Hip hop heads left enlightened after legendary artist and activist Brother Ali played The Triffid in Brisbane last night. The second show of his three-date East Coast tour with support from homegrown heroes Horrorshow proved that the Minnesota rapper is far from finished.
Brother Ali is one of the most respected MCs in the game with a career spanning 25 years, which has taken him all over the globe as a performer and public speaker. However, his first Australia tour in almost a decade almost didn’t happen. Thankfully, a letter to the Minister of Home Affairs Tony Burke defending his political lyrics granted him access to the country immediately.
Such is the power of the universal language.
Beloved Sydney hip hop act Horrorshow and DJ Morgs warmed up the modest crowd with their signature boom bap beats and laid-back flows. A self-proclaimed student of Ali, Kid Solo fittingly opened with the vulnerable “Melancholaholic” followed by an Acknowledgement of Country. This moved swiftly into their “Walk on the Wild Side/Can I Kick It?” Like a Version, which has since become a live staple.
Fan-favourite “No Rides Left” took them back to where it all began before indulging in a more soulful set with “Old Soles” and “Bill Withers”. Solo switched up the vibe for a mashup of “If You Know What I Mean” and JAY-Z’s “Big Pimpin’” with cuts from Morgs to ride it out. A fun freestyle jam felt like a blast from the past alongside old singalong “The Rain” as the message of love was clearly communicated through catchy closer “Cherry Blossom”.
When Brother Ali took to the stage alone, without the advertised DJ Abilities due to the visa issues, members of the crowd were surprised to see that the hooded figure in white at the laptop was the man they came to see. But as soon as he opened his mouth, there was no disputing it. The blind rapper opened with the incisive “Pen to Paper”, showcasing his conscious storytelling over punchy beats and chopped vocal samples.
The energy was kept up between poignant anecdotes with classics like “Truth Is”, “Shadows on the Sun”, “Bad Mufucker Pt. II”, and “Uncle Sam Goddamn”. After playing emotive deep cut “Babygirl”, he shared a story of his wife; he spoke about how he met her over 20 years ago on tour in New York and she agreed to marry him after just two days. Apparently, she hadn’t even heard his music yet – now that’s true love.
Highlights of the set spanning Ali’s entire catalogue were “Own Light”, “Take Me Home”, and “Blah Blah Blah”. The mantra of the evening was simply the word love (“Say it again!”) bolstered by the refrain “Do you love music? Say yes, I do.” Fans were dancing with their whole bodies and every single person left feeling a little lighter with a smile on their face. If that isn’t a testament to his mission of unity, what is?
You can catch Brother Ali at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne tonight for the final show of the tour. Get your tickets before they sell out!
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FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Reviewer attended 19th September 2026
