Other than the huge flub which has been bludgeoned to death already, one of the larger highlights of the evening of the Oscars was seeing Mahershala Ali win the award for best supporting actor in Moonlight. But if there’s one thing the now to be booked all-the time actor hasn’t forgotten it’s his roots in hip hop. Most people didn’t know this until today but back in the mid-2000s, Ali released two hip-hop records under the name of Prince Ali.
He found some success, too, even collaborating with Rakaa Iriscience of Dilated Peoples on his 2007 album Curb Side Service. It was his second album, following the previous year’s Corner Ensemble. By 2008, however, his acting career took precedence. And Ali’s love for Hip Hop hasn’t diminished in the slightest. While we may not see Prince Ali ever again or for a long time, he’s always held on to the influence that hip hop has had on his career.
This is what Ali said in a 2016 interview
“Hip-hop has definitely had a strong, perhaps the strongest influence on my life. I don’t think I’m at all unique with that. I think there’s so many people of color, and even White kids, that have been tolerating the stresses of their own problems and what not and were able to navigate so many things through the culture of hip-hop and create jobs, have opportunities and been able to express themselves and finding their identity in. I think that’s true with so many people, definitely with me. It’s an appendage. It’s a part of me.”
And here are some of his skills:
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