His most recent (and reportedly final) solo album, A Long Hot Summer, gained considerable acclaim in 2004. He is currently in the hip hop group eMC, with Punchline, Wordsworth and Stricklin. They have a page at http://www.myspace.com/emcthegroup.
In the early stages of his career, Masta Ace was very energetic (cf. "Jeep Ass Niguh", where, tongue-in-cheek, he taunts police officers for their knee-jerk predisposition to harass black youth on city streets.) He also recorded material with a six-member supporting entourage, Masta Ace Incorporated. In light of his newly claimed status as a veteran, he has gravitated toward an earnest, matter-of-fact plainspokenness in the new millennium. Many of the songs that have lent newfound heft to his reputation are simple, no-nonsense rumination on feelings and facts of urban American life, including "Soda and Soap", "Brooklyn Masala" (which highlights a budding romance between Ace and a lovely but reserved Pakistani Hindu immigrant), and "Beautiful".
1988-1994
Ace made his recording debut as Master Ace on the classic hip-hop 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. In Control also featured two lesser known Ace tracks "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" and "Simon Says". His first solo single, "Together" b/w "Letter to the Better", was released in 1989. He released his debut album, Take A Look Around, through Marl's Cold Chillin' label in 1990, featuring production from Marl and DJ Mister Cee. The album featured two minor hit singles in "Music Man" and "Me & The Biz", a track in which he impersonates fellow Juice Crew member Biz Markie. During the few years between his debut and his sophomore album, Ace began having bitter feelings toward the commercial state of hip hop music, feelings which ruled the content on his second release, 1993's Slaughtahouse, with the loose concept of the album seeing Ace taking the fake "gangsta emcees" to his "Slaughtahouse". The album featured Ace's new crew, Masta Ace Incorporated, which included Eyceurokk, Lord Digga, Paula Perry and R&B vocalist Leschea. The album sold moderately well, fueled by the singles "SlaughtaHouse", "Saturday Nite Live", "Style Wars" and "Jeep Ass Niguh". "Jeep" featured an unlisted remix titled "Born to Roll", which became a smash crossover single in 1994, peaking at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Also in '94, Ace became a member of a temporary crew called the Crooklyn Dodgers, along with rap vet Special Ed and Black Moon's Buckshot, and recorded the title track for the soundtrack to Spike Lee's film Crooklyn. The song became Ace's second Hot 100 hit in 1994, peaking at #60 on the chart.
1995-2000
Ace furthered his mainstream appeal in 1995, with his radio-friendly Sittin' On Chrome album. This effort was also released with the Masta Ace Incorporated crew, now also known as The I.N.C. The album was Ace's most commercially successful release, breaking into the Top 20 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Sittin' On Chrome included "Born to Roll", as well as two other Hot 100 hit singles, "The I.N.C. Ride" and "Sittin' on Chrome". In 1996, Ace split up with the I.N.C. crew and was largely missing from the hip hop scene over the next five years, save for a number of random vinyl singles. During his vinyl days, he bounced from a number of labels, releasing his "Cars" single on Tape Kingz Records, his "Yeah Yeah Yeah" and "NFL" singles on the Union Label, his "NY Confidential" single on Replay Records, his "Express Delivery" single on Three Sixty Records, his "Spread It Out/Hellbound" single on Yosumi Records, his "Conflict" single on Mona Records, his "Ghetto Like" single on Fat Beats, his "So Now U A MC" single on Bad Magic Records, and his "Brooklyn Blocks" single on Buckshot's Duck Down Records.
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 Life" not long before. He thought that Ace was "biting" his track and released a dis song toward Ace titled "Just You Wait". The dis led to a rap battle between the two at a Lyricist Lounge event, a battle that was won by Boogieman. Ace later claimed that he delivered his rhymes off the top of his head, while Boog was rapping previously written lyrics, a topic which he discusses on his scathing retaliation track "Acknowledge", aimed at Boogieman and the underground rap group the High & Mighty. "Acknowledge" was included on his fourth full length album, Disposable Arts, released in late 2001 through JCOR Records, six long years after his successful Sittin' On Chrome album. Disposable Arts became one of the most acclaimed underground hip-hop releases of 2001, beloved for its pure hip hop style and clever album concept, which served as a fictional story, chronicling Ace's time spent at a satirical rap school named the Institute of Disposable Arts. 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. Rumors once again spread about a retirement, which were again killed, when Ace announced the formation of his new rap crew named eMC, including himself, Punchline, Wordsworth and his protege Stricklin. The crew plans to release a group album sometime in 2007.
Openness to collaborations
In large part, the creative company Masta Ace keeps is comprised of underground performers with whom he has developed a personal rapport. He commonly acknowledges his fan base outside of the United States, which is considerably larger than within, as in the final seconds of his song "Good Ol' Love". He has shown an openness to working with foreign-based producers, including Koolade of Croatia and DJ Serious of Canada. He also performed a guest rap for the British Acid jazz group Young Disciples for their debut album.
In Scandinavia, he recorded "What Is It" with Norwegian veteran producer Tommy Tee in 2003, for the soundtrack to the car racing game "Midnight Club 2", which also was featured on several European mixtapes.
Within the United States, he has worked with Jean Grae, 9th Wonder of Little Brother, DJ Spinna, DJ Premier, RJD2, Pete Rock, Domingo, Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, and Kno of Cunninlynguists. Q-Tip enlisted him as a contributor to the original Crooklyn Dodgers track in 1992. The track spawned a follow-up in 1995, with a third projected for 2006, but neither Ace nor the other original contributors, Special Ed and the bellicose Buckshot (of Black Moon and Boot Camp Clik), were involved with them. Instead, the second Crooklyn Dodgers track was produced by DJ Premier and involved O.C., Chubb Rock and Jeru the Damaja, where the planned third installment is said to involve Mos Def, Jean Grae, and Memphis Bleek, with production courtesy of 9th Wonder.
By extending largesse to younger MCs even as he has been careful to solidify connections with the rap game's old guard, he has amassed a list of collaborators numbering over 60. The most notable of his collaborators have been Eminem (who has expressed ongoing admiration for his skills), Common (on the track "Claimin' Respect" as part of a trio called Boulevard Connection), Guru of Gang Starr, Edo G (the third member of Boulevard Connection, from Boston), Jean Grae, Saukrates, Young Zee, Big Noyd, Cella Dwellas, King Tee, Tonedeff, Rah Digga, Strick, Das Efx, Greg Nice and the Beatnuts. He devotes several lines of the track "No Regrets" to express goodwill and thanksgiving to the artists he has worked with, calling these opportunities some of the most valued blessings of his career.
Da Grind
Masta Ace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Send this one out to everybody, trying to make end ends meet
Yeah
I'm on the grind
Still got my money on my mind
And I, feel like I'm walking on the line
When it, seems like I'm running out of time
Ay yo, I'm trying to make my dollars double
I done found a place to fit in
For niggaz trying to get into this power struggle
I work hard on the job like immigrants
And always try to get my first half in advance
It sounds strange but the rap game is not a game
You could make a lot of money gain a lot of fame
But don't get it twisted
You could get addicted
Buy a mansion in the Hamptons, and get evicted
Now if you call me and I'm not around
I'm probably putting my grind down
Doing shows out of town
I be the manager, road manager, and call handler
Booking agent, choreographer and tour planner
I be the V.P. of marketing and promotions
Producer and arraigner, with a range of emotions
And after it all, I still gotta perform
At three o'clock in the morn', when half the fans are gone
But it's fine
Been on the grind since like '88 or '89
The game is foul like a plate of swine
Now is there anybody con like me?
Is anybody out there on the grind like me?
For everybody working nine to five
For everybody trying to rise with they eyes on the prize
I'm with 'cha, we all going through it
But yo, deep down inside I know we still gon' do it
Oh
I'm on the grind
Still got my money on my mind
And I, feel like I'm walking on the line
And it, seems like I'm running out of time
That's why I'm always on the grind
Yeah, I'm on the grind
Still got my money on my mind
And I, feel like I'm walking on the line
When it, seems like I'm running out of time
That's when I'm going on the grind
Yeah
I really feel I'm blessed 'cause I was born with a talent to rhyme
But the stress got me this close to quitting sometimes
On the crowded A train every morning
I can't wait for the day
My hustle game don't got to start this way
Niggaz think it's all good when they see me and hear my CD
And think I'm jumping in the 745 with TVs
They don't know I miss tours and shows
To go to work and pay bills and keep dough on my clothes
In the shadow of a legend so
They expect me to spit and sound like him
But y'all need to let it go
Everyday I face the crossroad of rap or drugs
Album cuts and singles and crack heads and clappin' thugs
When I'm broke my moms won't even give me a hug
But on payday I'm her baby then she call it love
I keep making my moves 'cause one day I'm a prove
I got what it take and I will not lose
Yeah
("I had to hustle hard, never give up" scratched to end)
The lyrics of “Da Grind” by Masta Ace feat. Apocalypse essentially delve into the struggles of working hard to make a living in a society that places immense pressure on monetary success. It is a song that is relatable to anyone who is grinding to make ends meet, as Ace raps about how he’s always on the grind, working hard to double his dollars, get his first half in advance, and always trying to meet his goals. He acknowledges the challenges that come with the rap game, as it is not just about making money or gaining fame, but also about avoiding getting addicted or evicted.
Throughout the second verse, there is a hint of despondency in Ace's voice which recognizes the daily grind and feels like giving up sometimes. The song is a window into the artist’s life, as well as those in similar situations, where they face difficulties, such as shadow of a star, fame, drugs, and poverty, but still manage to keep moving forward. The overall message is that regardless of how tough the grind is, one should keep pushing, keep the faith, and put in the effort, knowing that success is just a matter of time.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on the grind
I'm working hard to achieve success and make money.
Still got my money on my mind
I'm still focused on making money and increasing my financial stability.
And I, feel like I'm walking on the line
I feel like I'm in a precarious position, balancing my work and my personal life.
When it, seems like I'm running out of time
When I feel like I'm running out of time to accomplish my goals.
That's when I'm going on the grind
That's when I work even harder to achieve my goals.
Ay yo, I'm trying to make my dollars double
I'm working hard to increase my income.
I done found a place to fit in
I have found a niche in the music industry.
For niggaz trying to get into this power struggle
For those trying to make it in the competitive music industry.
I work hard on the job like immigrants
I work just as hard as immigrants, who are widely known for their work ethic.
And always try to get my first half in advance
I always try to secure payment for my work upfront.
It sounds strange but the rap game is not a game
Although the music industry can seem glamorous, it's a serious business.
You could make a lot of money gain a lot of fame
The music industry has the potential to bring in significant financial gain and fame.
But don't get it twisted
Don't be fooled by the glitz and glam of fame and money.
You could get addicted
It's easy to get caught up in the lifestyle and lose sight of what's important.
Buy a mansion in the Hamptons, and get evicted
Even if you achieve great financial success, you're not invincible to setbacks and failures.
Now if you call me and I'm not around
If I'm not available when you call, it's likely because I'm working hard.
I'm probably putting my grind down
I'm likely working on my craft or promoting my music.
Doing shows out of town
Traveling to perform at shows is a regular part of my work schedule.
I be the manager, road manager, and call handler
I wear many hats in the industry, handling various roles like manager, road manager, and call handler.
Booking agent, choreographer and tour planner
Other roles I take on include booking agent, choreographer, and tour planner.
I be the V.P. of marketing and promotions
I'm also responsible for marketing and promoting my own music.
Producer and arraigner, with a range of emotions
I'm involved in production and arranging of my music, and it comes with a range of emotions.
And after it all, I still gotta perform
Despite all of my other responsibilities, performing is still a crucial part of my job.
At three o'clock in the morn', when half the fans are gone
Sometimes I have to perform late at night when many of my fans have already left.
But it's fine
It's all worth it.
Been on the grind since like '88 or '89
I've been working hard in the music industry since the late 80s.
The game is foul like a plate of swine
The music industry can be dirty and dishonest.
Now is there anybody con like me?
Is anyone else in the industry hustling as hard as I am?
Is anybody out there on the grind like me?
Is anyone else working as hard as I am?
For everybody working nine to five
For those working regular jobs.
For everybody trying to rise with they eyes on the prize
For those trying to achieve their goals and reach success.
I'm with 'cha, we all going through it
I can relate to everyone working hard to achieve success.
But yo, deep down inside I know we still gon' do it
I'm confident that we'll all achieve our goals if we continue working hard.
I really feel I'm blessed 'cause I was born with a talent to rhyme
I feel grateful to have a talent for music.
But the stress got me this close to quitting sometimes
Despite my talent, the stress of the industry can be overwhelming.
On the crowded A train every morning
I use public transportation to get to work just like everyone else.
I can't wait for the day
I'm looking forward to the day when I'm financially stable enough to not rely on public transportation.
My hustle game don't got to start this way
I won't have to work as hard if I achieve my financial goals.
Niggaz think it's all good when they see me and hear my CD
People assume that I'm successful just because I have a CD out.
And think I'm jumping in the 745 with TVs
They assume I'm driving a luxury car, but it's not always the case.
They don't know I miss tours and shows
People don't realize that I miss opportunities to perform because of my job.
To go to work and pay bills and keep dough on my clothes
I have to go to my regular job and pay bills just like everyone else, all while trying to achieve success in the music industry.
In the shadow of a legend so
My father, who was also in the music industry, casts a long shadow over my own career.
They expect me to spit and sound like him
People expect me to sound like my father because of his success.
But y'all need to let it go
People need to stop expecting me to be like my father and let me carve out my own path.
Everyday I face the crossroad of rap or drugs
I face the decision of whether to continue pursuing my career in music, or turn to drugs and other vices to cope with the stress.
Album cuts and singles and crack heads and clappin' thugs
I have to balance creating good music with not getting caught up in dangerous situations.
When I'm broke my moms won't even give me a hug
When I'm struggling financially, my mother won't comfort me because of her disappointment.
But on payday I'm her baby then she call it love
When I have money, my mother is more willing to show me affection.
I keep making my moves 'cause one day I'm a prove
I keep working hard because I know I will eventually prove my worth in the industry.
I got what it take and I will not lose
I'm confident in my abilities and will not let setbacks hold me back.
Yeah
End of the song.
('I had to hustle hard, never give up' scratched to end)
The DJ scratches a motivational phrase to end the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Duval Clear, Kinte Givens, C. Shawn Tyson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind