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Masta Ace Releases A Song Filled With Positivity

In 2018, Masta Ace and Marco Polo released their first album as a unit. A Breukelen Story was a concept album—something the Brooklyn, New York MC has done for much his 35-year career. That LP was named by Ambrosia For Heads among the best of '18, and it featured Smif-n-Wessun,... Read more

Many Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Rappers Name Their Top 5 MCs

Note: Jadakiss recently appeared on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby podcast and was asked who his top 5 Hip-Hop groups of all-time were. This article has been updated below with his response, as well as The Game’s top 5 LA Rap albums. A few days ago, during a podcast appearance, Ice... Read more

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

Large Professor Remixes Masta Ace’s Trip Down Memory Lane (Audio)

Nostalgia and looking back on teenage years is a recurring theme in Hip-Hop, inspiring some of the best work of artists such as Nas and Black Milk and now Masta Ace and Large Professor on this "Extra P Remix" of UK production collective, Son of Sam’s “Come A Long Way.”... 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

Masta Ace’s Latest Video Resonates Through Time & Shows Why He’s A Top MC

Masta Ace's latest studio album, The Falling Season, is making noise for the 30-year Brooklyn, New York rhyme veteran. From the era of 12" singles and un-skippable albums, Ace has deliberately kept his latest artistic baby away from the popular streaming platforms. The latest in a series of a concept... Read more

Masta Ace Premieres “Young Black Intelligent” & Champions The Art Of Storytelling (Audio)

This week (May 13), Masta Ace will release his fifth solo album, The Falling Season. Although the LP follows the conceptual storyline of 2012's DOOM-supported MA_DOOM: Son Of Yvonne, it also reportedly also stands in the cult-championed lineage of 2001's Disposable Arts and 2004's Long Hot Summer. Released on Ace's... Read more

Masta Ace Announces His Latest Concept Album & Gives A Glimpse

From Masta Ace Incorporated to Disposable Arts, Brooklyn, New York veteran MC Masta Ace has been known for cohesive album-length concepts. His latest, in a career that dates back to the mid-1980s is upon us, as the Juice Crew and eMC alum announces The Falling Season. Releasing May 13, the... Read more

This Documentary Treats Masta Ace’s “Disposable Arts” Like The Masterpiece It Is (Video Premiere)

Fifteen years ago this October, Masta Ace released his sophomore solo album, Disposable Arts. The Jcor Records release marked the Brooklyn, New York MC's first album after a six-year period. While signed to Big Beat/Atlantic Records, the Masta Ace Incorporated alum aimed to return to his solo catalog. The recordings... Read more

Kanye West’s Graduation vs. Masta Ace’s Disposable Arts. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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