masta ace Archives

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

November 9, 2015 Audio, Exclusive, Food for Thought

Masta Ace Remembers Feeling Ostracized By His Native Brooklyn…& Other Personal Stories (Audio)

Masta Ace's nearly 30-year career as a tremendously gifted MC has hit its rough patches along the way, but as his fans around the world are well aware, his resiliency and tenacity have allowed for his name to be continuously mentioned in conversations about great - even if underrated -... Read more

September 15, 2015 Audio

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

July 8, 2015 Audio

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

July 2, 2015 News

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

June 1, 2015 Video

Masta Ace, Stricklin & Wordsworth Make You Look With A Ferocious Freestyle (Video)

Group eMC, now consisting of members Masta Ace, Wordsworth and Stricklin, made a guest appearance on Showoff Radio with Statik Selektah this week. The Penalty Entertainment trio came very prepared as they delivered a remarkable freestyle over Nas' "Made You Look" instrumental. The group's album The Tonight Show is their second album without former member... Read more

May 19, 2015 Video

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

May 8, 2015 Video

Masta Ace Discusses Sittin’ On Chrome 20 Years Later & How It Redefined His Career (Video)

Masta Ace sat down with Watch Loud to discuss the 20th anniversary of his album Sittin' On Chrome, which was released on May 2, 1995. Ace spoke in-depth about the album and how it redefined his career. Specifically, he talked about his attempts to create a new sound on the... Read more

May 3, 2015 Throwback

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

March 30, 2015 Video

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

March 30, 2015 Video

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

March 3, 2015 Audio

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

January 18, 2015 Audio

Crooklyn Dodgers ’94 & Crooklyn Dodgers ’95 Trade Uniforms In This ILL Blend (Audio)

DJ Hellee Hooper (a play on famed Soul II Soul/Bjork/No Doubt producer Nellee Hooper), swapped the vocals of Special Ed, Masta Ace, and Buckshot from "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers" with the instrumental to the 1995 original (Chubb Rock, O.C., Jeru The Damaja). The results (thus "94.5") trick your mind,... Read more

January 12, 2015 Throwback

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

January 12, 2015 Throwback

Shabaam Sahdeeq’s New Collabo Project Includes Ras Kass, Rah Digga, Masta Ace & Harry Fraud (Mixtape)

Brooklyn, New York veteran MC Shabaam Sahdeeq has maintained an illustrious underground Hip-Hop career for more than 17 years. S-Dub, as he's also known, has combined Lyricist Lounge-tested MC wordplay with '80s and '90s BK imagery that made everybody from Sean Price to Ill Bill, Skyzoo to Kool G Rap... Read more

December 29, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh, Mixes

Finding The GOAT: Masta Ace vs. Bumpy Knuckles…Who You Got?

As we continue 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 in a sequence not... Read more

December 3, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Masta Ace & Kid Tsunami’s Amazing Chase Track Morphs Into An EP (Audio)

One of the better albums in 2013 that did not get nearly enough shine in the greater Hip-Hop conversation was Kid Tsunami's The Chase. The Australian producer recruited pointed lyrics from the likes of O.C., Sean Price, and Kool G Rap, among many others. Of the album's highlights was "Twothousand40,"... Read more

October 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Hear A Rare Masta Ace Track From 1987 (Audio)

For more than 25 years, Masta Ace has been a "Music Man." Back in 1988, Brownsville, Brooklyn's master storyteller appeared on the archetypal posse cut, Marley Marl's "The Symphony," alongside his Juice Crew cohorts. However, the would-be star of Masta Ace Inc. and The EMC was cutting records in Marley's... Read more

October 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Cormega Juices Up Industry, With A Kool G Rap, Masta Ace & Craig G Remix (Audio)

After the tremendous acclaim of Mega Philosophy single, "Industry," Cormega (as promised) is hard at work on some jaw-dropping remixes. Cory starts off looking at his own native borough of Queens, New York. There, 'Mega links with Craig G (who he worked with on QB's Finest's single, "Da Bridge 2001"),... Read more

July 29, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Diamond D’s Got An August Album Featuring Pete Rock, The Pharcyde, Rapsody & Kurupt

Founding D.I.T.C. member Diamond D has announced his first album since 2008. The Bronx, New York-born MC/producer/DJ credited with discovering Fat Joe will release his fourth studio LP, The Diam Piece on August 26, 2014. After 25 years of making music (dating back to his Strong City Records outfit The... Read more

July 14, 2014 Fresh

Masta Ace Explains Transitioning From Masta Ace Inc. To The eMC, Making Slaughtahouse (Video)

Masta Ace's career spans three highly-respected crews. The Brownsville, Brooklyn MC came up alongside Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, MC Shan, and the rest of Marley Marl's Juice Crew. However, between 1990's Take A Look Around and 1993, The Juice Crew was largely dissolved, due to financial disputes and... Read more

May 26, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

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

May 22, 2014 Video

Tim Westwood’s Reggae, Dub & Classic Hip-Hop Vinyl Weighs A Ton (Video)

To younger Heads, Tim Westwood may be known for his wild enthusiasm during guest-stops from the likes of Eminem, Drake, and Jay Z. However, the London-based BBC DJ has nearly 30 years rooted in bridging the gap and crossing the oceans in making Hip-Hop, Reggae, Dancehall, Dub, and House mixes.... Read more

May 22, 2014 Fresh, Video

J. Rawls & Masta Ace Bemoan The Bills That We All Get (Audio)

As we collectively approach a new first of the month, leave it to Lone Catalysts' J. Rawls & The eMC's Masta Ace to make a funky explanation about how those "Bills" run our lives. Ace, who regularly externalizes his rhymes when he's being self-deprecating, waxes some Everyman poetic. Rawls laces... Read more

May 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Try Out To Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth & Strick’s Sophomore eMC LP (Album Stream)

Veteran Brooklyn MC Masta Ace is branching out with his latest group, The eMC. The collective including late '90s underground Hip-Hop MCs Wordsworth, Punchline (who were previously a group as Punch & Words), along with Milwaukee, Wisconsin MC Strick (f/k/a Stricklin). The group released a 2008 LP on Fat Beats... Read more

May 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth & Stricklin (eMC) Make It Slap Like Charlie Murphy (Video)

eMC, the collective of Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth & Stricklin, are stricly about those bars. There is no sing-songy hook or R&B loop on their song, Charlie Murphy. They just drop hot verses over sparse chords and drums that slap (like the song's namesake). Check out the video. Related: Masta... Read more

May 6, 2014 Video

Veteran Kentucky-Georgia Hip-Hop Group Cunninglyguists Makes Their Latest Strange Journey Available For Free Listen (Audio)

Heads might not be all the way up on Cunninglyguists. However, this Atlanta, Georgia-meets-Lexington, Kentucky Hip-Hop outfit has been around for over 15 years, with strong ties to Freddie Gibbs, Big K.R.I.T., Masta Ace, and Cee-Lo Green. DJ Kno, Deacon The Villain and Natti—the three current members of the QN5... Read more

March 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kermit The Frog As Kool G Rap? Watch The Sesame Street Crew Tackle The Juice Crew’s Symphony (Video)

Admit it or not, plenty Heads grew up on Sesame Street. PBS' afternoon learning and entertainment show raised many of us long before we later recognized Gordon in Willie Dynamite, or laughed at Dave Chappelle's impersonation of The Count. Well, in the tradition of Bert & Ernie playing Billy Danze... Read more

February 25, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Punch & Stricklin Make A Complex Metaphoric EMC Joint (Audio)

Masta Ace is a true master of metaphor. Since his days as the "music man" in the Juice Crew, the Brownsville, Brooklyn MC has evolved into an artist that critics and fans could never pin down—introspective one minute, braggy the next, Jeep music here, and sweet Soul there. When Ace... Read more

February 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Like Bully Bars? Reef The Lost Cauze, Masta Ace & Jaysaun Got Somethin’ For Ya (Audio)

Reef The Lost Cauze never seems to stop working, and that's a great thing. The MC who went to the same high school at Will Smith (at a later era) linked with Masta Ace and Special Teamz' Jaysaun for "Power Moves." Over a hard, brassy beat the three take mics... Read more

February 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Juice Crew Masters The Ceremony & Orchestrates The Symphony On Stage (Video)

The same night Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Geto Boys, The Pharcyde, Blackstreet, and Ma$e and Diddy reunited in Los Angeles, another seminal Hip-Hop crew came together in New York City. While they never released an album, Heads know the Juice Crew's impact as the sum of its parts, including Big Daddy Kane,... Read more

January 25, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

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

January 21, 2014 Fresh

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of November 2013 (Audio Playlist)

The year is winding down, no doubt, but the good music kept coming in November. Here's a playlist of the best Hip-Hop to drop last month, including songs from Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Joey Bada$$, Eminem, Masta Ace, Raekwon, Posdnuos, Rah Digga, Elzhi, Jay Z, Childish Gambino, Mac Miller, Jhene Aiko,... Read more

December 1, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

Stream Marco Polo’s PA 2: The Director’s Cut Which Features an All-Star Roster of 90’s Legends (Album Stream)

Marco Polo's new album PA 2: The Director's Cut plays like an all-star compilation of ridiculously dope tracks from 90's legends, including Talib Kweli, Masta Ace, Inspectah Deck, Organized Konfusion, Jean Grae, Posdnuos, Styles P, Alchemist, MC Eiht, King Tee, Large Professor and many more. The album hits stores on... Read more

November 8, 2013 Audio

DJ Skizz – Metal Bars ft Masta Ace & Nature (Video)

DJ Skizz of Halftime Show fame loves New York. His B.Q.E. album features local legends like O.C., Cormega, and Craig G. On "Metal Bars," Skizz linked a Brooklyn-Queens (® 3rd Bass) tandem in Juice Crew alum Masta Ace and The Firm alum Nature. With both MCs having ties to Large... Read more

October 8, 2013 Fresh, Video

R.A. The Rugged Man – The Dangerous 3 ft Brother Ali & Masta Ace (Video)

Truly, this is my favorite collaboration so far of 2013. While R.A. The Rugged Man's story has always inspired me (and I'm a fan of his journalism), his released works rarely moved me. However, Legends Never Die is truly a grabbing album this year, and this song is my favorite... Read more

September 4, 2013 Fresh, Video

Kid Tsunami – The Chase (Full Album Stream)

With all the commotion about Kanye, J. Cole, Mac Miller and Statik Selektah's album, it was easy for Kid Tsunami's to get lost in the shuffle. But, with guest appearances from Masta Ace, OC, J-Live, Bahamadia, Sadat X, Kool Keith, Kool G Rap, KRS-One, Chubb Rock, Pharoahe Monch, Buckshot and... Read more

June 23, 2013 Audio

Masta Ace – I Did It (Video)

Now THIS IS OFFICIAL. Masta Ace flows over an MF DOOM production in his latest release. The video features classic footage of Masta Ace, as well as visuals of his influences (hip-hop, sports and otherwise). Check out the video for I Did It. Related: Masta Ace – Slow Down (prod.... Read more

June 1, 2013 Video

The 13th most important hip-hop record label of all time would have been #1 in 1988. Cold Chillin’ Records featured hip-hop legends like Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G. Rap, Masta Ace and more. Check out more on Cold Chillin’ and a playlist featuring its key artists below.

#13 Cold Chillin' Records Many people say the golden age of hip-hop was in the late 80's and early 90's. If you fall into that category, there's no doubt Cold Chillin' Records featured some of your favorite artists of all time (in any genre). In fact, many would argue that... Read more

November 29, 2011 Audio, Food for Thought, Playlists, Throwback, Video

Masta Ace – BK (We Don’t Play)

Here's a previously unreleased Masta Ace song from the early 2000s. The track is produced by Paul Nice and you may recognize it as the track that DJ Premier flipped several years later in his remix of Classic. Check both songs out below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xg8TbsQQMI Here's Primo's Classic (literally): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCU-qgR_4bM... Read more

July 28, 2011 Audio, The Bridge