Abusivo
Greedy Struggles
Mellow Man Ace
Monteloco
La Sinfonia
Locura Terminal
Luna
Sporty Loco
|
|
Mellow
Man Ace
Born
under communism in Cuba, Mellow Man Ace became his
families’ ticket to freedom and passport to the United
States. At that time in Cuba, having a child meant
a family became eligible for an exit visa. “I was
the third born and my number hit the lotto, although
we didn’t get to leave until four years later due
to politics. My family gives me the credit for being
here enjoying our freedom in the U.S.” Upon arriving
in America, the family was greeted in Miami, moved
to New Jersey and ended up in South Gate, California
on Cypress Avenue where it all began. “At 15 years
old, it hit me that I was put here in the U.S. for
a reason, I had a purpose,” says Mellow Man.
Mellow
Man first got into rap music in 1983 after hearing
The Treacherous Three for the first time. As he says,
“It wasn’t really happening out here yet, we were
still pop locking and break dancing. When I first
heard rap, I knew I had found my calling.” Writing
as many rhymes as he could and cutting demos with
his brother Sen Dog and B-Real, he still hadn’t found
his exact niche within Hip-Hop. From then on he began
his journey of creating and perfecting bilingual songs.
“I was ecstatic to realize I could fulfill my dreams
and represent for my Latino people all in one!”
Havana-born
Ulpiano Sergio Reyes (Mellow Man Ace) and older brother
Senen Reyes (Sen Dog) formed a rap quartet DVX (Devastating
Vocal Xcellence) with Lawrence Muggerud (DJ Muggs)
and Louis Freese (B-Real). After a few years Mellow
Man was signed by Delicious Vinyl and then Capitol
Records to launch a solo career. The remaining three
members formed the group Cypress Hill, named after
Cypress Avenue, the street in South Gate where they
all grew up.
With
the debut of his first LP entitled Escape From Havana
on Capitol Records, Mellow Man created a unique style
of rap that traded off between his native tongue Spanish
and English, he called it “Spanglish”. Mellow would
not only be the creator of “Spanglish” on wax and
Spanish rap, but also the first Latin rap artist to
reach Gold and Platinum sales in the U.S. and Latin
America. This achievement would open a non-existent
door for a host of other groups such as Control Machete,
Big Pun, Fat Joe and The Beatnuts to name a few.
A
#1 hit; “Mentírosa” (Liar) became the recipe
to follow for Latin artists who wanted to rap in Spanish.
The best in the business were brought in from the
likes of The Dust Brothers, DJ Muggs and Tony G. working
with such sample wizardry as Santana, War and James
Brown. A rigorous touring schedule through the U.S.,
all over Latin America, Europe and Japan brought him
together with musical giants Celia Cruz, En Vogue,
A Tribe Called Quest and others. Countries like Columbia,
Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina and Chile had never
experienced anything like a Hip-Hop show let alone
a rapper who spoke in their native tongue.
As
success grew, songs like “En La Casa” and “Welcome
to My Groove” were featured in the motion picture,
Marked For Death, as well as writing “Real Estate”
for Cypress Hill’s first album Cypress Hill which
went on to Platinum sales. Soon after the follow up
LP entitled The Brother With Two Tongues was also
released on Capitol Records. The LP proved that Mellow
Man Ace had matured not only lyrically but musically
as well by bringing something different to the Hip-Hop
table.
The
next few years Mellow Man took a partial hiatus from
the limelight. “I felt I needed time to refocus myself
and rebuild my energy”. During this “hiatus” he appeared
on various compilations, motion picture appearances,
motion picture soundtracks, television appearances,
commercials, public service announcements and various
charity events including the MTV Red Hot and Latin
album. Soon Mellow Man was centered and ready to go
back to his first love.
Mellow
Man Ace reunited with his Cypress Hill family on his
third LP From The Darkness Into The Light. Mellow
Man started with DJ Muggs overseeing the production
of the album and finished with his brother Sen Dog
and B-Real for guest appearances. Some of the songs
included “Guillotine Tactics” which was featured on
an episode of NBC’s hit television series ER. “Ten
La Fe” (Keep The Faith) was featured in the motion
picture and soundtrack for Crazy Beautiful, starring
actress Kirsten Dunst, and on the Fox television show
Fastlane.
Mellow
Man went on to write six songs and guest appear on
the Cypress Hill Spanish album Los Grandes Exitos
de Cypress Hill which received Billboard’s Latin Rap
Album of the Year 2000 and a Gold Album in Mexico.
He then looked to expand his horizons on brother Sen
Dog’s solo project SX-10 Mad Dog American. This rock-meets-rap
album featured Mellow, Everlast, Eric Bobo, Cottonmouth
Kings and DJ Muggs, an explosive combination of rap
giants. When Cypress Hill released their most recent
album Stoned Raiders, Mellow Man was called in to
drop a catchy hook on the debut single “Lowrider”.
In
2002, Mellow Man Ace received one of the most important
accolades of his career. Along with fallen rappers
Eazy-E and Mausberg, Mellow Man was inducted into
the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. “This has to be one the
greatest highlights of my career yet.”
In
2004, Mellow Man Ace reunited with former producer
Bronek to release Vengo A Cobrar. Together they started
their own production team known as Stealth Bombas.
With Vengo A Cobrar (I Came To Get Paid), the two
seasoned veterans combined radio-friendly tracks with
mass appeal hooks and well planned lyrics. The moderately
successful CD has spawned several TV and Soundtrack
hits (catch the "Mujeres Benzes" video on
Mun2 "The Roof").
Bringing
us to today…
"The
Reyes Brothers" new album is scheduled to be
released summer 2005. Mellow Man has teamed up with
his brother Sen Dog of Cypress Hill to create one
of the most anticipated albums ever. Featured artists
include B-Real of Cypress Hill, Nate Dogg, Warren
G, and production from Fred Wreck and DJ Muggs. Latin
Thug Records expects great things for these two extremely
talented brothers.
www.mellowmanace.com |