Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole, is “The Travelers” by Brother Ali from his 2009 album Us on Rhymesayers Entertainment.

In 2009, many argue that we as a nation have finally achieved equality between all people. Many believe religion, sex, class, ability, sexual orientation and especially race are no longer deciding factors of a person’s rights or freedom. After hundreds of years, many comfortably contend that we’ve moved beyond our country’s discriminatory past and have come to a point of acceptance and even colorblindness of those different from ourselves. Well, Minnesota-born emcee Brother Ali raps to differ.

Like his last five releases, Ali’s 2009 album Us isn’t for the casual listener. With ANT’s soulful and lush beats and Ali’s brutal, preacher-like lyrics, the hip hop record demands attention, stirring up emotions of anger, sadness, guilt and joy. Ali also moves away from his usual autobiographical reflection of his life as an Albino Muslim and shifts to an overall examination of society. He aims to shake awake and crack open the consciences of the socially sedated who live in the fogged reality of today’s one-sided history, disconnected from the past. “The Travelers” most obviously and brutally touches on this fact, serving as a vivid chronicle of a slave’s journey from their homeland and life in America. Over a dismal xylophone riff, the first verse translates the bewilderment, anguish and fury of a person being ripped from their loved ones, culture and livelihood. The second verse soon flips to the perspectives of those directly and indirectly responsible for the inhumane act. Ali admits that his fans don’t want to hear a song about slavery, but he’s determined to talk about something that has irreparably stained our souls. “You’re a human being, and so anything that happens to humanity happens to [all of] humanity,” Ali says about “The Travelers.”

For more about Ali’s philosophy, tour dates and to hear additional songs off the new album, check out his MySpace page, where you’ll also find out where he’s headed next while on tour. Not stop scheduled for Seattle yet, but maybe in the new year. For now, sit back and take in this incredibly moving glimpse behind the scenes of the new album:

Among our guests during KEXP’s broadcast from Musicfest NW this year was the Scottish group The Twilight Sad, who performed several songs from their brand album, Forget the Night Ahead, in their live set at the Doug Fir (watch video here). New York band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, who also performed live that day during our broadcast, have an new EP of their own out today. Beyond that, it’s a smorgasbord of delectable albums you’ll hear on KEXP, including The Big Pink, Le Loup, Islands, Girls, Sea Wolf, Brother Ali, Vic Chesnutt, WHY?, Joshua James, and the first independently released album by Pearl Jam… and there’s plenty more!

There are also a few projects whose names might be less recognizable but whose members you’ll certainly know — Volcano Choir (Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon), Rain Machine (TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone), and Monsters of Folk (a supergroup of M. Ward, Jim James, Connor Oberst, and Mike Mogis) — and whose albums you’ll definitely want to pick up. Check out the rest on Largehearted Boy’s list and enjoy this feast of new releases:

Spike Mafford

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Every Friday, the Song of the Day podcast spotlights local musicians. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole, is “The Truth” by famed local producer Jake One on his debut album White Van Music from Rhymesayers Entertainment.

Although Seattle has a flourishing hip-hop scene, only a few artists have achieved national, or even world-wide, status like Seattle producer Jake One. He’s worked with some of mainstream rap and hip-hop’s biggest artists (50 Cent, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes) along with some underground staples (Brother Ali, Freeway, MF Doom), many of whom stepped up to contribute to his first album. Born Jacob Dutton, Jake One grew up on Seattle’s Capitol Hill but has steadily found himself working with a diverse set of artists from all over while still maintaining a consistent style that bridges the gap between the past and present. His work with G-Unit (co-founded by 50 Cent) and several artists at Rhymesayers Entertainment (which features artists like Brother Ali, Grayskull, Boom Bap Project) has made him one of the top producers in the world and his beats much sought after, but White Van Music is really a vehicle for him to control a project from start to finish and shed a light on his cohesive style and immense talents. Today’s song, “The Truth,” features the gritty rhymes of Philadelphia lyrist Freeway, who originally laid down his verses thinking he would be collaborating with Kanye West and Jay-Z, but instead Jake One threw in Minneapolis-based rapper Brother Ali (read Pitchfork’s album review for more info). The result is a combination of vintage soul and gritty lyrics that speak of finally getting the recognition that is now a reality for each of these contributors as their talents have taken them to the next level, while also affirming that they’ve been speaking the truth all along.

Check out this video for “The Truth” featuring Freeway & Brother Ali: