East Texas very own Ali Almighty comes through CHEF TALK to discuss her influences, the Almighty family, her creative journey, and her relentless willingness to get better.
A conversation about growth, confidence, family, and what it means to keep sharpening your craft.
Chef Talk: Peace Peace Ali. Welcome to CHEF TALK - is a conversation with the artists, DJs, and producers cooking up the next wave of independent music. We talk about influences, process, inspiration, records, and everything happening behind the scenes.
First thing first.. How are you doing?
Ali: I'm good. And yourself?
Chef Talk: In a good space mentally, pouring back into the things I love. Can't complain.
The homie Jordan Dante was the first person to put me onto you with the Currently Freestyle video on IG.
Since then, you've been on a tear. How has this year been for you?
Ali: That’s good! S/O to Jordan, he is amazing!
It’s been a busy year musically. I’ve be trying keep a consistent momentum going as i gear up for new things i have in store
Chef Talk: Consistency has been the main word for a lot of indie artists. What keeps you motivated to keep pushing?
Ali: I would say, the first thing that keeps me motivated is my family. When I originally started making music, my cousins pushed me to rap and to this day, they are the main key factors to my music, which is being my producer and engineer.
The second thing will have to be myself. As cliche as it sounds, I’ve always been a risk taker with every opportunity in myself and never settling with surface level results; knowing I can reach higher than the sky. I’ve always been a writer and my original dream job was to be a writer and be a published author. So wholeheartedly, when I say myself, I mean, my purpose because my purpose is rooted in my voice being heard or my story being told - to be that voice for my people.
Chef Talk: I love it! S/O to the family, In this journey in music, it’s priceless to have that type of support system. When I hear records from you like Magic Potion and the recent release of the EP, EA$T TX, $HAWTY the first thing I hear from you is confidence.
How would you describe your sound in three words?
Ali: Powerful, Underrated, & Southern
Chef Talk: Wow! I love it! Who are your biggest musical influences?
Ali:I would have to say Mariah Carey, Kayne West and Missy Elliot
Chef Talk: Do you have a particular song or album that changed your perspective on music?
Ali: Mink Jenkins - The Healing Component (the entire album; no skips)
Chef Talk: "Communicate" off that album - chef's kiss
Ali: Man! Love, Robert Horry 😮💨
Chef Talk: Yes! For first-time listeners, what are three records from your catalog that you’d point them to as an introduction to your work?
Ali: I would say Currently Freestyle, Groovy P and Magic Potion
Chef Talk: What’s something you're still learning about yourself as an artist?
Ali: Structuring my rhymes/bars better. Not going off topic so much and going back to my basic knowledge of different poetry styles like Haiku and Sonnet and translating that into my natural cadences and flows
Let me also add, I’m also learning to have more patience when it comes to my creative process. Wanting to make more timeless music is more of an end goal as an artist, which is why I stated the structure of my bars and rhymes.
Chef Talk: You are still learning. So important, I love that.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
Ali: I’m a plant mom, so i have about 12 plants that I’ve nurtured over the past 10 years
Chef Talk: Wow. That's so cool. What are you currently cooking up? Are you gearing up for another release this year?
Ali: I’m currently wrapping up an album called “211 Steel Reserved” exclusive produced by my cousin Sensei Almighty. No date yet but the end goal is to release before the year is over
Chef Talk: I see what type of energy you bringing with that album title. lol
Ali: lol i think people are going to be shocked because i think the energy is going to completely opposite from the vibe of the tape name and the name of the tape has a different means behind it
Chef Talk: Really? Do you mind explaining the meaning behind the tape?
Ali: I’m naming the tape 211 Steel Reserve because before I started rapping, me and my cousin Sensei would get together and I would recite poems to him and he kept saying “these could be raps”. When we would link up like this, we would be drinking 211 Steel Reserve because that was the cheapest 40 oz we could buy that was still good lol. It’s also a metaphorical term of him pouring back into me with the production and me pouring into him with the bars.
I will only have one other feature on this tape, which is my cousin Dk Almighty. Everything else is just me. It’ll also express a lot personal emotions about how i was feeling around that time when i first started taking music seriously
Chef Talk: Looking forward to it. I have a couple questions left. Speaking of Sensei and DK, you spoke about them earlier. What does Almighty represent?
Ali: When I first started rapping, my stage name went from Ali the great to Ali Almighty, once I decided to join them and form Almighty OneWay Association. I believe Almighty represents being Gods of our creations of Art. Spiritually, making music is a gift from God and being able to take that gift and make something incredible is just our gifts back to God in a way.
Chef Talk: You have your show, Cat Rap, coming up at Top Ten. How does it feel to be part of a bill alongside other femme rappers, and to be part of this new wave of femme rap happening right now? What do you think makes this moment in the scene special?
Ali: It feels amazing to be a part of something so liberating!
It feels special because a lot of things in the music industry have been so male dominated and it’s a time where women are using their art of words to say what they want and be as free as they want.
Chef Talk: Agree 10000%.
Now it's time for Chef's Special - Rapid questions! First answer that comes to mind.
Chef Talk: Favorite album of all time?
Ali: Isaiah Rashad - The Sun’s Tirade
Chef Talk: What song best represents you right now?
Ali: Peanut Butter by La Chat
Chef Talk: OMG! Fire! Ghetto Ballin' is my shit from her.
Ali:I definitely be bumping that mf 🤣
Chef Talk: Favorite city to perform in?
Ali: Austin
Chef Talk: Studio sessions or live performances?
Ali: Live performances
Chef Talk: Dream collaboration?
Ali: Megan the Stallion
Chef Talk: Favorite meal before or after a show?
Ali: Soul food/chicken wings
Chef Talk: What artist are you listening to right now?
Ali:Maria Carmen
Chef Talk: What’s one record you always have in rotation?
Ali: Hyyerr by Kid Cudi
Chef Talk: Lastly - What’s the secret ingredient to your sound? 👨🏾🍳
Ali: My bluntness
Chef Talk: Anything you want to say before we go?
Ali: Thank you for having me, truly
Chef Talk: Yo Ali, thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us. I’m really looking forward to what you have in store for all of us. Your confidence, the support of your team and family, and your willingness to keep learning and getting better are truly a recipe for greatness. Much love to you, and I’m excited to see what’s next.
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Photo Credit: MIKELIKESTOSHOOTFILM