Mellow Man Ace Albums (5)
'Mellow Man Ace Presents La Familia, Vol. 1'
Release Date 10/28/2008
Tracks 19
Label Latin Thug
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Vengo a Cobrar'
Release Date 1/1/2004
Tracks 18
Label Dimelo! Records
See Album Tracklist and Review
'From the Darkness into the Light'
Release Date 7/18/2000
Tracks 12
Label X-Ray
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What The Critics Say
The history of hip-hop is full of MCs who had their 15 minutes of fame but didn't enjoy the longevity they hoped for. Mellow Man Ace scored a major crossover hit with 1989's "Mentirosa" but, by 1993, the Havana-born rapper was without a record deal. Released in 2000, From the Darkness Into the Light was his first album since 1992's The Brother With Two Tongues. Eight years is a long time for an MC to go without a new album -- especially when you consider how much hip-hop trends can change from one year to the next. But Ace, who was 33 when this CD came out, has no problem changing with the times and delivering an excellent album that is mindful of 2000's rap tastes. A revitalized Ace divides the disc into a Dark Side and a Light Side, which might lead one to assume that he is dividing his time between hardcore rap and pop-rap like he did in the past. But that isn't the case. Enlisting such producers as DJ Muggs (of Cypress Hill and 7A3 fame) and Tony G., Ace avoids pop-rap -- this release doesn't offer anything as commercial as "Mentirosa" -- and sticks to hardcore rap. Truth be told, the Dark Side and Light Side are equally hard-hitting. The album has a consistently serious tone; Ace tackles a lot of social issues (everything from urban violence to child pornography), and he speaks candidly and openly about the fact that he went from fame to obscurity. Regrettably, From the Darkness Into the Light wasn't the major commercial comeback he was no doubt hoping for -- the album received very little attention. But that doesn't make it any less compelling. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
'The Brother With Two Tongues'
Release Date 5/25/1992
Tracks 12
Label Capitol
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
African-American/Latino rapper Mellow Man Ace's second Capitol release continued his merger of hip-hop and Afro-Latin musical, linguistic and political elements. Unfortunately, he didn't create anything quite as commercially viable as "Mentirosa," but his beats and rhymes ranged from average to intriguing, while his rap style was again inspirational in its appeal to a multi-cultural audience. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Cypress Hill, the Mexikinz, Kid Frost and Afro-Rican are among the Latinos who have made valuable contributions to rap -- a genre historically dominated by Black males. Like those MCs, the distinctive Mellow Man Ace has used his experiences as a Latino to his artistic advantage when rapping. On his debut album, Escape From Havana, the L.A.-based Cuban-American fluctuates between aggressive hardcore rap and more melodic and commercial fare. Ace, who raps in both English and Spanish, had a major hit in "Mentirosa" -- an infectious, salsa-influenced gem sampling Santana's "Evil Way." That song and the ballads "B-Boy in Love" and "If You Were Mine" show that even at his most commercial, he still has integrity -- while "Rap Guanco," "Mas Pignon" and "River Cubano" demonstrate how hard and forceful he can get. Ace, like a lot of rappers, spends too much time boasting about his microphone skills. Nonetheless, Escape From Havana is an individualistic, risk-taking work that's well worth hearing. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
