Prince Ali: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Latyrx
• Quannum
• Planet Asia
• Lyrics Born
• Blackalicious

Genres:

Rap & Hip-Hop Music, Underground Rap Music, West Coast Rap Music

Decades Active:

2000's

Bay Area rhymesayer Prince Ali's verbal assault combines a flaunting, Bboylike swagger with nuances of spirituality, a strong implication of his Souls of Mischief 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 Bboys of hiphop, RunD.M.C. 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. hiphop band Destruments and threeman 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 hiphop pioneers Hieroglyphics caught wind of the upandcoming MC and picked up the mixtape and debut album, Curb Side Service, for proper release via Hiero Imperium/Fontana Distribution the following year. The fulllength featured Hiero members Pep Love, Tajai, and Casual as well as guest spots from Planet Asia and Keith Murray.

- Cyril Cordor, All Music Guide