Ali & Big Gipp 'Kinfolk' album

Ali, of the platinum selling group St. Lunatics, and "Dirty South" impresario Goodie Mob alum Big Gipp will be releasing their collaborative debut album, Kinfolk, August 15th. Kinfolk comes following up their appearance on the #1 hit track ‘Grillz’ with Nelly and will be on his record label, Derrty Ent., an imprint of Universal Motown Records.

The first single off the album, “Go ‘Head,” is an anthemic summer song that combines "midwest swing" with southern crunk and is produced by up and coming St. Louis native Trife. "Gipp and I started hanging out a while back and found that we had a lot in common," says Ali. "We're both considered leaders in our crews, we're fathers and even though we have different styles, we respect each other's skills." Gipp describes their collaborative effort as “the best of both worlds-- the St. Lunatics kicked off the midwest movement and Goodie Mob helped establish southern rap, that’s why I say it’s the best of both worlds. Plain and simple."

In that spirit, Kinfolk has a mix of songs featuring "St. Louis" kin: Nelly, Murphy Lee and Derrty Ent newcomers, Chocolate Tai and Avery Storm; "Atlanta" kin Cee-lo and other southern all-stars include Juvenile, David Banner, Three 6 Mafia and Bun B. The album collab also contains a mix of mid-west and southern producers including the St. Louis hit-makers Jason "Jay E" Epperson and The Track Starz, Atlanta's uber-producer Dallas Austin and other talented newcomers.

Ali made his debut on Nelly's 9X platinum groundbreaking debut, Country Grammar (2000). The St. Lunatics member was also featured on the groups' platinum certified album, Free City (2001). In 2002, he released his own noted solo album, Heavy Starch. Ali guested on various albums including the Longest Yard soundtrack as well as the Coach Carter soundtrack. Gipp has been one of the main cogs in the "Dirty South" movement since the mid-'90's as a leader of the groundbreaking, platinum-plus group Goodie Mob. The thought- provoking, Atlanta based foursome broke down the wall of East Coast/West Coast dominance in 1995 with their debut album Soul Food. The pioneering group's subsequent albums, including 1998's Still Standing, and their steadfast alliance with fellow "Dirty South" phenoms Outkast, forever cemented their reputation as one of hip-hop's most innovative groups. The original members began embarking on their own journeys in 2002, with Gipp releasing his first solo album, Mutant Mindframe, in 2003.

Biography

Whether it’s the best of both worlds or the best of both hoods, it seems like every month or so two artists from different parts of the hip-hop world are promising their fans they’re going to do a whole collaborative album together. Few of them ever happen.

But neither Ali (the founding member of the St. Lunatics, the platinum selling group that put St. Louis on the map) or Gipp (who’s best known as a founding member of the Dungeon Family and a member of the much imitated, never duplicated Southern hip-hop group Goodie MOB) are the type to make false promises. “Gipp and I clicked instantly because we’re both leaders of our respective collectives and because neither of us likes to talk too much,” says Ali. “So when we say we gonna do a record together, we actually do a record together.” The result is Ali & Gipp’s CD Kinfolk, through multi-platinum superstar rapper Nelly’s record label Derrty ENT., an imprint of Universal Motown Records.

A group born out of such diverging territories may be a surprise to some. One MC has defined the sound of Atlanta and the other helped define the sound of St. Louis - the artists seem to be a natural fit, and the album Kinfolk proves just how good the chemistry is between Ali & Gipp. “We got along from the jump,” says Ali. “I went to college in Atlanta, and I’d see the Goodie MOB perform. Years later we’d meet through industry travels. Then in 2003 I was in LA recording the Sweat and Suit album with Nelly, and Gipp was there for some movie business. I called him and said, ‘Come holler at us.’ We did a song together called “Butterfly Doors” [included on Kinfolk] and we loved it, everybody loved it, so from that point on we were just like, let’s do a whole album together.”

Kinfolk is the product of that unpredictable, once-in-a-lifetime magic, a complete hip hop tour de force that bangs from start to finish with a sound that’s a little bit Atlanta, a little bit St. Louis, but ultimately revolutionary in its entirety. Given their individual reputations and formidable relationships with other artists, Ali & Gipp easily called on some of hip-hop’s greatest talent, extending their collaboration to many of the leading stars of the South and Midwest alike. Nelly makes three stunning appearances on the album, Murphy Lee and Derrty ENT. newcomers Chocolate Tai and Avery Storm also lend a hand, with Three 6 Mafia, David Banner, Bun B and Juvenile all making guest appearances, as well as Gipp’s old Goodie MOB partner (and Gnarls Barkley star), Cee-Lo. Ali & Gipp even reached out to Dungeon Family cult favorite Big Rube for one of his signature spoken word introductions. Beats are also provided from some of the most forward-thinking producers in both the Dirty and Derrty camps, including the Trak Starz, Dallas Austin and Jay E.

Before the completion of Kinfolk, Ali & Gipp joined Nelly and Paul Wall on the #1 hit single “Grillz.” After the success of “Grillz”, the duo fired up with “Go Head” for their own debut, featuring Chocolate Tai and produced by Trife - an updated classic club song. The single grabbed the #1 most added spot at the rhythm crossover radio format.

The song “Hood,” featuring Houston legend Pimp C and Nelly is a super-engaging, near-menacing track for the Cadillac and Chevy riders, built on a screwed down UGK sample. Gipp’s Goodie MOB partner Cee-Lo serves up a hook on “I Told Ya,” along with UGK legend Bun B putting down a mind-blowing verse of Texas tough talk.
St. Lou super-producers Trak Starz delivers “All Night (Excuse Me)” featuring Nelly, Avery Storm and New Orleans’ own Juvenile.

Super producer and Atlanta native Dallas Austin helmed the song, “No God But You,” a moving exploration of the flip side of life in the South and Midwest- on which Ali and Gipp speak about spirituality, faith, and other trials and tribulations. The remainder of the album flows with spirited club anthems and trademark rider music.

With multiple successful groups and solo albums under their belts (Ali released Heavy Starch in 2002 and Gipp released Mutant Mindframe in 2003), the two stars have infused Kinfolk with a renewed vigor that separates it from many of the same-sounding hip hop fare. “We've always believed hip-hop was an innovative culture,” Gipp says. “A culture where, instead of doing what people around you are doing, you take it to another level every time.”

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Ali & Big Gipp - Kinfolk