PFFFFFF! Yeah right! What are you? The King of Knots? You think you're the freaking King of Tying Knots??
Florida’s heat has been radiating over hip-hop for many years. From the legendary “Uncle” Luke Campbell, Trick Daddy and Trina to DJ Khaled, Flo Rida, T-Pain, Rick Ross and Plies, the sunshine state has always produced hot music. The next artist to emerge from this sizzling climate is Ace Hood, and with an ace on the top of the deck, he is guaranteed to continue Florida’s heat wave.
“I got the name Ace as a child. My family always thought that I would be the one who would succeed in whatever I did,” he explains. “I feel like I’m an army in myself. I carry my own weight and since I represent for the hood, why not attach that to my name?”
Born Antoine McColister in Broward County, Florida, Ace knew he was destined for greatness. After an injury derailed his burgeoning football career, Ace turned to his true passion, rapping. At the age of 17, Ace teamed up with the Broward-County-based entertainment label, Dollaz & Dealz, to record the hit "M.O.E." ("Money Over Everything") which sparked an immediate buzz in South Florida. Ace began to perform and network which helped him gain exposure like never before. After fine-tuning his craft on local crowds, he set his sights on performing for DJ Khaled at his annual birthday bash.
“We was outside the radio station not even trying to get a deal, just hoping to perform at his birthday bash,” he recalls. “We just figured we’d try and perform. He had a contest going on where you had to give a certain amount of reasons why you should perform at the birthday bash. So I was going to rap for him on camera and show him why I was worthy. Although he had to go to a meeting, he came out, looked at me and said I love his image. We handed him a CD and once we did that he listened to it and called my manager that night. He said I love his swag, I hear starvation in his music and I want to take a meeting with him.”
That meeting turned into Ace becoming the first artist signed to DJ Khaled’s label “We the Best” distributed by Def Jam Records. His hot new single “Cash Flow” featuring T-Pain and Rick Ross is currently blazing the radio waves everywhere. “Once I played the song for Rick Ross he loved it and he put his whole swag to it” explains Khaled. “The song was pretty much done but we felt to make it more of a hit record, get somebody like T-Pain who’s running the game right now, on the hook to make it go that much further.” The song is setting the stage for Ace’s debut album, Gutta, with guest appearances from some of rap’s elite including Trick Daddy, Flo Rida, Akon, Plies and production from Cool & Dre, The Runners, Danjahandz and J.U.S.T.C.E. League, Ace’s deck is definitely stacked.
“This album is definitely gonna be a classic,” Ace says confidently. “People are expecting a lot out of me not only because I’m on Khaled’s label, but because everyone knows that the ace is ranked as the highest.”
With an ace up your sleeve, how can you go wrong?
Reminiscing
Ace Hood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama in the kitchen, cookin' up her favorite cake
Daddy gone, never home, he say he gotta stay
Five times I only seen that nigger to this day
And I was blind as a youngun but I learned better
Five kids, visitation, game, never
But ain't trippin', mama did your daddy work?
23 and got a crib that's seven figures worth
Maybe another way instead of triple beans
17 all about that green cream
Break that 9 to 5, I quitted in about a week
That's true story, it was overrated
They don't crack those middle fingers cuz they under payment
Back on the block, not a single dollar
I told her mom that hottest nigger had a brother
They laughed at me, they clown me
They hatin' shit, don't want that bitch around me
So I joined the label, dollars and deals
I stayed around the corner for my missal deal
Stacking that money, switching them wips
Motivated by the dope boy ain't gettin' chips
My vision changed, the struggle came
I see my mama cryin', I can feel her pain
The pills are so behind we can't afford a thing
We can't afford a thing
Couple months I met with DJ Katadim
Saw my killing, got a hundred thousand dollars pimp
Call my mother crying like we outta here
Hard times, kiss my ass
Flew the Louie, pressing thousands in the duffle bag
That was 074, back to 20 12
Paid a set, I get one hitin' thirty well
Not sugar coating shit, you niggas fairytale
They free my niggers locked behind them prison cells
I'm one of just a few who send my niggers mail
Hearing a lot of talk â bout what you niggas do
I'm everywhere, you never there, I'm like a prostitute
Brought my money, let that pistol brush your testicles
Speaking on my fam you get the medic room
A couple top tens, bitch I'm livin' good
Get house in Miami and that record do it
Make them bitches suck it till they catch the fluid
I just lost my daughter but I'm prayin' through it
Star faish, star faish
Livin' every day like I'm on vacaish
Underrated, they say I is
And Imma give â em heel over satan feels
Star faish, star faish
Like looking in the eyes of a poor baby
Poor baby, they scared not
Did it for you non-believers case you wonder why
Amen
Love
Ace Hood’s song “Reminiscing” paints a vivid picture of his life growing up and the struggles he faced along the way. The song starts by saying, “Let's take these niggers back to ’98” which immediately takes us back in time to Ace’s childhood. He paints a picture of his mother in the kitchen cooking her favorite cake, while his father was absent from home most of the time. Ace only saw his father five times in his life, which highlights the negative impact that his father’s absence had on his life. Despite this, Ace looks up to his mother who was able to provide a stable home for her children, and also managed to purchase a seven-figure home at the age of 23.
The lyrics continue to describe how Ace had dreams of something greater and worked hard to pursue them. He quit his 9-5 job after just a week because he knew he was capable of achieving more. Ace didn’t take the easy way out by selling drugs, but instead, joined the music industry and worked hard to make a name for himself. The struggles he faced along the way, such as watching his mother cry because they couldn’t afford things, motivated him to work harder.
Towards the end of the song, Ace talks about how his hard work paid off and he was able to provide for his family. However, even with all his success, he has recently experienced a heart-wrenching loss in the form of losing his daughter. Despite this, he is staying strong and continuing to work hard.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's take these niggers back to â 98
Let's go back to the past
Mama in the kitchen, cookin' up her favorite cake
Mom's making her best dessert
Daddy gone, never home, he say he gotta stay
Dad left and rarely came back
Five times I only seen that nigger to this day
Only saw dad five times
And I was blind as a youngun but I learned better
Was naive as a child and grew wiser
Five kids, visitation, game, never
Dad skipped visitation with his five kids
But ain't trippin', mama did your daddy work?
Not bothered, but did dad make things right?
23 and got a crib that's seven figures worth
Owned a million-dollar home at 23
Even as a youngun I had bigger dreams
Even as a child, he aimed high
Maybe another way instead of triple beans
Aiming for more than selling drugs
17 all about that green cream
Focused on money at 17
Break that 9 to 5, I quitted in about a week
Quit his job after only a week
That's true story, it was overrated
It's a true story and the job was overrated
They don't crack those middle fingers cuz they under payment
They don't flip the bird because the pay was low
Back on the block, not a single dollar
Back to the streets with no money
I told her mom that hottest nigger had a brother
Told his mom he had a talented brother
They laughed at me, they clown me
People laughed and made fun of him
They hatin' shit, don't want that bitch around me
They're hating and don't want the girl near him
So I joined the label, dollars and deals
Joined a record label for money and deals
I stayed around the corner for my missal deal
Stayed close for the record deal
Stacking that money, switching them wips
Making money and changing cars
Motivated by the dope boy ain't gettin' chips
Motivated by successful drug dealers
My vision changed, the struggle came
Changed his outlook, but still struggled
I see my mama cryin', I can feel her pain
Sees mom crying and feels her pain
The pills are so behind we can't afford a thing
Can't afford anything, even basic medication
Couple months I met with DJ Katadim
Met with DJ Katadim a few months later
Saw my killing, got a hundred thousand dollars pimp
DJ believed in him and gave him money
Call my mother crying like we outta here
Called mom crying, ready to leave
Hard times, kiss my ass
Overcame hard times
Flew the Louie, pressing thousands in the duffle bag
Flew to Louisianna with money in the bag
That was 074, back to 20 12
Went from 2007 to 2012
Paid a set, I get one hitin' thirty well
Making a lot of money from one song
Not sugar coating shit, you niggas fairytale
Not faking or sugar-coating the story
They free my niggers locked behind them prison cells
Wants his friends in jail to be freed
I'm one of just a few who send my niggers mail
One of few friends to send letters
Hearing a lot of talk â bout what you niggas do
Hearing gossip about others
I'm everywhere, you never there, I'm like a prostitute
Always present but others are not
Brought my money, let that pistol brush your testicles
Bringing money and a weapon for protection
Speaking on my fam you get the medic room
Don't speak poorly of my family or else
A couple top tens, bitch I'm livin' good
Two successful singles and living well
Get house in Miami and that record do it
Hoping to buy a house in Miami from his hit record
Make them bitches suck it till they catch the fluid
Getting sexual favors from women
I just lost my daughter but I'm prayin' through it
Recently lost his daughter but staying hopeful
Contributed by Maria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.