This song is truly an exploration or "painting of a picture," if you will, of the lower end social and economic living conditions in urban conditions. The reference by Brother Ali being a modern urban Norman Rockwell is fitting in that Ali is portraying the everyday experiences of his life and in his particular conditions. There are references to the role of drugs, protistution, drive-by crimes and stealing as aspets of everyday life in this area of the city. Additionally, the allusion to Donnie Hathaway lends an insight into the influences on Brother Ali's life and his music. Hathaway was an American soul singer and songwriter in the 1970s that was a great inspiration for R & B musicians in the future as well as modern rap and hip hop artists such as Brother Ali.
This song is truly an exploration or "painting of a picture," if you will, of the lower end social and economic living conditions in urban conditions. The reference by Brother Ali being a modern urban Norman Rockwell is fitting in that Ali is portraying the everyday experiences of his life and in his particular conditions. There are references to the role of drugs, protistution, drive-by crimes and stealing as aspets of everyday life in this area of the city. Additionally, the allusion to Donnie Hathaway lends an insight into the influences on Brother Ali's life and his music. Hathaway was an American soul singer and songwriter in the 1970s that was a great inspiration for R & B musicians in the future as well as modern rap and hip hop artists such as Brother Ali.