Freestyle Fellowship
| Freestyle Fellowship | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop, freestyle rap, jazz rap |
| Years active | 1991–1993 1998–present |
| Labels | Project Blowed, Decon, 4th & B'way Records, Beats & Rhymes, Ground Control |
| Associated acts | Project Blowed, Haiku D'Etat |
| Members | Aceyalone Myka 9 P.E.A.C.E. Self Jupiter |
| Past members | J. Sumbi M.D. Himself |
Freestyle Fellowship is a rap group from Los Angeles, California. It consists of Aceyalone, Myka 9, P.E.A.C.E. and Self Jupiter. They are part of a hip hop collective Project Blowed.
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Style [edit]
Freestyle Fellowship's vocal techniques focusing on the method of freestyle rap and their successful infusion of hip hop and jazz established the group as forerunners in the sub-genre of jazz rap and placed them amongst prominent West Coast underground hip hop acts of the early 1990s such as Hieroglyphics and The Pharcyde.[1]
History [edit]
Freestyle Fellowship was formed at the Good Life Cafe in Los Angeles, California during the early 1990s. In an interview, Myka 9 stated that he knew and grew up with Aceyalone and Self Jupiter since elementary school, and he met P.E.A.C.E. in 10th grade. Before Freestyle Fellowship was formed, Aceyalone, Spoon (of Iodine) and Myka 9 had been in a group called the MC Aces in high school.[2]
After releasing the first album To Whom It May Concern..., Freestyle Fellowship became known in tape-trading circles, identified by their range in rhyming, at times bordering on Jazz scat, and Afrocentric messages over jazz inspired beat production. Their second album Innercity Griots is acknowledged by many to be among the best hip hop albums of the 1990s.[3][4][5]
In 1993, Freestyle Fellowship went on hiatus due to the four year incarceration of Self Jupiter. After his release, the group reunited to record Shockadoom in 1998. Their third album Temptations was released in 2001. They released the fourth album The Promise in 2011.
All members of Freestyle Fellowship have released solo albums, with Aceyalone and Myka 9 being the most prolific. In addition to their solo works, Aceyalone and Myka 9 have released two albums as Haiku D'Etat with Abstract Rude.
In 1999, P.E.A.C.E. won second place in Scribble Jam to Eyedea.
Film [edit]
Freestyle Fellowship is featured prominently in the award-winning documentary This Is the Life, chronicling the music movement that was birthed at The Good Life Cafe in South Central, Los Angeles. The Good Life Cafe is the open-mic workshop where the group first performed in the early 1990s.
Discography [edit]
Albums [edit]
- To Whom It May Concern... (1991)
- Innercity Griots (1993)
- Temptations (2001)
- The Promise (2011)
EPs [edit]
- Shockadoom (2002)
Singles [edit]
- "Bullies of the Block" (1992)
- "Hot Potato" (1993)
- "Temptations" b/w "Ghetto Youth" (2001)
- "Sex in the City" (2002)
Guest appearances [edit]
- Nobody - "Planets Ain't Aligned" from Soulmates (2000)
- Abstract Rude & Tribe Unique - "Heavyweights Round 4" from P.A.I.N.T. (2001)
Compilation appearances [edit]
- "Hot" on Project Blowed (1994)
- "Can You Find the Level of Difficulty in This? (Hive remix)" on Defcon 4 (2000)
- "Ummm" on We Came From Beyond (2001)
- "Crazy" on Constant Elevation (2002)
References [edit]
External links [edit]
- Freestyle Fellowship on Discogs
- "Down for the Good Life," Brendan Mullen, L.A. Weekly, June 21, 2000.
- "Livin' the Good Life," Nicole Balin, The Source.
- Freestyle Fellowship - The Last Temptation of Mics
- Interview in Klub Magazine 1993 Seth Jaquish Klub Magazine June 1993.
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