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Masta Ace Shows Brooklyn How It Was & It’s A Beautiful Story (Video)

Nearly 30 years removed from his solo debut, Take A Look Around, Masta Ace is still spitting observant bars, taking stock of his surroundings and detailing what he sees for his listeners. On late 2018's A Breukelen Story (named one of Ambrosia For Heads' best of the year), a collaborative album from... Read more

Masta Ace & Pharoahe Monch Battle In A Fight For Life (Video)

Masta Ace, the low-key overachiever, a stoic influence on the likes of Eminem, has been able to endure different eras without sacrificing style or flouting a fan-base determined to mature alongside his work, project by project, decade by decade. Earlier in the year, Ace followed up an emotionally charged "Tiny... Read more

Masta Ace, REKS & Rakaa Partner To Show They Still Live Hip-Hop To The Fullest

From three different cities, three respected MCs come together to do damage. Brooklyn, New York's, Los Angeles, California's Rakaa Iriscience, and Lawrence, Massachusetts' REKS unite on the "To The Fullest" video. With the lyricists' respective styles weaving seamlessly throughout their delivery, this arrangement lives up to its name. The song... Read more

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2018 (Battle 1): Black Thought vs. Masta Ace & Marco Polo

We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our... Read more

In 1988, A Dozen Songs By Top Shelf MCs Went Missing. They’ve Been Found (Audio)

Back in 1988, there was a small studio and gathering place in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Top Shelf Studios was reportedly different than the usual places where Rap records were made. At a time when the culture was blossoming, MCs from across New York City liked the energy of the... Read more

Prince Paul Reminds That 3 Is The Magic Number, With DOOM, Chubb Rock & Wordsworth (Audio)

There were no new DOOM tracks this week, despite a promising "Missing Notebook Rhymes" series roll-out. Based on what's been reported, that series may have halted. In any case, the masked villain more than sprinkled fans with the full-length Westside Gunn collaboration, "Gorilla Monsoon." Beyond that, Prince Paul remixed an... Read more

The NFL Boycott Is Working & Masta Ace Says It’s Bigger Than Colin Kaepernick (Video)

A week ago, the NFL began its first week of the 2017 regular season. Ratings show a serious decline in viewership, year over year. From week 1 kickoff on Thursday Night Football (a 14% decline) to Sunday numbers on FOX and CBS, many less people are watching. Meanwhile, big media seems... Read more

Masta Ace & Veteran Beneficence Gain Clarity In The Sun (Audio)

Newark, New Jersey veteran MC Beneficence has a career that stems back to the early 1990s. Although Bene's name has not extended as far as peers Redman, Lords Of The Underground, or The Artifacts, the dedicated lyricist is still making good on his dream. Teaming with Ill Adrenaline Records, the... Read more

Masta Ace Reflects On A Long Hot Summer & Offers This Re-Release Bonus Track (Premiere)

Tomorrow (November 10), Masta Ace's 2004 LP, A Long Hot Summer is being re-released on CD by Below System Records. Originally released on Ace's M3 imprint, the critically-acclaimed album followed up Disposable Arts with the Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York MC making another conceptual, story-driven LP. 9th Wonder, The Beatnuts, Edo.... Read more

Prince Paul & Wordsworth To Feature On “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” Series

This week (October 9), Dreamworks Animation Studio will launch its latest series, "Mr. Peabody & Sherman." Appearing exclusively on Netflix, the series is a reboot of the famed "The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show" time-traveling affiliates which aired from 1959 to 1964. Former "SNL" cast member Chris Parnell is the voice... Read more

Joell Ortiz Joins Awkword, Wordsworth & More on the NYC Remix to “Go!” (Audio)

Veteran New York City MC Awkword has released a remix to his lyrics-driven single "Go!." A single from Awk's 2014 charity-album, World View, the original featured Atmosphere's Slug, Joell Ortiz, Maya Azucena, and a beat by Domingo. On this stylized go-round, an Audible Doctor (Brown Bag AllStars) remix emphasizes the... Read more

Masta Ace & Blu Sound Great Together During This Long Hot Summer (Audio)

Western Pennsylvania native Maticulous brings Masta Ace and Blu together on "Bet Your Life." From Brownsville, Brooklyn to the City Of Angels, Ace and Johnson Barnes have a lot in common. Both of these MCs are more than gifted at looking within (often in self-deprecating lights), while still being elite... Read more

Big Daddy Kane, Whodini & The eMC Headline 38th Rocksteady Anniversary

The 38th annual Rocksteady Anniversary concert has been announced. The free Sunday July 26 event at New York City's Central Park Summer Stage will be headlined by Hip-Hop legends Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, and The eMC (Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Stricklin). Additional performers include Your Old Droog, Queen Herawin (The Juggaknots)... Read more

EMC Slow It Down for the Ladies on the Zodiac-Driven Signtology (Video)

From May's The Tonite Show, the eMC delivers another one. Having fun with homonyms, Masta Ace, Wordsworth, and Stricklin release "Signtology." Assisted by onetime Hi-Tek protege Dion, the song has a Quiet Storm feel, as the Penalty Entertainment artists rap about love from a Zodiac-perspective. Known for hard-body lyrics, this... Read more

The eMC Take It To Brazilian Streets With Diamond D Funk (Video)

If you listened to the theme of 2008's The Show, you know that The eMC is worldwide. Masta Ace, Wordsworth, and Stricklin are well-received overseas, given their energetic live shows and slick routines. For "The Monologue," the trio strolls up the narrow streets of Favela do Sussego, Grajau, São Paulo,... Read more

eMC Aviate & Elevate In Their Aerospace-Inspired New Visual (Video)

Masta Ace has two videos in one day. Following his Diamond D-laced "Ace Of Diamonds" video single, Brownsville Brooklyn MC extraordinaire joins Wordsworth and Stricklin for The eMC's "Fly Thoughts" visual. Taking the idiomatic expression quite literally, the NYC-Milwaukee trio takes to the skies, the airfields, and the cabin to... Read more

Masta Ace Hits The Pocket With Diamond D, Cutting In Some Classic Footage (Video)

Masta Ace and Diamond D are two the greatest Hip-Hop contributions from 1989. As Masta Ace hit with "Letter To Better," Raheem dropped "I'm The King," produced by the would-be Bronx O.G. For one of 2014's sweetest long-players, The Diam Piece, these longtime collaborators linked up again for "Ace Of... Read more

EMC Are Back with Heavy Beats and Fly Thoughts (Audio)

eMC, the collective of Masta Ace, Wordsworth and Stricklin, have re-formed for what sounds like it's going to be another strong release (notably without former member Punchline). Their new album, The Tonite Show, will feature guest appearances from B-Real, Xzibit and Sadat X, as well as actors and comedians like... Read more

Masta Ace Kills Sounds Sharp Alongside DJ Rob A on Put to Paper (Audio)

If you look at Masta Ace's complete discography, you will likely note that the Brownsville, Brooklyn MC/producer gives the same attention to detail and craft in guest work that he does on his own acclaimed releases. Kid Tsunami's "TwoThousand40," DJ K.O.'s "Ladder Of Success," and R.A. The Rugged Man's "The... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): KRS-One vs. Masta Ace…Who You Got?

We have reached the second round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). We are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups... Read more

Ready for Another Ill Freestyle? eMC Abuse Some DJ Premier Tracks (Video)

Here's another ill freestyle session courtesy of Statik Selektah's Showoff Radio. Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth & Strick (aka eMC) bless the mic over some DJ Premier goodness, off the top...Check out the video.... Read more

Penalty Records Is Back. Guess Who Their First Signing Is…

Penalty Records put out some great Hip-Hop in the 1990s. Whether they know it or not, consumers of Capone-N-Noreaga's The War Report, Lord Finesse's The Awakening, and Crooked Lettaz' Grey Skies supported the New York City label. Neil Levine, a founder of Penalty, has re-launched the brand, now as Penalty... Read more