Aceyalone

A founding member of <a href="spotify:artist:0IXabnQgJf7eO1hIF71YS9">Freestyle Fellowship</a>, Aceyalone played an important role in the evolution of left-field hip-hop on the West Coast during an era when hardcore gangsta rap reigned. Following the dissolution of <a href="spotify:artist:0IXabnQgJf7eO1hIF71YS9">Freestyle Fellowship</a>, Aceyalone embarked on a solo career that never resulted in enormous success but did allow him to maintain his revered status within the West Coast underground hip-hop scene. He debuted solo on All Balls Don't Bounce (1995) and followed-up with A Book of Human Language (1998). After a three-year absence from the hip-hop scene, he returned in 2001 with Accepted Eclectic, an album released by the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ground+Control%22">Ground Control</a> label, which also re-released his debut album. A new label, Project Blowed, issued Hip Hop and the World We Live In (2002) and Love & Hate (2003), the latter featuring collaborations with <a href="spotify:artist:57UnSUpae3SbRekxNa5Kgl">El-P</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4vSWMuZIpvFGdXOwth6JYz">Antipop Consortium</a>. In 2004 Project Blowed secured the rights to All Balls Don't Bounce from <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Capitol%22">Capitol</a> and reissued it with a bonus disc, bringing not only extra music but reviving the album after many years out of print. In 2006, Aceyalone released Magnificent City, a collaboration with underground producer <a href="spotify:artist:1O3ZOjqFLEnbpZexcRjocn">RJD2</a>, as well as Grand Imperial, a limited-edition collection of remixes and other exclusive tracks. His 2007 album, Lightning Strikes, was inspired by reggae and dancehall music. It was produced by <a href="spotify:artist:46ydYG7G0ABYU40mmEgUdA">Bionik</a>, who was also behind the boards for 2009's The Lonely Ones, an album influenced by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Motown%22">Motown</a>, soul, and doo wop. <a href="spotify:artist:46ydYG7G0ABYU40mmEgUdA">Bionik</a> returned for 2013's Leanin' on Slick, another retro-minded album with Cee Lo Green as special guest. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi