Last updated: 2 hours ago
Bay Area rhymesayer Prince Ali's verbal assault combines a flaunting, B-boy-like swagger with nuances of spirituality, a strong implication of his <a href="spotify:artist:5Rzqmz1zAszembFHGZQuAt">Souls of Mischief</a> influence. Born in Oakland, CA, but raised a few miles south in Hayward, CA, Ali was inspired to be an MC in the mid-'80s by the king B-boys of hip-hop, <a href="spotify:artist:3CQIn7N5CuRDP8wEI7FiDA">Run-D.M.C.</a> After he completed his graduate program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, he founded Eye5 Recordings in 2006, putting forth a stable of progressive rap artists, including L.A. hip-hop band <a href="spotify:artist:7o3CBgPXzoZpUrhplbY1h2">Destruments</a> and three-man crew Pacific Sonz (of which he is a member). That same year, Ali made noise with his underground mixtape, Corner Ensemble, despite its limited distribution. Oakland hip-hop pioneers <a href="spotify:artist:0XTSrpKEUhzQ5aiYswppxh">Hieroglyphics</a> caught wind of the up-and-coming MC and picked up the mixtape and debut album, Curb Side Service, for proper release via Hiero Imperium/Fontana Distribution the following year. The full-length featured <a href="spotify:artist:0XTSrpKEUhzQ5aiYswppxh">Hiero</a> members <a href="spotify:artist:4onNLSRXS0x0dZaisdMo4E">Pep Love</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3C3HtG0MPpmkY87mctxgSk">Tajai</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4OpQJMrOpOEYgYoU0Ihku3">Casual</a> as well as guest spots from Planet Asia and <a href="spotify:artist:2bwR166mSJEJrYJqfyust3">Keith Murray</a>. ~ Cyril Cordor, Rovi
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