. Don’t f*** up and miss this when we pull up to your city. Gonna be a life changing experience.”
Tour Dates:
11/7 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
11/8 – Fresno, CA – Strummers
11/9 – Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver
11/10 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
11/12 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst
11/13 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
11/15 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
11/16 – Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge
11/17 – Vancouver, BC – Fortune Sound Club
11/20 – Boise, ID – The Olympic
11/21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
11/22 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
11/23 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom
For more information on the Brother Ali/Evidence upcoming tour, visit the Rhymesayers website.
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