One of the most recognised underground hip hop MC’s, Aceyalone (aka Eddie Hayes) needs little introduction. A founding member of the Freestyle Fellowship (along with Mikah 9, P.E.A.C.E, Self Jupiter and J Sumbi ), he was also a member of Haiku D’Etat (with Mikah 9 & Abstract Rude) and The A-Team (with Abstract Rude). In 1995 he released his debut solo album All Balls Don’t Bounce to critical acclaim. It was another three years before he dropped another solo record A Book of Human Language. More collaborations and more records were released over the years. 2007 sees Acey drop his eighth solo effort, Lightning Strikes.

Known for his hard hitting hip hop sound, Aceyalone takes his new record on a different tip. This time he has aimed for a dancehall, reggae record, an idea he’s been toying with for a while. Hip hop isn’t all about bass and Acey knows this. “I want to explore the world of music through hip hop”. With the help of LA producer Bionik, he starts out with the bouncey title track. Suicide follows and sounds just like a Kevin Little track, but with a bit more of an edge. On Sound Gun the beat is dark and heavy, but still accessible. The first single Easy features Jurassic 5 frontman Chali 2na, his familiar low tones cutting through the beat.

Pick-A-Part aims for a more electro dancehall sound, while Shango makes good use of different drums for a very Brazilian feel. To The Top is a feel good party tune, and When I Woke Up sounds like one of those tracks straight out of an 80’s teen horror flick. Aceyalone leaves no doubt of his lyrical ability, keeping his flow tight on Pose. Supercool is a short foray into the Carribean, but Master utilises the annoying technique of using sped up voices that almost sound chipmunk like. It’s almost like the track is taking the piss, but it’s a small blight on the rest of the album, so it’s forgivable. Help Us All, Jungle Muzik and Top Choice all slow things down as the album draws to a close.

What we have here is an experimental album, if you will, from one of hip hop’s most influential underground figures. With all the different styles and sounds on the record, it’s a rich tapestry that explores the multi-dimensional genre that is hop hop. Not Aceyalone’s best work, but props must be given for his willingness to try something outside of the norm. I’d suspect many Aceyalone fans would find this album a little hard to digest at first, but it’s one of those slow burners that gets better after each listen. A perfect alternative for those who want something other than the stock standard hip hop sound.