The Bite Marked Heart

Down with the Minneapolis super-crew Rhymesayers, Brother Ali—who\'s known for his intricate rhymes, which meld personal issues with boom-bap bravado—has been putting out top-shelf hip-hop since his self-produced 2000 demo debut, *Rites of Passage*. Since then, he\'s toured extensively and dropped three excellent studio albums and a pair of choice EPs. He\'s been relatively quiet recently (his last official release was in 2009), and *The Bite Marked Heart* is a welcome addition to his already-stellar discography. Produced exclusively by frequent collaborators Ant and Jake One, this seven-track project shows off his sensitive side, with a grip of strong love jams that prove you can get romantic on the mic without sounding corny or being overly reliant on R&B hooks. Phonte and Stokley Williams lend a hand on \"I\'ll Be Around,\" and Aby Wolf contributes vocals to \"Haunted House.\" But for the most part it\'s all Ali, and it\'s all good. Don\'t miss the title track, \"Electric Energy,\" and \"I Can\'t Wait.\"

Brother Ali's The Bite Marked Heart shows a very different side of him. We've all been exposed to the political, heartfelt, and soulful intimacy of his previous albums like The Undisputed Truth and Us, but this is the time he gives the listeners an introspective view of personal romantic relationships. Whether it be the lighthearted and playful nature of "Shine On," or the more serious topics addressed in "Haunted Housebroken," The Bite Marked Heart takes the listener through a path of romantic exploration. Featuring production from Jake One (50 Cent, De La Soul, T.I., Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa) and Atmosphere's steady producer Ant, there's something for for everyone no matter where their heart is at.