Representative Albums: "Inner City Griots," "To Whom It May Concern...," "Shockadoom"
Representative Songs: "Inner City Boundaries," "Everything's Everything," "Park Bench People"
Biography
Los Angeles-based alterna-rappers Freestyle Fellowship (Aceyalone, Mikah 9, P.E.A.C.E., and Self Jupiter) first began slapping together their crazy word salads in the early '90s, resulting in their first record, To Whom It May Concern, which was issued in a limited run (only 300 vinyl copies and 500 tapes) yet managed to produce the seeds of their loyal following. Rising out of the jazz and granola environment of Leimert Park, they remained on the edge of the rap scene that paid more attention to West Coast-style gangsta rap -- a style that was almost the direct opposite of the sound collages and free, creative lyrics Fellowship was putting together. The group released only one more album, 1993's Inner City Griots, before breaking up due to Self Jupiter's incarceration. The band reunited briefly for one show in 1998 and then sporadically in 1999 to produce a few benefit concerts and participate in a "We Are the World"-style single called "Mumia 911," designed to raise awareness and funds for death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal. Their first album was also re-released on CD in 1999, as well as a new 12" with rap producer O.D. ("Can You Find the Level of Difficulty in This?"), put out by Celestial Records. ~ Stacia Proefrock, All Music Guide
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. Before the Fellowship, Aceyalone, Spoon (of) Iodine, and Myka Nyne were in a group called the MC Aces in high school.
After releasing the album To Whom It May Concern… in 1991, 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.
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 in the early 1990s.
