Abdu Ali

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]

Ali performing in 2015

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.[7] 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][5] 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.[1] In 2017 they created drumBOOTY, a podcast for black creativity and social dialogue.[7] 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.[1]

Personal life

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

Discography

Studio albums
  • FIYAH!! (2019)[4]

Guest appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Artist(s) Album
"Sour Patch Kids" 2015 Simo Soo -
"DOTS Freestyle Remix" 2019 JPEGMafia, Buzzy Lee All My Heroes Are Cornballs

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


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