Artist Profile: Masta Ace

Brooklyn born Masta Ace has long been an underrated, under appreciated and one of my all time favorite artists. In 1988 Marley Marl’s “Juice Crew” which also included Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and Craig G debuted Ace in “The Symphony” a hip-hop classic. Ace’s 1990 “Take A Look Around” album featured tracks like “Music Man” and “Me & The Biz” but it was until 1993 that I began to really take notice. “Slaughter House” brilliantly mocked gangsta rap, which at the time was booming out of control and it also matched up Ace with his new crew “The INC” The new crew mainly featured female MC Paula Perry and rapper/porn star Lord Digga. Front to back, beginning to end, a solid album that did not leave my boombox for a long time and still gets play.

Pink: Masta Ace – Boom Bashin

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1995’s “Sittin’ on Chrome” was Ace’s most commercially successful album, powered by the title track, which was remix from the previous album.

After some time off, “The INC” split and bouncing a handful of singles around a bunch of different labels Ace dropped “Disposable Arts” in 2001. It’s a story-based album that places the Masta in a Hip-Hop college scenario and is done very well. The last track “No Regrets” hints towards his possible retirement.

Pink: Masta Ace – No Regrets

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In 2004 those rumors where put to rest with another story-based effort, which was a prelude to “Disposable Arts” called “A Long Hot Summer”. This album stayed in my car stereo for a not so long mild Wisconsin summer and the track “Beautiful” is just that.

Stink: Masta Ace – Beautiful

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Now a days Ace has given up the solo artist life and has partnered with Punchline, Wordsworth and Milwaukee’s own Strick as eMC. He’s still around and still making bangin’ tunes, if you haven’t before check it out, if you have… then you already know.

– Benzito