Senen, and his younger sibling, Ulpiano Sergio Reyes, professionally known as Sen Dog, from the renowned Cypress Hill crew, and Mellow Man Ace, considered to be the "Godfather" of Latin Rap, have each individually carved a niche for themselves in music history.

Sen, alongside group-mates, B Real and DJ Muggs, have literally conquered the world sonically with multi-platinum albums and a worldwide fan-base. Ace, on the other hand, was the first platinum Latino rap artists, due to his unstoppable 1980s hit single, "Mentirosa," which earned him an induction into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame in 2002.

As a duo, The Reyes Bros., have united to form a side project that they introduced earlier this year with their stellar debut, Ghetto Therapy.

CraveOnline finally caught up with one half of the unit, Mellow Man Ace, to talk about their past, present, and future in the hip-hop world.


CraveOnline: Tell me how this whole group concept first came to fruition?

Mellow Man Ace: I believe it was 2000, and we spoke about it, and we said, “Okay, if we get a chance, let’s make it happen!!” Then, in 2001, I believe, we started trying out some material together in Hollywood clubs and whatnot. And then, it just snowballed from there. The first time we actually got to do something was (in) late ’04 into ’05. We started to play it out, and then we put it together.

C.O.: Why did you all decide on titling the album Ghetto Therapy?

M.M.A.: Ghetto Therapy really is because we come from what I like to call one of the most dangerous (places) in America…In the United…I mean, in the world, you know, Cuba. Havana, Cuba, and where we were raised at, Southgate, California, that was our ghetto. So, we just used this album as therapy to get away from all those feelings, and kinda just focus in on doing this album.

C.O.: How does this project differ from both the work you were already doing as a soloist, and, of course, Sen’s tenure with Cypress?

M.M.A.: Well, I think for me it’s different because there’s no Spanish. If you have the dirty version of the album, there’s no Spanish, but if you have the clean edit, Walmart version, there’s one bonus song that’s bilingual. But, that’s it. (So,) I think for me, it’s the fact that there’s no Spanish on it. And, for Sen, it’s away from what he’s accustomed (to) with Cypress Hill, and (what they’ve been) doing.

C.O.: Lyrically, did the two of you write collectively or by yourselves?

M.M.A.: I think four or five songs on that record, Sen was on tour in Australia with Cypress, and I would just go in the studio and lay down the rough ideas. And then, he would come back and listen to those ideas, and then write accordingly. And then, for, like, another, probably, the rest of that record, we were actually together up in the studio. And, if I’m not mistaken, there might’ve been another time he was out where I did another batch like that, and then he came in and did his thing and whatnot. And, then there was times where we just sat at his house, and we’d write lyrics together or in the studio –- So, it varies.

C.O.: Where do you draw your lyrical inspirations from?

M.M.A.: Really, just what I see and what I go through on the street when I’m out doing my thing. I try not to stretch the truth, and if I have it, it’s what I talk about. I really don’t talk about stuff that I don’t have.

C.O.: I know production-wise you worked with some musical heavyweights, i.e., DJ Muggs, Warren G, B Real, Fred Wreck, DJ Ace and XL –- How involved are the two of you when it comes to the crafting of the actual tracks?

M.M.A.: Well, we took over, man. I remember, we listened to over 200 tracks, and we made notes (to) each and every one. I know I did!! And, we chose beats that weren’t exactly out in the marketplace, at the time, and we wanted to stay away from either sounding too much like me, or too much like Cypress Hill. And, that way we could create our own entity in the process. I think that was one of the more important things. I remember, thinking back now, that was one of the more important things to me.

C.O.: I know it’ll be three years in March since the masses have heard from Cypress, as a group, but a bit longer for you –- So, what have you been busy with during your hiatus?

M.M.A.: Well, for me, I’ve been doing mix-tapes with B Real, and we got two volumes out there. And, I’ve been doing that, and doing shows with him around the country to back those up. That’s what I’ve been up to. Aside from that, I mean, Sen has a rock band [SX10] thing going on that he says occupies a lot of his time. So, I know that he’s been out doing that, and trying to make that happen, and rehearsing with those guys.

C.O.: So, in no way do these off-shoot projects represent the end of Cypress Hill?

M.M.A.: Oh No, absolutely not!! (It’s) not the end of Cypress Hill at all. They will get back in the studio here real soon, and bang out a new album, when B Real’s done with his solo project.

C.O.: Will you then resume your own solo career?

M.M.A.: I will have to!! {He laughs} I’m gonna have to. If not, I’ll be out of work!!

C.O.: This Reyes Bros. CD is the debut from you and Sen’s new imprint, Latin Thug Records –- Are there any other projects yet that will follow on the heels of the Ghetto Therapy record?

M.M.A.: I mean, it’s not my label. Actually, it’s Sen Dog’s label, I’m just a worker!! {He laughs again} But, yeah, the plan he has is to develop the label, and give it some legs (first), and kind of become a competitor out there in the market-place.

C.O.: Latin Thug Records recently aligned themselves with indie giant, Koch Entertainment, for the re-release of Ghetto Therapy –- Why did you all decide to make this move?

M.M.A.: Well, our sister company was Hawino Records, (and they) decided to close up shop after (only) releasing a record or two, and they didn’t like the climate any longer. So, they kinda just closed up shop, and we were actually forced to go out and try to find something new. And, that’s when the Koch deal came about.

C.O.: When did you first decide that you wanted to rap?

M.M.A.: I was break-dancing at the time, (and) we were break-dancing to a lot of Run DMC records, World’s Famous Supreme Team records, and things like that. I had already heard a lot of rap by then, groups like Funky Four Plus One More, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Fantastic Romantic 5, and the list goes on and on. But, when I heard Malcolm McLaren’s World’s Famous Supreme Team, and especially after (Run DMC’s) ‘Sucker MC’s,’ I kinda felt like wanting to switch. At the time, the break-dancing moves were starting to get so crazy. I saw a guy do a 1990 (break-dancing move), and I said, “I’ll never be able to do that move because I don’t like having my equilibrium shaky!!” So, that’s when I decided, “Hey, man, I’m just gonna start rappin’!!” And, it just was another element of Hip-Hop that was there, and (it) made sense.          
        
C.O.: Did you ever think that you’d still be rappin’ to this day?

M.M.A.: It started out as a hobby that we took really serious, and then it just grew, and grew, and grew.

C.O.: With this Reyes Bros record it does seem that you have changed up your style quite a bit more than on previous Mellow Man Ace releases…

M.M.A.: Well, I think as an artist you gotta evolve, and kinda you gotta go with the climate as well, or you get left behind somewhat. And, I don’t want to be one of those artists that can’t grow and adapt to the new, so I kinda…Just evolution really, and the growth of an artist. You can say I changed, yes. It sounds very different from the days of ‘Mentirosa,’ and things like that, but I will always go back to (still be) doing my bilingual stuff. I just figured this was a great way to go out of that box, and kinda jump around and do different things. So, it wasn’t something that was planned, it was just something (that) happened. And, this is where I am at today as an artist. I will always do…Like (I) represented my Latino people with bilingual Spanish records all my career and I just felt, “Hey, let’s just do a record that doesn’t say anything about Latino.” It’s just a great record.

C.O.: Why do you feel that you are still so warmly embraced by the Latino community?

M.M.A.: I think that’s all due to the fact that I was the first guy to ever do Spanish rap, bilingual rap, and have a top twenty, top ten hit. I think when you have that thing on you, that tag, I think you’re gonna be around a lot (like) some of the great pioneers of Hip-Hop before me. And, I’m just that guy to the Latino people, much like a DJ Kool Herc, or a (DJ) Red Alert, or a Grandwizard Theodore.

C.O.: Aside from music, is there any other facets of entertainment that you are interested in pursuing?

M.M.A.: I mean, my mind is open, much like the universe. And, whatever comes my way that feels good, that I can walk away respectfully saying, “Hey, I gave 110% on that!!” I would try anything; acting, playing baseball for the (Los Angeles) Dodgers {He cracks up}. Whatever I could do, I’m never really closed minded at all. I know whatever I do, I mimic the best that have done it, and are (still) doing it. And, I can pretty much, be pretty good, at anything I try.

C.O.: Now that there’s been re-emergence of artists such as The Game, Snoop Dogg, E-40 and others, do you think that West Coast rap is finally on the rise again?

M.M.A.: What I’m not real happy about is here in Cali the local radio stations don’t really support their local talent as much as they used to back in the day. And, I’d like to see a change in that.

C.O.: Who are you looking to lately that is a relevant artist in a way that stays true to what Hip-Hop is really all about?

M.M.A.: I wouldn’t lie to you, I think this young cat by the name of Lupe Fiasco is a really, really good talented act. Also, Slum Village, who I really admire their style very much. And, there (are) so many others, like, even Ludacris. I think Ludacris is a genius at the way he puts his songs together to be Hip-Hop, yet club, yet friendly to the radio, and all those things –- It’s just beautiful the way he does his work. I wouldn’t mind working with him one day.