Masta Ace
Masta Ace | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Duval Clear |
Also known as |
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Born | December 4, 1966 |
Origin | New York City, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 1988–present |
Labels | |
Formerly of |
Duval Clear (born December 4, 1966),[1] known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is an American rapper and record producer from New York City. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony". He is noted for his distinct voice and rapping proficiency,[2][1][3] and has influenced several MCs.
Biography
1988–1994
Clear graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1988, after meeting Marley Marl in 1987 during his summer break.[4] Ace made his recording debut on the Juice Crew posse-cut "The Symphony", along with fellow Juice Crew members Craig G, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane, released on Marley Marl's In Control album.[5] The album also featured two additional Ace tracks, "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" and "Simon Says".
In 1989, he released his first solo single, "Together" b/w "Letter to the Better". A year later, his debut album, Take a Look Around, was released through Marl's Cold Chillin' label, featuring production from Marl and DJ Mister Cee.[5] The album featured two minor hit singles in "Music Man" and "Me & The Biz",[5] the latter track including Ace impersonating Biz Markie who did not reach the studio for the planned duet.[1]
In the years following his debut, Ace developed bitter feelings toward the commercial state of hip hop music and the prominence of
1995–2000
Ace furthered his mainstream appeal in 1995, with his radio-friendly
2001–present
Ace's "Ghetto Like" single led to a misunderstanding with an underground emcee named Boogieman, who released a somewhat similar single titled "Ghetto Love" which was released on 420recordings not long before. He thought that Ace was "biting" his track and released a diss song toward Ace titled "Just You Wait". Ace responded to Boogieman on the diss track "Acknowledge", which also dissed The High & Mighty over a misunderstanding. The trading of records led to a rap battle between the two at a Lyricist Lounge event. "Acknowledge" was also included on Ace's 2001 album, Disposable Arts.[1] Masta Ace also performed numerous "Dubtitled" voice overs on the television series titled Kung Faux.
Disposable Arts, a concept album chronicling Ace's time spent at a satirical rap school named the "Institute of Disposable Arts", became one of the most acclaimed underground hip hop releases of 2001. JCOR Records folded soon after the release, leaving it out-of-print, until being re-released in 2005 on Ace's self-established M3 label. The album closer, "No Regrets", led many fans to believe that it would be Ace's final album, because of the line "I don't know if it's the end, but yo, it might be". Ace killed the rumors by returning in 2004 with his fifth album A Long Hot Summer, another highly acclaimed effort. The story concept, similar to that on his last release, served as a prelude to the story told on Disposable Arts, chronicling the "Long Hot Summer" that led to his character's incarceration at the beginning of the Disposable Arts album. Subsequently, Ace announced the formation of his new rap crew named eMC, including himself, Punchline, Wordsworth and his protégé Strick. Ace remarked in a December 2006 interview that he would no longer record as a solo artist, only with eMC.[7] eMC's first group album, The Show, was scheduled for early 2007 but was released in February 2008 digitally and April 2008 physically.
In 2007, Masta Ace had a track included on the Official Joints mixtape, a compilation of previously unreleased tracks by various NYC rappers.[1]
In 2009, Masta Ace joined forces with Boston rapper
In 2011 and in 2012 he coached high school football for the Irvington Blue Knights in NJ.[citation needed]
In 2012, Masta Ace released MA Doom: Son Of Yvonne, produced entirely by MF Doom.[10] In an interview, Ace explained that he devised the Son of Yvonne album to express things he had been unable to say to his mother before she died.[11]
In January 2014, Masta Ace reunited with Stricklin, Wordsworth and Punchline as eMC, signing a record deal with Penalty Entertainment and Sony Red.[12] They're expected to release an EP in April 2014, followed by a sophomore LP due out in early 2015.[13] Punchline left the group in October 2014.
Later in 2014, it was announced that Masta Ace signed to M3 Records/Penalty Entertainment for his next solo album, The Falling Season. This album was ultimately released in 2016.[14] In 2016, Masta Ace was interviewed by Ryan Maxwell for Hip-Hop Kings.[15] The interview spoke in depth about the Disposable Arts re-issue, and the documentary which celebrated 20 years of the album. At the end of the interview, Masta Ace also confirmed he has begun filming another documentary for his critically acclaimed album "A Long Hot Summer".
The producer Marco Polo announced in 2018 that he was producing a new Masta Ace album,[16] produced entirely by himself, to be titled A Breukelen Story; this album was released on November 9, 2018.[17]
International work
Masta Ace was prominently the vocal artist on his co-authored track "Talkin' What I Feel" by the short-lived but hugely respected early 1990s British formed group Young Disciples fronted by Carleen Anderson . The track appeared on the classic soul, acid-jazz, dance 1991 album Road To Freedom heralded by some as one of the top albums of the decade, and also on the 1992 EP "Young Disciples".
He and Croatian producer Koolade made a song "Beautiful" that was on his album A Long Hot Summer.
He is featured on a song off of album
He appeared on Czech hiphop group Prago Union's album "HDP", where he performed on the track "Beat and I a já und ich" along with German rapper Dendemann.
He also appeared on Polish rap group Familia H.P. album "42" on the track "Born In New York".
In 2003, he appeared on the Swedish rapper
Masta Ace travelled to Australia in 2008 to record for the Funkoars track "This is How" which came off the album The Hangover. The track sampled parts of the Masta Ace's 2004 track "Good Ol' Love". The Funkoars have made several references to Masta Ace in their lyrics as well as using samples in other works.
He is also featured on the track "Sminke" by the critically acclaimed Norwegian Hip Hop duo
In 2007, he appeared on Admit It, a song by Swiss hip hop group
In 2010, he appeared on "Set You Free" along with Wordsworth, a track by UK hip hop DJ/Producer "Skitz" from his album "The Sticksman".
In 2010, he appeared on "You don't know about it" alongside M-Dot, a track by French hip hop DJ/Producer DJ Jean Maron from his album "RUN MPC". It was the lead single of the album and received heavy radio rotations. (released on 12" and CD)
In 2012, he is featured on the track "Progression" by German DJ/Producer DJ Q-Fingaz from his album "Qllection".[18] The same year, he is featured on "The Bridge", a song by Polish hip hop squad Slums Attack from album "CNO 2"
In 2014, he collaborated with Canberra-based Australian rapper Nix on the single "SHE".[19]
On December 19, 2014, Ace was featured on a track called "My Style" with German Producer The Mighty Moe[20] who also produced for Termanology,[21] Reks[22] and many more.
In 2014, he is featured alongside Tajai (from Souls Of Mischief) on the track "2 the Essence" by German Rapper Kool Savas from his album "Märtyrer"
In 2015, he appeared on "Thinking of You", a song by Swedish hip hop duo Professor P & DJ Akilles from their album "All Year, Every Year".
In 2015, he is featured alongside Kidaf & Nekfeu on the track "Nothing Changed" by German hip-hop/pop producer Shuko from his album "For The Love Of It".
In 2022, he is featured on the track "Unzerstörbar" by German Rapper Umse from his album "Séparée".
Legacy
Masta Ace is considered to be a highly skilled and influential MC – music journalist
Personal life
In 2000, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but he did not reveal it to the public until 2013,[25] when his medicine syringes and vials were exposed while on tour, during a police stop in the Czech Republic, as his belongings were searched and exposed.[26]
Discography
- Solo albums
- Take a Look Around (1990)
- Disposable Arts (2001)
- A Long Hot Summer (2004)
- MA Doom: Son of Yvonne (2012)
- The Falling Season (2016)
- Collaborative albums
- SlaughtaHouse (with Masta Ace Incorporated) (1993)
- Sittin' on Chrome (with Masta Ace Incorporated) (1995)
- The Show (with eMC) (2008)
- Arts & Entertainment (with Ed O.G.) (2009)
- The Turning Point EP (with eMC) (2014)
- The Tonite Show (with eMC) (2015)[27]
- A Breukelen Story (with Marco Polo) (2018)[28]
- Richmond Hill (with Marco Polo) (2024)[29]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Michael DiBella (December 4, 1966). "Masta Ace | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ a b Shapiro, Peter, 2005, The Rough Guide To Hip-Hop, 2nd Edition, Penguin, p. 247.
- ^ a b [1][dead link]
- ^ "Who is Masta Ace and what has he contributed to music?". eNotes. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
- ^ "Masta Ace – Chart history". Billboard. August 21, 2004. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2006.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - XXL MagazineNovember 2009.
- ^ Fox, Luke Conversations: Masta Ace and Edo G at Exclaim! February 2010.
- ^ Music Eyz Masta Ace & MF DOOM's "MA DOOM: Son Of Yvonne" Review Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Music Eyz Exclusive UK Interview with Masta Ace Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine at Music Eyz August 2012
- ^ "AllHipHop » eMC (Masta Ace, Stricklin, Punchline & Wordsworth) Sign With Penalty/Sony Red". AllHipHop. February 6, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "eMC". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Masta Ace". Penalty Entertainment. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Masta Ace Disposable Arts Interview". Hip-hopkings.com. April 8, 2016. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ "15 songs deep for this Masta Ace x MP album. not done yet!". January 10, 2018.
- ^ "@mastaacepics on Instagram: "How do you feel about this album with me and @marcopolobeats ?? The best couple of comments (keep it brief) will be added to the vinyl…"". Instagram.
- ^ "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ "Masta Ace & Nix – SHE (Music Video)". YouTube. June 30, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "My Style – Single by Masta Ace". December 19, 2014 – via itunes.apple.com.
- ^ "Shut Up and Rap – Termanology – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Reks – Little Things (prod by The Mighty Moe) – OFFICIAL VIDEO". YouTube. September 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Eminem, with Sacha Jenkins, 2008, The Way I Am, Dutton Adult, p. 20.
- ^ Eminem (Ft. Joyner Lucas) – Lucky You, retrieved October 9, 2022
- ^ "Masta Ace Reveals He Has Multiple Sclerosis". HipHopDX. December 5, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
- ^ Ma, David (November 26, 2018). "Come Clean: The Metamorphosis of Masta Ace". Passion Of The Weiss. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- ^ "The Tonite Show by eMC on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. May 4, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ "Working on song sequence for this album..." Instagram.com/mastaacepics. August 18, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
- ^ "New Music alert! New album "Richmond Hill" on the way..!!!!". Instagram.com/mastaacepics. October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
External links
- M3 Records official Site
- Interview with Masta Ace recorded in 2005 on public radio program The Sound of Young America
- Masta Ace Interview. Source: ILLHILL.com
[2] personal website