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Mumbles & Aceyalone - "Freedom Now" and "Courage Under Fire" · by R.H.S.
Mumbles ft. Aceyalone “Freedom Now”: Listen & Download
Mumbles ft. Aceyalone “Courage Under Fire”: Listen & Download
A Book Of Human Language, Aceyalone’s independently released full-length collaboration with producer Mumbles from 1998, was well-received by critics and fans despite being a hugely ambitious project that in all likelihood did not convert very many of the non-believers who had already chosen to ignore his debut solo effort, the excellent All Balls Don’t Bounce (1995, Capitol). On Human Language, Aceyalone tackles heavy universal themes from a perspective that is literate and detached, and matches his nearly obstuse pontification with eccentric vocal styles and odd cadences over music that is confoundingly layered and spooky, though quite beautiful in spots. Tracks like “The Faces” and “The Guidelines” give us a peek inside the highly original alternate universe that Aceyalone and Mumbles create by challening themselves and each other to push the envelope as far as possible without sacrificing listenability.
Aceyalone’s solo career since Human Language is characterized mostly by artistic and commercial miscalculations. His collaborations with Mikah-9 and Abstract Rude as part of the group Haiku De’Tat remain obscure while his many failures, including highly disappointing Freestyle Fellowship reunions, have been well publicized and discussed online. In late September, an album attributed to “Mumbles Featuring Aceyalone” and titled Transformation/Illumination surfaced on ITunes. The album’s tags are unfortunately misleading (only two of the songs feature Aceyalone’s rapping while the rest are either instrumental tracks or feature vocals or production from other artists) but we now have two new Aceyalone/Mumbles tracks to digest, “Freedom Now” and “Courage Under Fire.” I am happy to report that both songs sound like updated versions of the kind of songs they used to make. Aceyalone sounds perfectly at home here, kicking flows that are neither too reserved nor too wild for mass consumption; his heady musings are more focused, urgent, and pertinent to the current moment than ever before. We can only hope that rumors of a sequel to A Book Of Human Language prove to be more than wishful conjecture.
Comments for "Mumbles & Aceyalone - "Freedom Now" and "Courage Under Fire""
I was at the oh word & Dallas Penn Party ….
Shout out to Rafi
I got some video up on my site of the party …
— Jimmy Valentime Dec 7, 11:13 AM
i loved all balls don’t bounce but haven’t paid acey much attention since.
— jb Dec 7, 12:33 PM
Peace Jimmy. Thanks for coming out and the video.
I’ll do a post once I have some footage.
— rafi Dec 7, 03:46 PM
NICE! I’m always keeping my eyes open for Mumbles/Acey songs!
— Jonny Dec 7, 06:50 PM
So you’d say these are worth a listen? I haven’t been impressed with what I’ve heard in the past.
— Shay Dec 10, 07:33 PM