The White Suit???

Will we ever get to see the White Suit with the Red Piping and the matching shoes? That sounds iconic, if there's a photo that exists, I would love to see it!

Community, Youth, and our commitment to each other

In America there seems to be a shift away from racial divides and more towards class divides. We seem to align much more closely now with each other over things like economic status, education levels, and perceived privilege. It’s not new or novel but seems to be the most dominant in our society right now. Bernie Sanders knew this, Barack Obama knew this, Donald Trump used this to his advantage, even the Black Panthers recruited working class white men to support the shared cause. The summary statement of what’s needing to be done is: Get YOUNG PEOPLE, organizing and mobilizing COMMUNITY, thinking about their obligations TO OTHER PEOPLE and not just about themselves. I am curious your views on the above as you have been a strong vocal proponent on community, while also being a victim of a community turning on you. But I’m equally curious of your views on this Brendan because it is core to you and has been your driving motivation. I’m a leader in a major global manufacturing company and continue to digest all these factors in order to synthesize a new support plan for our company. I appreciate both of yours time and dedication to making this world a little bit better. Love you both. -Ben Egan Benjegan@gmail.com 608-213-7632

Awaken

Salaam. Awaken from Love & Service is one of my favorites. would love to hear an episode about this song and about the teachers, sources, and ideas that inspired the song.

Vocal Chain

Hi Brother Ali, I especially like how your vocals sound on the new Album. Do you mind sharing what mic and preamp you used? Or anything along those lines would be great! Thanks man. Your music brings me so much life.

Are there any noticeable differences in creating an Album with Ant, that have changed since you first began making music with him? What in the creative process have you learned do and don't work?

Are there any noticeable differences in creating an Album with Ant, that have changed since you first began making music with him? What in the creative process have you learned do and don't work?

Why do you have to make me cry at the gym?!?

Every time you choke up in a podcast, I start to get emotional too. It makes it hard for me to listen to your podcast sometimes at the gym. Why are you doing this to us?!? Joking aside, I love that you are bringing so much authenticity to your podcast. Don't change a thing!!!

Do you want visitors to Istanbul to say hi?

Hi Brother, Greetings from Madison, WI. I wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying your podcast, and thank you for your perspectives. As a convert who is navigating a personal path to Islam, your insights on life and faith are very valuable. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. I will likely be passing through Istanbul later this fall on the way to KSA. Please drop a line if you like. Perhaps the stars will align and I can thank you in person. Thanks again for everything you are doing for all of us!!!

Scarface x BK-One collab

Peace & Grace Congratulations on the release of the Love & Service album! Going through some of the "older" joints in preparation for my first listen of the latest joint....I was surprised to see my personal GOAT from the younger days SCARFACE on a song with you and BK. Just curious how that collaboration came about, not something that was on my radar (at all) and the song is DOPE so just wondering if there's any story or more background to that song--were y'all in the lab together, etc?. Thank you. Peace & Grace

Bismillah Hip hop and whiteAmerica

Asalam Alaikum Wah Rahmatulah Wah Barakatuh, Sidi Brother Ali. why is it that white American listeners have not historically embraced Islam en masse despite immense love for African American culture and hip hop, and mass appeal of Malcolm X (RA)? I guess something’s need to be experienced experientially. But I wonder how people cannot see how Islam brings us past race into ihsan, into honoring lineage without supremacy, and into God consciousness n love for creation. inshaAllah your full animated feature speaks to people’s hearts. inshaAllah u show every raindrop and drum beat r making dhikr. Islam is the shife that “would cure us all, la illaha il Allah”, murmuring the cheatcode. 💚

Hope you are well

Hi. It’s been a while since the last episode. I hope you and BK are well and safe. Are y’all ok? I still have some unheard early episodes to catch up on. This is the first weeks long break in episodes I’m aware of, and that causes worry. Wishing y’all the best.

Will you enlighten me

Salam Alikom, I am doing a series of monthly Virtual National Teach-ins to educate and enlighten those interested in educating themselves and their communities and who are open to different kinds of opinions and dialog about topics that relate to them and society, the problems we face as a society, and its possible solutions. All topics on different things related to American Politics, the international effect of our policies, policies affecting minorities especially, the sufferings of the American people currently, transformative organization at the grassroots level etc. I would love to collaborate with you and work together on a teach-in. I invite you to pick any topic you would like but I would suggest first looking at Dr. Cornel West's Platform and choosing any topic from there, if you don't find one you would like to talk about, I am open to any of your ideas. (disclaimer: I am a LW volunteer for Dr. West's campaign and this virtual teach-in will be advertised in his volunteer events and at large where I can advertise it) I hope to engage American minorities and the public, in general, to be more proactive, and educated in the topics that affect them, and encourage them to join grassroots campaigns, change their futures by being proactive and educated and to break the duopoly of American politics happening right now, in this current election year of 2024, and to carry these grassroots campaigns beyond 2024 to create a local and governmental society that can reflect the actual public and its needs, creating meaningful and lasting solutions to chronic problems, and therefore rebounding to international influence of creating a better world. please contact me if you are compelled taqwah.medium.com

Brother Ali, can YOU find me a wife

love from USA

Just checking in.

I hope you and BK are feeling loved and your families are as well.

Sampling in hip-hop

Without going into specific details, what kind of experience have you had of the current framework for sampling? Do you feel like there's a good system fr it? Have you and/or artists in your circle experienced any legal, financial or practical problems as a result of using samples in your work? How do you think it should work, in an ideal world?

Sight activism?

I never know if activism is the right word, but you do so much to uplift people and communities from work pertaining to faith to housing and so much more. I wonder - as a person who is visually impaired due to ocular albinism - what work you have or would consider doing with/for that community. I know your albinism has an impact on sight, and I ask primarily because I help lead a Low Vision Coalition and I'd love to hear about how you or others have dealt with the challenges that come with say organizing a group of non-drivers in communities with limited transportation options, etc.

Who Do You Think You Are?

Bismillah. Knowing who your people are is important for decolonisation right? My folks have been doing ancestry research in their retirement. Got the spit test. Spent some money on genealogists to get undigitised records from dungeons in Eastern Europe. Learning how many of my kin may be dying in that war right now. I changed my name so as to honour my ancestors. Starting to learn my ancestral languages. Will visit when it’s safer. I hope this isn’t a ‘hey you know what you should do’ at a bbq thing. Would you do that kinda ancestry show? (The titles a British show) You’d be a great host if I ran the world. Or what steps are you taking towards your ancestors? I’m pretty sure some of mine served vlad the impaler. What rights do they have over you when they mighta done really bad things?

Being Muslim then and now

Being that you have been a Muslim for most of your life do you feel that the process of converting to Islam has more or less challenges today in comparison to when you converted? This question is mostly in regard to the abundance of information (positive and negative) in more of a technological era like today, as opposed to the 90s when information wasn’t as accessible. You have shared so much of your life experience on the subject of being Muslim, but I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you speak on this subject and I am genuinely curious as to what your take on it is.

Beats Album

When are we going to see more production or even an entire album produced by Brother Ali?

GAZA

Salam Brother Ali, I pray that God accepts and rewards you for all of your efforts. Your approach in response to whats happening in Palestine has been refreshing and inspiring. As a mixbreed 1/2 Gazan 1/2 American, Ive been struggling to figure out what to do or how to feel. Sometimes its pure rage and anger, other times its despair. I feel so useless living in Canada and hearing about deaths in my family and destruction of our homes. Your podcast has helped me change my perspective and turn to The All Mighty in prayer for our people. Im in a better mindstate but still feel like im not doing enough. Any advice on how to help out in an effective positive way?

Mission over Position

I recently participated in a convening related to equity minded leadership. One of the topics was about how each person in a system, regardless of their "position" or role, can be a leader for change if they focus on their mission. As someone who seems very clear on your mission, and who finds a way to bring that to many different roles you have in different communities, what advice do you have for: 1) getting clear on your own personal mission 2) recognizing opportunities for leadership 3) leveraging those opportunities to impact other people

Blood On Beats

Peace Ali. Why does your Blood On Beats workshop have the tag line "How To Die Writing A Song?" I might not know the full history of the phrase "Blood On Beats" aside from your mention of it on Victory. Salutations & Grace

Top 5 Emcee's

Who are your top 5 Emcee's of all time? I mean, the ones who impacted you the most or who are the most inspiring to you. If you have the time, additionally, who are your top 5 Emcee producers / producer Emcee's? Emcee's who also produce / producers who also Emcee.

Aspirations

Thank you for sharing so much on the Travelers Podcast. You have had many and varying experiences, including much success. Is there something else you hope to accomplish or experience?

Finding a mosque

Do you have advice on finding a mosque? I aspire to be Muslim and would like to find a community and/or a mosque with a class for newcomers. On the Travelers Podcast, you have mentioned specific mosques that sound like a good fit for me. Is there a mosque network or affiliation you recommend? I'm in southwest Ohio.