From the breaks that first propelled Kool Herc’s parties in ’73 to Dre’s minimoogs to Mystikal’s manic James Brown tics, funk has not only provided a foundational structure to hip-hop, it’s often risen to the surface and flat-out driven it. West Coast indie-rap vet Aceyalone has spent more than 20 years riding the outskirts of that territory, through his time with Freestyle Fellowship to his cult-classic solo debut All Balls Don’t Bounce to the later-career triumph of RJD2 teamup “A Beautiful Mine” (aka the Mad Men theme song). So after a long career — concurrent with a stab at making another excursion into grown-man rap — Leanin’ on Slick sees Aceyalone toeing that line between underground rap and the traditions that scene built its base on.

The title track draws off the J.B.’s sound more in a way befitting a ’70s indie-label garage-funk band (or a Daptonian revivalist group) than, say, the Bomb Squad, and the lyrical conceit isn’t the only throwback — Acey’s smooth-rolling delivery relays hustler tales from days when Caddies rolled long and low instead of high on 24s. That’s not the only nod to vintage soul: “I Can Get It Myself” cockily struts through the door… read more »