Lady Ace Boogie

Lady Ace Boogie, one of Grand Rapids’ most recognizable artists, follows up 2013’s excellent “Feel Good Music” with a surprisingly complex and nuanced new album, “Don’t Box Me In.” A decided departure from earlier efforts, Lady Ace Boogie introduces us to a more vulnerable and less blindingly optimistic side of herself, showcasing a surprising level of growth and maturation as an artist. Fearlessly addressing personal demons ranging from past addiction to the sisyphean task of battling sexism in hip hop, her newest album adds valuable dimension and insight into the personal story of an already compelling force in local music. Beyond its subject matter, “Don’t Box Me In” is also a remarkably well balanced and polished record, with outstanding production from top to bottom. Lady Ace Boogie has made smart choices on pacing and song order, ensuring a project with the kind of replay value rarely seen in a post-spotify/iTunes world of single-song consumption. In terms of raw rapping ability, Lady Ace Boogie can hold her own with anyone. More surprising to listeners this time around: She shows off her chops as a singer and melody crafter. The choruses are catchy, but not disposable – a difficult feat to pull off. Guests Singa Callab and fellow local luminary Adrian Butler are thoughtful additions to the record, rather than simply filling space. “Don’t Box Me In” feels like a huge step forward for Lady Ace Boogie, a step that could very likely have her crossing into newer and larger areas of success in the coming year. – Ryan Nehring - Local Spins

Super heroes are not just those fictional characters we see in comic books, cartoons and movies. They’re not accidents turned anonymous saviors wearing colorful outfits while wielding powers that defy science and nature. Super heroes are those real grounded persons whose actions impact, influence and improve the lives of others.

For this Black History Month we salute Lady Ace Boogie for being a Black Super Hero!

For those who worry about the present and future state of hip-hop music, rest assured it’s safe in the hands of Lady Ace. The Jammie Award-winner already has a classic album on her solo resume and another with JRob as one-half of duo The Great Ones.

When and where Lady Ace’s live performances are announced, people flock in droves to watch her blaze the stage. Within those flames are messages of equality, social empowerment, and being as dope as possible.

Lady Ace Boogie also has a burning desire to uplift communities.

Originally from Atlanta, GA, the Grand Rapids, MI resident actively supports local businesses. She’s also active in fields of health and education while giving of herself to help the homeless regardless of the color of their skin.|

[Art (noun): 1. the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. 2. the various branches of creative activity.] - Liquids Art & Entertainment

Negativity and selfishness gets great publicity in our social networking, indirect-contact society. You’d be led to believe the world’s running low on good people, that no one cares for or respects one another anymore. Their only concerns are themselves; and when they’re in need, no one would willingly lend them a hand without reward.



This is not the case. Kind, caring, selflessly-generous people still exist. Lady Ace Boogie is a shining example.



Born in Atlanta and raised in West Virginia, Lady Ace now finds herself at the forefront of the buzzing hip-hop movement in Grand Rapids, MI. The brilliant WYCE Jammie Award winner is constantly being wooed by media and fans alike, and she doesn’t waste their attention rapping about nothing.



One half of duo The Great Ones (with JRob), Lady Ace feverishly tackles social injustice and discrimination on record and in concert. Any stage she graces becomes Masterpiece Theater, every script she rhymes is built on the premise of uplifting the community while also being the dopest MC imaginable.



Behind the music Lady Ace is chief partner of Think 50/50, an organization assisting in product development and brand extension. She’s also co-founder of Youth Outlet which educates underserved youth through creative and life-skills-focused curriculum. While good at what she does she’s also a good person, one who believes in helping others.



I asked Lady Ace Boogie to tell me about a time she did something nice for someone she didn’t know. Here’s what she shared.



“I have always felt like doing something kind for a stranger is a must.



I personally have never felt comfortable sharing these encounters, but for the sake of this column, I hope it inspires someone to go out of their way to do a kind act for someone they don't know.



There are people in our lives that could care less about us. Imagine being someone less fortunate and having no one. Being able to help someone out in their time of need is rewarding to my soul.



I have on multiple occasions bought someone food, helped out a family at a grocery store, hugged someone who looked like they could use a hug, held a conversation with an individual living on the streets who people just walk by without saying a word, offered a ride to someone who has kids and are carrying groceries… These are all things that are a natural instinct.



I love people. And anytime I can put a smile on someone’s face or, if only for a second, make someone’s life easier… It's worth it.” - Joe Walker

It’s time to stop thinking just about ourselves and really give the people something more, take that same platform and do something positive with it,” she said.

The lyrics in Tellis’ songs are very positive. She’s trying to send those messages to young people on the west side of the state. She says a lot of anger in young adults stems from them not being able to articulate themselves. She is now developing a curriculum that teaches presentation, emotional intelligence and creative problem solving.

As an African American who also identifies as pansexual, Tellis also rallies behind race and LGBT issues.

She's organizing an event in Grand Rapids to open up conversation and bring the community and police together. Tellis says she attended a series of community conversations after a police officer pulled a tazer out after addressing a group of young African Americans in a park.

Tellis is also starting a “Love GR” campaign to promote the LGBT community on the west side of the state. The campaign is in response to an anti-gay billboard that was put up in Grand Rapids. - NPR

When Lady Ace Boogie, aka Linda Tellis, breaks into that signature grin, it says everything about her music, her upbeat attitude, her philosophy and her undeniably charming take on hip-hop.

Over the past two years, she’s likely the Grand Rapids artist who has made the biggest impression on West Michigan’s hip-hop scene, partly because of her ultra-collaborative nature and partly because her undeniable talent as a wordsmith and rhyme merchant inspires audiences wherever she goes.

That wasn’t always the case for the Grand Rapids rapper and Hot Capicola Records recording artist who plays Rare Bird Brewpub at 229 Lake Ave. at 10 p.m. Friday, along with electronic rock act AOK.

Tellis readily concedes that for years before moving to West Michigan, she was fully immersed in the gang culture of Dayton, Ohio, with her music taking on a “totally different” gangsta rap vibe. Her family had moved to Ohio from West Virginia where Tellis grew up, and she found herself in a “totally different culture and total different environment. I started getting involved with gangs and street life and that kind of sucked me in for a while until about the time I was about 21 years old.”

But after a friend was beaten “to a pulp” by fellow gang members, she began to step away from that lifestyle, eventually meeting someone she calls “the love of my life” and moving to Grand Rapids about six years ago.

In Grand Rapids, she found a supportive hip-hop scene — influenced by rappers such as Suport, JRob and others — and she began writing songs for her “Feel Good Music” debut album, which was released in early 2015.

“I was able to switch up my style and switch up my environment and put out good, positive hip-hop,” said Tellis, who was inspired more by rock ‘n’ roll than rap while growing up. “I would have to say it’s really a balance between what people need to hear and what people want to hear.”

Over the last year, she’s added to her arsenal of music via a new collaboration with JRob, aka Jeff Robinson, called The Great Ones. The pair met at a hip-hop competition, became friends and earlier this year released a self-titled album that Tellis insists exudes a “very positive vibe.” The duo are also independently releasing some videos.

More than anything, Tellis said it’s vital that she be “completely honest” with her music.

“It’s important for people to hear how I got here and be honest with it. I’m focusing more on telling that story when it wasn’t all good, but telling it in a way that gives people hope in the end — give people some light at the end of the tunnel.”

Tellis — who’s part of the management team at Coca-Cola Co. in Grand Rapids and co-founder of the Think 50/50 product and service development consulting firm — has become a familiar fixture on Grand Rapids stages, performing frequently with JRob, DJ Dean Martian and other acts.

“It’s definitely progressed since I’ve been here,” she said of fellow artists who’ve inspired her to create uplifting songs on her solo CD and the new album with JRob. “The overall theme is peace, love, unity and empowerment. - Record Eagle