Although he sometimes doesn’t get the credit he should, Masta Ace is a certified Hip Hop legend. After jumping on Marley Marl’s groundbreaking posse cut “The Symphony” in 1988, Ace has worked tirelessly to establish himself among the Hip Hop elite.
But here’s the thing many people might not know about Ace — he’s one of Eminem’s favorite MCs. In fact, before Em was the rap powerhouse he is today, he was bumping Ace’s 1993 SlaughtaHouse record while mobbing around Detroit in a bona fide hooptie.
“He [Eminem] told me that my album SlaughtaHouse was a very important album for him and his crew the guys,” Ace explains. “He was running with D-12. He said that’s the album they used to play all day driving around in a beat-up car. So, that album has a special place for him because of the time, you know, simpler times. It wasn’t about money.
“They were just all broke and hanging out, playing music. And he said that summer, 93′, they just played that album non-stop the whole summer and he still remembers it. That’s what stands out to him.”
He adds, “I thought it was a cool honor. I’m a fan of his just as much, so somebody like himself who was super talented and has so many fans and sells millions and millions of records — that was nice.”
Em, who would go on to oversee a group named Slaughterhouse, even rattled off Ace’s name during his acceptance speech at the 45th annual Grammy Awards in 2003, citing him as a huge inspiration.
Now with seven solo albums under his belt, Ace’s catalog is continuing to expand. After dropping The Falling Season in 2016, Ace is ready to unleash A Brooklyn Story this fall.
Produced entirely by Marco Polo, the album takes an unorthodox approach. Instead of Ace writing about his life, he writes about Marco’s journey from Toronto to Brooklyn, and what he experienced along the way.
Part of that journey includes Ace. Polo met The Juice Crew alum in 2004 while he was working as an intern at The Cutting Room studios in Manhattan. Marco, whose parents emigrated to Canada from Italy before he was born, admits he “broke all the rules” and slipped Ace a demo.
From there, it was on. Marco ended up producing “Do It Man” from Ace’s 2004 project, A Long Hot Summer. A Brooklyn Story will mark their first full-length collaboration.
“This album is all about Marco,” Ace explains. “I’ve done so many concept records that tell bits and pieces of my life story. I just thought that this was a really cool opportunity to tell somebody else’s story, in this case Marco’s. I thought fans would really enjoy that. He has a very interesting story and how he got from point A to point B, so it was actually a fun experience to get his parents involved in the skits and all that.”
“This is 100 percent Ace’s idea,” Marco adds. “I would have ever thought to do that. He’s the one that brought it to the table. He wrote all the skits for the most part, and he birthed this idea so props to him for that.”
And Ace deserves the props. The seasoned Hip Hop vet sometimes gets omitted from the conversation when it comes to legendary MCs, which keeps a fire lit inside.
“I walk around with a chip on my shoulder, feeling like I still have something to prove,” he admits. “That’s what motivates me. Keeps me writing the best lyrics I can write.I think some artists, when they kind of ‘made it,’ the tendency is to kinda sit back and say, ‘I’m the man now.’ And I never wanted to be a victim of the feeling.
“I’ve always kinda used the idea that I wasn’t getting the proper credit or whatever or respect. And for that reason, it kept me motivated and kept me going and kept me in that hungry state of mind.”
A Brooklyn Story is expected to arrive in October. [apple_news_ad type=”any”]
Never mentioned but Ace easily a top tier MC. Disposable was genius. Salud
Masta Ace has put out way more great albums than Eminem. Really lame that he has to talk about some other guy liking his music like it should mean something. Grown men. Eminem had 2 great albums, 1 ok album, and trash for the last 15 years. Why is he still revered as a great artist?
Silly boy you can’t possibly really think that.
To be fair, Em had 3 classic albums, and an “alright” one (Encore is the best definition of “mixed bag” album wise)…Masta Ace hasn’t released one bad project to date, however 2 classics and the rest are good. If we were to be talking about consistency, Masta Ace is the better rapper. Eminem Had 3 classics, one alright, and then completely fell off. You can’t be a rap fan for thinking Willis is silly, you’re a pop-rap fan
Lmao, any era of Eminem would slaughter Master Ace on record, that’s a different league of rapping fool. Gtfoh
You’re hella underestimating Ace. Or you never heard him before because he’s definitely no lightweight. Mufucka has bars.
Obviously that comment comes from someone who has never heard Masta Ace spit
Masta Ace has been about for many years before Em, and yet she still shows consistency in all projects released, something Eminem hasn’t. Once Proof died, Eminem lost it, only releasing a good song every so often. Once Dr. Dres son died, the one man making sure Em didn’t release a bad record disappeared. I never said Eminem was a bad rapper, nor that he isn’t top 5 rapper, only that he can’t seem to make a consistent project. Lets hope his next and final album is something to send off to properly (as in revival is a terrible pop-rap album, even by the 2000’s standards)
He’s a top 5 rapper but not better than Master Ace? What was inconsistent with Relapse, Recovery and MMLP2?? Maybe you need to go back and listen to these albums, Em is murderous and no rapper in history can give you the emotion Em does. So again. Any era Eminem is slaying Master Ace. No question. Dudes not fucking with Rock Bottom Em, he’s not fucking with Stan Em, he’s not fucking with Soldier Em, he’s not fucking with Sing For The Moment Em, he’s not fucking With No apologies Em, Dudes not fucking with Stay wide Awake Em, dudes not fucking with Seduction Em, dudes not fucking with Rap God Em, dudes not even fucking with Caterpillar Em. So what is Master Ace better than Em at?? Not lyricism, not flow, not cadence, not stage precense, not style, not emotion, not speed, no chorus making ability, literally no aspect of rap. Be real dawg.
Masta Ace has been about for many years before Em, and yet she still shows consistency in all projects released, something Eminem hasn’t. Once Proof died, Eminem lost it, only releasing a good song every so often. Once Dr. Dres son died, the one man making sure Em didn’t release a bad record disappeared. I never said Eminem was a bad rapper, nor that he isn’t top 5 rapper, only that he can’t seem to make a consistent project. Lets hope his next and final album is something to send off to properly (as in revival is a terrible pop-rap album, even by the 2000’s standards)
I’m glad Master ACE has resurfaced !
Resurfaced? Hes hasnt gone anywhere. Hes been dropping joints, he even has his own group, EMC, who have released about 2 LP’s, 1 EP, and a ton of collabs with mostly EU rappers.
Masta Ace is a legend.
The Eminem bashing is always funny. Facts are facts. He has sold more records than any other hip hop artist and the dude is mad talented. He’s not my favorite rapper but the guy is easily top 10 and his first 3 joints were as formidable as any in rap history. My favorite first 3 belong to Outkast but Em definitely did not slip on his first 3 unlike the legends Jay, Nas, Pac, etc.
When your demo is white fans and you’re white, it kind of skewed the numbers. He should be the best selling artist but he clearly isn’t the best MC ever. Most unbias fans of the culture have him no higher then 5 if that.
So if that’s the case then where is Paul Wall, Asher Roth, Mac Miller, MGK, NF, G Eazy, Yelawolf, Rittz, Bubba Sparkxx, Chris Webby and countless other white rapper’s.?! I don’t recall them getting the same career path as Eminem because of his skin color
Having Dre as your co-sign doesn’t hurt. Did you Google “white rapper” and just type all the names that popped up?
So since Dre is the reason for success, explain Hittman, Bishop Lamont, Slim Da Mobster, and Anderson Paak??
– Hittman wanted full and utter creative crontol and really stuck with this and parted ways. Call it stubborn but he felt so strongly about things he had his verse removed ‘What’s the Difference’ because he didn’t like the beat and was replaced by Xzibit.
– Bishop Lamont was one of the most genuine artists who possesed musical integrity on that label and had one of the best ear for beats. Jimmy Iovine thought he was liabilty being too ‘political’ and ‘controversial’. He parted on his own terms.
– Slim Da Mobster I think was just signed of the strength of his writing abilities and was just shelved used for ghost writing purposes.
– Anderson Paak is having good success, it’s too early to say where he ends up.
Dr. Dre/Aftermath are not a magic serum. However when Dr. Dre thinks your shit is hot and has the ok from Jimmy Iovine the limits of Aftermath are endless, look at 50 Cent, Eminem, The Game, Kendrick Lamar etc
Of course that Aftermath machine alone when FULLY behind you (key word FULLY) can propel a rap career like no other!
He stole masta ace style and ran with it lol
ACE is a legend , in my top 10. good album from disposable art, to EMC. Underrated
Masta Ace has bars for days and has been consistent since 88′ and he is a legend no doubt, but Em will run circles around him with the way he spits.
Now if you were saying Big Daddy Kane or Kool g Rap vs. Em that’s a different story but Ace was just another good lyricist from that era.
It’s about taste
Last 15 Years was trash or a flop hmmm!
Then y did his last 3 albums go number and out sell everyone in that genre
Don’t say cuz he’s white!!!!
Let’s just say he’s compared to this new mumble rap
And revival was not pop rap
It’s rap
If people would use their brains and listen to his bars.
Oh they probably can’t cuz all they want is some “ Stir Fry”