Veteran hip-hop artist and legendary emcee Aceyalone, continues to evolve as an artist and inspire those aspiring to be [artists]. Aceyalone has continued to redefine hip-hop’s guidelines throughout his career. His upcoming album; Aceyalone and The Lonely Ones, does much more than redefine the guidelines. It sets a standard for genre appreciation and creativity. Finding inspiration from: Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound, 60’s girl groups, and a collection of raw funk, Aceyalone along with producer Bionik have composed a masterpiece. This album is sure to bring the listener back to a time when music was a pure art form and not an expendable income. Aceyalone and The Lonely Ones is not just an album; it is a collection of essential sounds to create a work of art. And although this album calls upon music styles and rhythms of the past, Aceyalone still kicks some of the freshest lyrics with astounding skill and precision. To those of you who believe that Aceyalone has stepped away from raw hip-hop; think again, Aceyalone will still serve all wack rappers.
This album has a very unique sound created with the involvement of some key characters, can you tell me about the album and who The Lonely Ones are?
Aceyalone: It basically got started by building with this cat Bionik; who produced the album. He also produced my last album, Lighting Strikes. He came around through different sources of some people I knew and we started working on music. The concept of what I was doin’ I have been wanting to do for a while. It was based on all the original r&b music that I like; the original Motown flavor, and giving back to it. Those samples and sounds were never used like they used them, I was just trying to use the rhythms that they used.
Aceyalone & The Lonely Ones draws on Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound, 60’s girl groups, and a collection of raw funk for its inspiration. Did you listen to this music while creating this album?
Aceyalone: I listen to it all the time; not on the daily but, after I’m all hip-hopped out I go back to my jazz, reggae and original oldies.
Your 2007 release Lighting Strikes was your homage to reggae while this album indulges your respect for doo-wop, funk, and original r&b, correct?
Aceyalone: Yeah. But, not taking it and turning it into all just hip-hop beats rather taking it more where they were going with it. If you listen to it most of the songs they have that same rhythm but those beats don’t be bangin’ hard. I wanted to hear a doo-wop beat bangin’ in my ear with that same rhythm to just freak somethin’ different.
Since this album calls on the earlier years of original r&b and soul, did you have to get into character while recording it?
Aceyalone: Yeah, Bionik kinda made me. I didn’t come outside of myself too much but I did have to get into a character as if I were a performer of that era.
Are you going to be performing the live show in that fashion while being supported by a live band?
Aceyalone: I do have the band. I’ve been working with them for a while. We got it down [performing shows] pretty tight and we have done a couple shows like that, but it’s mostly to promote the album. So I will be performing with a live band, but maybe just not the same every time.
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