Brother Ali, a heavy-hitting hip-hop star off the Rhymesayers label, is one the most successful up-and-coming emcees out of the Midwest. A legally blind albino, this devout Muslim rapper brings aggressive, passionate lyrics controversial to some, inspirational to many others.

     Even though Ali has been rapping since he was 7, he didn’t hit the scene until 2000 when he released his first album, Rites of Passage (a self-produced work, only available on cassette tape.) Ali later signed with the Minneapolis-based label Rhymesayers Entertainment and has released three albums since: Shadows on the Sun, Champion EP, and his latest, the The Undisputed Truth. “Uncle Sam Goddamn,” the pulls-no-punches single off his latest work, has rankled the recording industry for linking the federal government to slavery, drug trafficking, and abandoning the homeless. Yet no matter what issues arise in his rhymes, Ali claims to speak the truth whether it’s about his ex-wife or the war in Iraq.

     So, you’re embarking on your second head-lining U.S. tour. Your first time in Denver?
     I’ve actually played in Denver before. The first time I thought about Colorado like [it was] Vermont or something. I didn’t know what to expect. (Laughs) But I love it there, man. So many young and energetic fans. I like it when the crowd gets involved—isn’t just there to drink or whatever. Denver is definitely like that.

     What can fans expect at your upcoming show?
     Well, my DJ [BK-One] plans the whole night. He’s going to DJ the whole night, even between the sets. You see a lot of bands and groups coming out and performing for a certain amount of time, then going backstage. Some mix-tape will go on while the next group is setting up their equipment and the show loses momentum. BK-One set the whole thing up like a party. From the time we get there until the time they close the doors, the music never stops.

     You’ve spoken before about your roots, about how rapping came to be a means of “survival.” Can you elaborate on that?
     I mean, it’s all we had at that time. It was all around us, it was the culture. It would help us in hard times.

     Hard times. Because of your skin color? You’re albino. Has that put you at a disadvantage in the hip-hop world?
     I don’t even look at it like that. I see myself and other people as humans. I guess I don’t feel any different because I’m albino. Race is such a bullshit thing. Hip-hop was created by the black community, but it’s dominated by the listening audience, which is basically composed of people from all walks of life. There are good rappers out there that are black and good rappers that are white and good rappers that are every other type of race…there are bad ones too.

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     So it’s not all fast cars and faster women, like you see on television?
     No, it never was. (Laughs) You can see that stuff on TV, and it’s not a bad thing. It has its place. People in hard times can see that, and it’s like an escape from being poor. It’s a way to establish hope, because some of the rappers that made it big grew up in poverty.

     But you’re feeling comfortable with your success?
     I feel very fortunate and blessed. I mean, I was out on the streets, homeless with my son. I was extremely lucky to have the opportunity to be where I am today. I just did what I knew best, to the best of my ability. There are a lot of good rappers out there that can’t sell CDs.

     But you can—even though, or perhaps because, you’re not afraid to rap about controversial and sometimes political subjects. Do you feel that you’re educating an audience when performing?
     I look at it as speaking to the public, not preaching. I have my own views and other people have theirs. Rapping is like a new way to educate. I feel like I speak the truth, and if my fans hear it, then it’s real.

     Is part of that “truth” your religion?
     I’m Muslim, but I don’t try to convert people.

     Then how do you feel about our war in Iraq, about the troops?
     When I think about the troops, I think about my old friends. A lot of them were drug dealers amongst other things…and a lot of them joined the military. People really don’t care about war. For a lot of people, the military is a chance to have stability, an opportunity to get away from the type of life they’re living.

     OK, fair enough. Let’s wrap this up. Your tour is called “Truth is Here.” What would you say then is your message to the people?
     Just be comfortable being yourself. Be happy with the way you are. Be honest. Give as much as you can. When I’m on stage, I want to give the people as much as possible.

     Brother Ali embarks on “Truth is Here” starting Feb. 27 with artists Abstract Rude, Toki Wright, and BK-One. The tour hits to the Fox Theatre in Boulder on March 6, and Denver’s Bluebird Theater on March 7.