Abdu Ali Explained

Abdu Ali is an American multidisciplinary musician, community activist, poet and artist based in Baltimore.[1] [2] In 2019, Baltimore City Major Jack Young's Office and the LGBTQ Commission honored Ali with the Artist of the Year Award.[3] They released their first album FIYAH!! in 2019.[4] [5]

Musical style

Their musical style has been described as fervent jazz with a futuristic punk rap poetry while also weaving noise punk to avant-garde rap.[6] [7] Their work is inspired by Baltimore Club legend and black queer icon Miss Tony. Ali's lyrics and poetry are influenced by Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Wallace Thurmon, and Richard Nugent.[8] The FADER described their single "Chastity" as "an unconventional, and daring call for self-love and acceptance".[9]

Projects

Ali has been involved in various projects including Kahlon,[10] an experimental music and art event in Baltimore that hosted notable acts including Juliana Huxtable, Princess Nokia and others that lasted from 2014 to 2017. In 2017 they created drumBOOTY, a podcast for black creativity and social dialogue. They are also the founder of As They Lay, which Ali states as a "creative protect-based organism" that brings black artists together for events, programs and dialogues.

Personal life

Ali identifies as non-binary[11] [12] [13] and uses they/them pronouns.[14]

Discography

Studio albums

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col"
YearArtist(s)Album
"Sour Patch Kids"2015Simo Soo-
"DOTS Freestyle Remix"2019JPEGMafia, Buzzy LeeAll My Heroes Are Cornballs

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cooper. Wilbert L.. November 20, 2019. Abdu Ali is creating space for radical black artists. June 18, 2020. i-D.
  2. Web site: July 24, 2019. Abdu Ali: The Freedom Fighter. June 18, 2020. Cultured Magazine.
  3. Web site: Rao. Sameer. Mining Baltimore's past and present, Abdu Ali releases album of "Fiyah!!!". June 18, 2020. The Baltimore Sun. June 13, 2019 .
  4. Web site: April 19, 2019. ABDU ALI PUSHES US FORWARD WITH NEW ALBUM, FIYAH!!. June 18, 2020. AFROPUNK.
  5. Web site: The Quietus Reviews Abdu Ali. June 18, 2020. The Quietus.
  6. Web site: June 2, 2020. Black Musicians Write the Soundtrack of the City. June 18, 2020. Baltimore magazine.
  7. Web site: March 9, 2020. The Experimental Savvy Of Baltimore's New Underground Music Scene. June 18, 2020. Bandcamp Daily.
  8. Web site: April 1, 2019. Abdu Ali, a Musician with Restless Charisma, Shares Their Camera Roll. June 18, 2020. Interview.
  9. Web site: Baltimore's Abdu Ali dares to be free on the post-futuristic "Chastity". June 18, 2020. The FADER.
  10. Web site: Callahan. Maura. Kahlon's Cut Up Series returns with audio-visual exhibition. June 18, 2020. The Baltimore Sun. February 2017 .
  11. Web site: June 2019 . Lydia Woolever . May 14, 2019 . Allow Abdu Ali to Reintroduce Themself . April 25, 2023 . Baltimore Magazine . en-US.
  12. Web site: August 20, 2018 . Baltimore Legend Abdu Ali Is Ready To Make Their Formal Debut . April 25, 2023 . BESE . en-US.
  13. Web site: August 31, 2020 . JPEGMAFIA, Abdu Ali and Gender Nonconformity in Hip-Hop . April 25, 2023 . WKNC 88.1 FM . en-US.
  14. Web site: Burney . Lawrence . February 17, 2023 . Abdu Ali sees beyond music and Baltimore with national arts grant . April 25, 2023 . The Baltimore Banner . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Abdu Ali".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.