Freestyle Fellowship

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Freestyle Fellowship


Img_capt = Self Jupiter, Myka Nyne, Aceyalone, P.E.A.C.E.
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Los Angeles, California, United States
Genre = Jazz, freestyle hip hop
Years_active = 1991–1993
1998–2001
Label = Beats & Rhymes
4th & Broadway
Ground Control
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members = Aceyalone
P.E.A.C.E.
Mikah 9
Self Jupiter
Past_members = J. Sumbi
M.D. Himself
Spoon (of Iodine)

Freestyle Fellowship are a rap group from Los Angeles consisting of rappers Aceyalone, Myka Nyne, P.E.A.C.E., Self Jupiter and producer J Sumbi. Their vocal techniques focusing on the method of the freestyle, as well as a successful infusion of hip hop and jazz, established the group as forerunners in the sub-genre of jazz rap, and also placed them amongst prominent West Coast underground hip hop acts of the early 1990s like Hieroglyphics, Abstract Rude & Tribe Unique, and The Pharcyde. They are part of a hip hop collective known as Project Blowed.

The group was formed at the Good Life Café in Los Angeles during the early 90s. Myka Nyne stated in an interview that he grew up with Aceyalone and Self Jupiter and knew them since elementary school, and he met P.E.A.C.E. in 10th grade. The original Freestyle Fellowship consisted of over 50 members Fact|date=March 2008. The Emcees known as Freestyle Fellowship were the members that consistently came to the most open mic sessions Fact|date=March 2008.

Officially forming in 1991 and releasing the album "To Whom It May Concern", the Fellowship became known in tape-trading circles, identified by their range in rhyming, at times bordering on scat, and Afrocentric messages over jazz inspired beat production. Their 1993 release "Innercity Griots" is acknowledged by many to be among the best hip hop albums of the 90s.

In 1993, the group went on hiatus due to the four year incarceration of Self Jupiter. After his release, the Fellowship reunited to record "Shockadoom" in 1998 (released 2002). "Temptations" was released in 2001.

Aceyalone, the most prolific artist of the group in terms of solo album releases, is known for such works as "All Balls Don't Bounce" and "Magnificent City", a cooperative album with producer RJD2. The other members of the Fellowship also put out numerous solo albums, such as Myka Nyne's "Timetable", P.E.A.C.E.'s "Southern Fry'd Chicken", and Self Jupiter's "Hard Hat Area". Along with Abstract Rude, Aceyalone and Myka Nyne recorded two albums as Haiku D'Etat.

In 1999, P.E.A.C.E. won second place in the Scribble Jam freestyle battle.

Film

Freestyle Fellowship is featured prominently in the award-winning documentary "This is the Life (film)," chronicling the music movement that was birthed at The Good Life Cafe in South Central Los Angeles. The Good Life is the open-mic workshop where the group first performed win the early 1990s.

Discography

Albums

*"To Whom It May Concern…" (1991)
*"Innercity Griots" (1993)
*"Temptations" (2001)
*"Version 2.0: To Whom It May Concern, Remixes" (2001)
*"Innercity Griots Instrumentals" (2002)
*"Shockadoom" (2002)

ingles

*"Bullies Of The Block" (1992)
*"Hot Potato" (1993)
*"Can You Find The Level Of Difficulty In This?" (1999)
*"Temptations" (2001)
*"Sex In The City" (2002)

Tapes

*"Fellowship Shop" (1993)

Other appearances

*Project Blowed "Hot" (Project Blowed - 1994)
*Project Blowed "w/ T-Love, AC, Nefertiti, BJ, Ganjah K, Medusa, Ko Ko, & Volume 10" "Heavyweights Round 2" (Project Blowed - 1994)
*Beneath the Surface "When The Sun Took A Day Off And The Moon Stood Still" (Beneath the Surface/ Celestial - 1998/1999)
*Mumia 911 "w/ Afu Ra, Goldii Lokks, Pharaohe Monch, Wise Intelligent, Slimkid 3, Sayeed, Zack de la Rocha, Jean Grae, Tragedy, Channel Live, Dead Prez, Chuck D, Divine Styler, The Last Emperor, & Black Thought" "Mumia 911" (Realized Records - 1999)
*Nobody "Planets Ain't Aligned Z-Trip Remix" Earthtones (Ubiquity - 1999)
*Nobody "Planets Ain't Aligned" No Categories 2: A Ubiquity Compilation (Ubiquity - 1999)
*Defcon 4 "Can You Find The Level Of Difficulty In This? (Remix)" (Celestial Recordings - 2001)
*O.L.C. "Hungry" Operation Left Coast (Rah Rah Entertainment - 2001)
*We Came From Beyond "Ummm" (Razor & Tie - 2001)
*The Rob One All-Stars "w/ Awol One, 2mex, Key Kool, Subtitle, Rakaa-Iriscience, Radioinactive, Adlib, Jizzm, Zag Brown, Xololanxinxo, Nelia, Dr. Oop, Lord Zen, Exist, Life Rexall, St. Mark 9:23 & Circus" "Rob One Rock On" We Came From Beyond (Razor & Tie - 2001)
*Abstract Rude & Tribe Unique "w/ J Smoov, Neb Luv, Ellay Khule, Medusa, Sugar BJ, Zulu Butterfly, Priest, Nga Fish, K-Bar, Trensetta, Riddlore?, Busdriver, Ko Ko, Volume 10, DJ Rhettmatic & DR. EZ" "Heavyweights Round 4" P.A.I.N.T. (Battle Axe - 2001)
*Constant Elevation "Crazy" (Astralwerks - 2002)
*Omid "Desperate" Omid Presents (2004)
*Omid "Got You On The Run" Omid Presents (2004)

External links

* [http://www.laweekly.com/music/music/down-for-the-good-life/11397/ "Down for the Good Life,"] Brendan Mullen, "L.A. Weekly", June 21, 2000.
* [http://oufront.blogsport.de/2006/10/28/hiphophistory-good-life-cafe-project-blowed/ "Livin' the Good Life,"] Nicole Balin, "The Source."
* [http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/6/5571/1/ Freestyle Fellowship - The Last Temptation of Mics]
* [http://www.aliennationradio.net Alien Nation Radio]

References