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.
Good Ol Love Produced By 9th Wonder
Masta Ace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ohh, let me make you, you
Give me some of that good ol' love
Whoa, ohh, put your hands together
And show your love for the one and only
Hey yo, the world gon' show me some love, listen
And I'm not talkin' 'bout the fakes hugs and kissin'
I done already showed I'm not above the dissin'
I'ma take what I'm owed, won' wait 'til I'm old
The game got rules and y'all breakin' the code
Y'all don't really think I can be hot in the club
Y'all think I'm washed up like I got in the tub but
I'm keepin' it poppin', the streets watchin'
I'm keepin' 'em locked and the beat knockin'
Hear me comin' with this song that I brung in
Daddy-O told me this when I was still a young'un
"Ain't nothin' like hip hop music
That's why we choose it and the world just can't refuse it"
This shit is underground like a gopher
Show a little love 'fore it's over
Give me some of that good ol' love
(Got to be the real thing)
(Something you feel thing)
Ohh, let me make you, you
(Come on, let me make you sing)
(Gimme that good ol' love)
Give me some of that good ol' love
(Got to be the real thing)
Whoa, ohh
(Something you feel thing)
(Come on, let me make you sing)
Let me put y'all on like a bulb in the socket
In the club niggaz knock it wit' a dub in the pocket
They walk in the store, I love when they cop it
Make you other rappers struggle to top it
But this man flow with the greatest ease
Never did care about the haters, please
He done paid his dues, paid his fees
He done stayed overseas, made his G's
But now I got a wife and she bad as Halle
Her moms is a militant, dad is rowdy
The fans kind of act like they glad I'm outtie
But they prolly sittin' at home sad and pouty
You show me some love, I'ma show it right back
I know a tight track so I throw it like that
My limo driver's white, my attorney black
Show me some love like I'm Bernie Mac
Give me some of that good ol' love
(Got to be the real thing)
(Something you feel thing)
Ohh, let me make you, you
(Come on, let me make you sing)
(Gimme that good ol' love)
Give me some of that good ol' love
(Got to be the real thing)
Whoa, ohh
(Something you feel thing)
(Come on, let me make you sing)
This is for my Shaolin shooters and my Brooklyn teens
Uptown Bronx and them crooks in Queens
I work like a maid when she cooks and cleans
'Cuz it's about to be a wrap from the looks of things
The game is changed, the game is strange
The game is lame and it ain't the same
But that's how it is, you can ask Iz
You can ask Biz, we did it for the kids
Listen here, this is different here
If you got an eye for detail and efficient ear
I won't disappear, I'ma keep on givin'
I'ma keep on livin', I'ma keep bein' driven
I'm down to earth and I'm close to ground
And spit shit better than most around
This's how hip hop is supposed to sound
Tear them other cats' posters down now
Give me some of that good ol' love
(Got to be the real thing)
(Something you feel thing)
Ohh, let me make you, you
(Come on, let me make you sing)
(Gimme that good ol' love)
Give me some of that good ol' love
(Got to be the real thing)
Whoa, ohh
(Something you feel thing)
(Come on, let me make you sing)
New York, New Jersey, Philly, D.C. Virginia
Chi-Town, St. Louis, Houston, Atlanta
Los Angeles, San Francisco
England, Scotland, Germany, Austria
Sweden, Switzerland, France, Italy
Croatia, Spain, Slovenia, Japan
Austria, Africa, show me love
The song "Good Ol Love" by Masta Ace, produced by 9th Wonder, is a powerful expression of resilience and the desire for genuine affection. In the first verse, the hip hop artist laments the lack of authenticity in the love he's received over his 15 year career. He's experienced fake hugs and kisses and has been the target of dissing. Masta Ace feels that he's owed a real, genuine love and respect from both his peers and his fans. He expresses his desire to claim his rightful place in the game, by keeping it fresh with new tracks that keep the beat knocking, and the people watching. His approach is rooted in the underground, and that's where he feels most comfortable.
In the second verse, Masta Ace reflects on his life and the people who matter most to him: his wife and family. He acknowledges his achievements, the places he's visited, and the money he's made while recognizing the changing landscape of the music industry. The game is no longer what it was, and many rappers have fallen by the wayside. But Masta Ace isn't fazed by this, he believes that this is how hip hop is supposed to sound, and he's determined to keep making music that is authentic, grounded, and speaks to people's hearts. He recognizes that he's fortunate to have such support in his life and wants to show his love for his wife and his fans by continuing to create music that inspires and motivates.
Overall, "Good Ol Love" is a song that embodies the spirit of hip hop. It speaks truthfully about the struggles of the industry and the need for authenticity and love. It reminds us that no matter how much success we achieve, it's the people in our lives who matter most, and it's their love that keeps us going.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me some of that good ol' love
Asking for genuine love and appreciation
Ohh, let me make you, you
Willing to reciprocate love and appreciation
Whoa, ohh, put your hands together
Encouraging the audience to show love and appreciation
Hey yo, the world gon' show me some love, listen
Expecting to receive genuine love and respect from the world
And I'm not talkin' 'bout the fakes hugs and kissin'
Not interested in fake love and affection
Fifteen years, a lot of love is missin'
Feeling unappreciated after all the years of hard work
I done already showed I'm not above the dissin'
Willing to criticize and call out others in the industry
I'ma take what I'm owed, won' wait 'til I'm old
Determined to get what he deserves now
The game got rules and y'all breakin' the code
Others in the industry are not following the rules and traditions of hip hop
This shit is underground like a gopher
Hip hop is still an underground genre despite its popularity
Show a little love 'fore it's over
Appreciate hip hop before it becomes mainstream and loses its authenticity
Let me put y'all on like a bulb in the socket
Willing to share knowledge and put people on to hip hop
In the club niggaz knock it wit' a dub in the pocket
People enjoy and support hip hop by buying it
But this man flow with the greatest ease
Confident in his rapping abilities
He done paid his dues, paid his fees
Has worked hard and put in the time and effort to be successful
The fans kind of act like they glad I'm outtie
Fans are glad he is still making music and performing
Show me some love, I'ma show it right back
Willing to give back love and appreciation if received
My limo driver's white, my attorney black
Diversity and success achieved from dedication to music
This is for my Shaolin shooters and my Brooklyn teens
Dedicated to hip hop fans from different regions and backgrounds
I work like a maid when she cooks and cleans
Working hard to make quality music
If you got an eye for detail and efficient ear
Those who understand and appreciate hip hop will enjoy the music
Tear them other cats' posters down now
Outshining competition and becoming the best
New York, New Jersey, Philly, D.C. Virginia
Regions where hip hop originated and is popular
Chi-Town, St. Louis, Houston, Atlanta
Regions where hip hop has become popular and influential
Los Angeles, San Francisco
Regions where hip hop has made its mark since the 80s and 90s
England, Scotland, Germany, Austria
Hip hop has grown in popularity internationally
Sweden, Switzerland, France, Italy
Hip hop has influenced cultures and music all over the world
Croatia, Spain, Slovenia, Japan, Austria, Africa, show me love
Hip hop transcends borders and unites people from different cultures and backgrounds
Contributed by Evelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.