The story of Mellow Man Ace begins in Cuba…Born under communism in Cuba, Mellow Man Ace became his families' ticket to freedom and passport to the United States . At that time in Cuba , having a child meant a family became eligible for an exit visa. "I was the third born and my number hit the lotto, although we didn't get to leave until four years later due to politics. My family gives me the credit for being here enjoying our freedom in the U.S. ” Upon arriving in America , the family was greeted in Miami , moved to New Jersey and ended up in South Gate , California on Cypress Avenue where it all began. "At 15 years old, it hit me that I was put here in the U.S. for a reason, I had a purpose,” says Mellow Man.

Mellow Man first got into rap music in 1983 after hearing The Treacherous Three for the first time. As he says, "It wasn't really happening out here yet, we were still pop locking and break dancing. When I first heard rap, I knew I had found my calling. ” Writing as many rhymes as he could and cutting demos with his brother Sen Dog and B-Real, he still hadn't found his exact niche within Hip-Hop. From then on he began his journey of creating and perfecting bilingual songs. "I was ecstatic to realize I could fulfill my dreams and represent for my Latino people all in one!”

Havana-born Ulpiano Sergio Reyes (Mellow Man Ace) and older brother Senen Reyes (Sen Dog) formed a rap quartet DVX (Devastating Vocal Xcellence) with Lawrence Muggerud (DJ Muggs) and Louis Freese (B-Real). After a few years Mellow Man was signed by Delicious Vinyl and then Capitol Records to launch a solo career. The remaining three members formed the group Cypress Hill, named after Cypress Avenue , the street in South Gate where they all grew up. With the debut of his first LP entitled Escape From Havana on Capitol Records, Mellow Man created a unique style of rap that traded off between his native tongue Spanish and English, he called it "Spanglish”. Mellow would not only be the creator of "Spanglish” and Spanish rap, but also the first Latin rap artist to reach Gold and Platinum sales in the U.S. and Latin America . This achievement would open a non-existent door for a host of other groups such as Control Machete, Big Pun, Fat Joe and The Beatnuts to name a few. A 1 hit; "Mentírosa” (Liar) became the recipe to follow for Latin artists who wanted to rap in Spanish. The best in the business were brought in from the likes of The Dust Brothers, DJ Muggs and Tony G. working with such sample wizardry as Santana, War and James Brown. A rigorous touring schedule through the U.S. , all over Latin America, Europe and Japan brought him together with musical giants Celia Cruz, En Vogue, A Tribe Called Quest and others. Countries like Columbia , Costa Rica , Mexico , Argentina and Chile had never experienced anything like a Hip-Hop show let alone a rapper who spoke in their native tongue.

As success grew, songs like "En La Casa” and "Welcome to My Groove” were featured in the motion picture, Marked For Death, as well as writing "Real Estate” for Cypress Hill's first album Cypress Hill which went on to Platinum sales. Soon after the follow up LP entitled The Brother With Two Tongues was also released on Capitol Records. The LP proved that Mellow Man Ace had matured not only lyrically but musically as well by bringing something different to the Hip-Hop table.

The next few years Mellow Man took a partial hiatus from the limelight. "I felt I needed time to refocus myself and rebuild my energy”. During this "hiatus” he appeared on various compilations, motion picture appearances, motion picture soundtracks, television appearances, commercials, public service announcements and various charity events including the MTV Red Hot and Latin album. Soon Mellow Man was centered and ready to go back to his first love.

Mellow Man Ace reunited with his Cypress Hill family on his third LP From The Darkness Into The Light. Mellow Man started with DJ Muggs overseeing the production of the album and finished with his brother Sen Dog and B-Real for guest appearances. Some of the songs included "Guillotine Tactics” which was featured on an episode of NBC's hit television series ER. "Ten La Fe” (Keep The Faith) was featured in the motion picture and soundtrack for Crazy Beautiful, starring actress Kirsten Dunst, and on the Fox television show Fastlane. Mellow Man went on to write six songs and guest appear on the Cypress Hill Spanish album Los Grandes Exitos de Cypress Hill which received Billboard's Latin Rap Album of the Year 2000 and a Gold Album in Mexico.

He then looked to expand his horizons on brother Sen Dog's solo project SX-10 Mad Dog American. This rock-meets-rap album featured Mellow, Everlast, Eric Bobo, Cottonmouth Kings and DJ Muggs, an explosive combination of rap giants. When Cypress Hill released their most recent album Stoned Raiders, Mellow Man was called in to drop a catchy hook on the debut single "Lowrider”. In 2002, Mellow Man Ace received one of the most important accolades of his career. Along with fallen rappers Eazy-E and Mausberg, Mellow Man was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. "This has to be one the greatest highlights of my career yet.” In 2004, Mellow Man Ace reunited with former producer Bronek to release Vengo A Cobrar. Together they started their own production team known as Stealth Bombas. With Vengo A Cobrar (I Came To Get Paid), the two seasoned veterans combined radio-friendly tracks with mass appeal hooks and well planned lyrics. The moderately successful CD has spawned several TV and Soundtrack hits.

In 2006 "The Reyes Brothers" Mellow Man has teamed up with his brother Sen Dog of Cypress Hill to create one of the most anticipated albums ever. Featured artists included B-Real of Cypress Hill, Bishop Lamont, Warren G, Frank Lee White with production from Fred Wreck, DJ Muggs, The Audio Hustlaz and Dj Ace. After many club dates and Festivals in the UK a family rift and poor business decisions made by the then CEO Sendog, caused the brothers put a halt to the project proving once again that family and business don't mix.

In 2008 Mellow Man released his first in a series of compilations and he called it La Familia. The project gave Mellow and chance to work with young talent from around the globe, and gave Mellow the opportunity to spread his knowledge while helping reach their goals. In return each artist received a distribution deal on Latin Thug Records and its President Fred Sherman. The release is still in stores and can be purchased on I-Tunes.

Mellow Man Ace has gathered data and information from ASCAP his song writer affiliate and has now launched his own Multi Media Company with the ability to produce and sell music, provide quality merchandise, produce top end music videos all from his very own Multi Media Website.

Ceo/Co-founder of Grind Time Now/Guerrilla Republik "MADD ILLZ" has been invited by president of the Joeseph Beasely Foundation to represent Grind Time Now in a high level working session at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The session has a goal of connecting the dots for a better urban future and sustainable delivery of urban infrastructure and basic services. Music viewed as a natural resource and utalized as a solution for social and economic issues will be presented as well. This is not only a giant step for Grind Time Now, but for the culture of Hip Hop. It's not everyday where you hear a Hip Hop figure is asked to help with these issues. Congradulations Madd Illz.

In the early 1900s, poor black sharecroppers couldn't attend school  so Booker T. Washington, president of the Tuskegee Institute, brought the proverbial mountain to them.

The Jessup Wagon was a school-on-wheels that engaged sharecroppers in the South without the need for desks, walls or windows.

Now, Dr. William Patterson, a professor of educational policy at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, is using the same idea with the N Search of Hip Hop Express, a way to educate black youth in their own neighborhoods.

Weaving hip hop into history, social activism and community-building, Patterson has produced more than 60 educational and social enrichment programs that infuse elements of hip hop culture into public schools. He's using Facebook and blogging as well to spread the message.

Urban communities have a disconnect right now. Many young black Americans in these neighborhoods feel isolated and uninvested in their surroundings.

Patterson's N Search of Hip Hop Express was designed to engage urban youth - or, as he points out, the descendants of sharecroppers - using the aesthetic of the city. He and his team revamped a mobile airstream trailer and submerged it in hip hop. They covered it with graffiti art reflective of the musical history within black America, including images from iconic singer Bessie Smith to rap legend Kool Moe Dee.

Then he brought this black history on wheels to the neighborhoods of black youth to teach them about media and technology.

During a recent podcast interview, he shares an example. In East St. Louis, N Search of Hip Hop Express helped neighborhood youth focus on archiving the history around them. Students learned about Miles Davis, an East St. Louis native son. They went to a former home of the legend, which was in need of a resurrection.

Patterson wanted to not only preserve the landmark home, but also offer cultural renewal to the surrounding area by re-introducing art and culture inspired by the jazz icon's music. He collaborated with The Joseph Center, a local non-profit.

Once the trailer rolled into the neighborhood, the music became an invitation for residents to participate in an authentic history lessons about their own community. Young people were encouraged to interview community members, including homeless veterans who shared important and historic lessons. Through learning about the folks next door, young people were able to add new value to, not only their neighbors but their 'hood.

Shortly after hip hop found its place in popular society, the music at the root of the culture found a new purpose. It became an educational tool. Through that music, rappers like KRS-1 and Nas saw the value in edutainment. Teaching black history through poetic lyrics and expanding an audiences vocabulary became the norm. As the hip hop movement grew, it found a place in the contemporary classrooms. Urban youth responded in school settings as teachers infused hip hop into subjects ranging from english to algebra. Now it seems the music and the movement is behind another educational pursuit beyond school grounds.

N Search of Hip Hop Express' education-on-wheels philosophy offers an example of what some educational systems have missed: Community involvement. Not only are students educated about their neighborhoods, they also receive a wake-up call. Education doesn't stop in the classroom. Here's hoping the Express is able to continue its commitment to education and community, and inspire others to do the same.