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.
Jeep Ass Niguh
Masta Ace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
License, please.What's that in your cassette deck?
Braniac dumb-dumbs, bust the scientifical
Approach to the coarse and the force is centrifical
Can you find your way through the lyrics that be catchin em?
Throw another rhyme across the room, they be fetchin em
When they take a loss, take a loss to the master and
All across the room, on the ceilings and the walls too
Punk muthafuckas didnt know I had the balls to
Come around their block with my cock diesel system and
Turned it up to ten and then start to dis em and
They didn't wanna battle
If they did, when they saw me they'da open up the trunk
But they tried to ignore me
Hey muthafuckas, I know you hear me calling you
Thought you wanted some but I see that you all into
Frontin.Ain't no future in your frontin, so Let's Get It On
Like Marvin Gaye (hey)
Take the cash and sit it on
The hood of your bullshit, lowriding Cadillac
Back up your boys and let's start to battle.Act
Like ya know; the Masta Ase don't play when it come to my bass
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
Drivin down the block; like what else shoulda brotha do?
It's Saturday, it's Saturday, the heat might smotha you
Rollin down my windows, yeah, I have a air conditiona
But I got the sound I want the whole world to listen ta
Waitin at a red light; Kentucky Fried Chicken and
Low End Theory tape in; bass crazy kickin and
See this Puerto Rican latin chico, rico, suave
in a red Corolla; ay yo, does he wanna play?
Show me whatcha got, then watch me get up on it
Holdin up up traffic but we can't hear they horns
Cause he got music ?
Yea, he got it goin on
But I think I better school em, cause he don't know the time
So I'm turnin up the boom, cause he cannot fuck with mine
Brothas hear me from like fifty blocks away
I wanna turn their head, so you know I gotta play high
Decibals
Passin through a residential disctrict
See a few cuties and I turn it up like this quick
Mira, mira, man
Don't sleep, I got the, I got the, I got the woofers in my jeep
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
Black boy, black boy, turn that shit down
You know that America don't wanna hear the sound
Of the bass drum jungle music
Go back to Afrika
Niguh, I'll arrest ya if you're holding up traffic
I'll be damned if I listen
So cops, save your breath and
Write antoher ticket if you have any left and
I'm breakin' eardrums while I'm breakin the law
I'm disturbin' all the peace cause Sister Soldier said, "War"
So catch me if ya can, if ya can.Here's a donut
Cause when you drive away, yo, you know Ima go nut
And turn it up yo where it was before.Nice try,
But you can't stop the power of the bass in your eye
If wonder if I blasted
A little Elvis Presley
Would they pull me over and attempt to arrest me?
I doubt, doubt it
They'll probably start dancin',
Jumpin' on my dick and
Pissin' in they pants and
wiggle and then jiggle and grab on they pelvis
But you know my name, so you never hear no Elvis (word)
Strictly the hardcore, dirty street-level shit
Guards on my side so watch what the devil get
Positivity hittin' like fifty level deep
Comin' out the, comin' ou the woofers in my jeep
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
The song "Jeep Ass Niguh" by Masta Ace is a classic hip-hop tune that showcases his lyrical prowess and ability to deliver a powerful message. The song features Masta Ace driving around in his jeep with his blasting sound system, causing a disturbance and running into trouble with the police. Throughout the song, he acknowledges his love for high bass and his commitment to being a true black man, defying the expectations of white society. He challenges the norms and embraces his identity as a Jeep Ass Niguh.
In the first verse, Masta Ace cleverly uses the phrase "driver's license" to show that he is not just talking about his ability to drive a car, but also his identity as a black man. He highlights the scientific approach to his lyrics, showcasing his intelligence and knowledge. He also talks about his skills as a rapper and his ability to outsmart his competitors. In the second verse, he describes his experience driving around the block and running into a Puerto Rican man who also has music blasting from his car. Masta Ace tries to school him on what good music is all about, while also acknowledging that the man's music sounds good too. The song ends with Masta Ace celebrating his identity as a Jeep Ass Niguh and embracing his love for high bass music.
Line by Line Meaning
May I see your driver's license, please?
Can I see your driver's license?
What's that in your cassette deck?
What's playing on your cassette deck?
Braniac dumb-dumbs, bust the scientifical
Approach to the coarse and the force is centrifical
Smart individuals create scientific lyrics and their strength is centrifugal force
Can you find your way through the lyrics that be catchin em?
Throw another rhyme across the room, they be fetchin em
Can you follow these catchy lyrics? Throw another rap and they'll catch it
When they take a loss, take a loss to the master and
I throw crazy blows and they know I be plasterin
When they lose, they lose to the master. I come with great force and they know I dominate
All across the room, on the ceilings and the walls too
Punk muthafuckas didnt know I had the balls to
All over the room, on the walls and ceiling too. These weak rappers didn't know I was capable of doing this
Come around their block with my cock diesel system and
Turned it up to ten and then start to dis em
I go to their turf with my loud sound system and diss them with my music
They didn't wanna battle
If they did, when they saw me they'da open up the trunk
But they tried to ignore me
They didn't want a rap battle. If they wanted one, they would have opened their trunk to get their equipment but they pretended not to see me
Hey muthafuckas, I know you hear me calling you
Thought you wanted some but I see that you all into
Frontin.
Hey guys, I know you hear me calling you out. You pretend to be tough, but you can't handle it
Ain't no future in your frontin, so Let's Get It On
Like Marvin Gaye (hey)
Take the cash and sit it on
The hood of your bullshit, lowriding Cadillac
Back up your boys and let's start to battle.
Stop pretending to be something you're not. Let's fight it out like men. Take your money and put it on the hood of your car. Bring your friends and let's battle
Act
Like ya know; the Masta Ase don't play when it come to my bass
Act like you know, Masta Ace does not take it lightly when it comes to his bass
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
Drivin down the block; like what else shoulda brotha do?
I am a Jeep loving guy, driving around enjoying my day
It's Saturday, it's Saturday, the heat might smotha you
Rollin down my windows, yeah, I have a air conditiona
But I got the sound I want the whole world to listen ta
Waitin at a red light; Kentucky Fried Chicken and
Low End Theory tape in; bass crazy kickin and
It's a hot day and I roll down my windows, even though I have air conditioning, so the world can hear my music. I'm waiting for food at Kentucky Fried Chicken with a tape playing and bass kicking in
See this Puerto Rican latin chico, rico, suave
in a red Corolla; ay yo, does he wanna play?
I see this smooth, confident Puerto Rican guy in a red car. Does he want to rap battle?
Show me whatcha got, then watch me get up on it
Holdin up up traffic but we can't hear they horns
Cause he got music ?
Let's see what you got and I'll respond. We are holding up traffic, but we can't hear the horns because we are playing our music
Yea, he got it goin on
But I think I better school em, cause he don't know the time
So I'm turnin up the boom, cause he cannot fuck with mine
Yeah, he's good, but I think I'm better. I'll show him why I'm the best by turning up the bass and he won't be able to compete
Brothas hear me from like fifty blocks away
I wanna turn their head, so you know I gotta play high
Decibals
Passin through a residential disctrict
See a few cuties and I turn it up like this quick
Mira, mira, man
Don't sleep, I got the, I got the, I got the woofers in my jeep
My music can be heard from fifty blocks away. I want to turn heads, so I play at a high decibel level. I'm passing through a neighborhood and I see some pretty girls, so I turn up the music. Look at me, man. Don't sleep, I have the best sound system in my Jeep
Black boy, black boy, turn that shit down
You know that America don't wanna hear the sound
Of the bass drum jungle music
Go back to Afrika
Niguh, I'll arrest ya if you're holding up traffic
Black guy, turn down that music, America doesn't want to hear it. It's too loud and annoying. Go back to Africa. If you hold up traffic, I'll arrest you
I'll be damned if I listen
So cops, save your breath and
Write antoher ticket if you have any left and
I'm breakin' eardrums while I'm breakin the law
I'm disturbin' all the peace cause Sister Soldier said, "War"
I won't listen to your orders, cops. Just give me a ticket if you have any left. I'll keep breaking the law while disturbing everyone around me. Sister Soldier said to fight back, and that's what I'm doing
So catch me if ya can, if ya can.
Here's a donut
Cause when you drive away, yo, you know Ima go nut
And turn it up yo where it was before.
Nice try,
But you can't stop the power of the bass in your eye
Try to catch me if you can. Here's a donut. When you drive away, I'll go crazy and turn up the music. Nice try, but you can't stop the power of the bass in your ear
If wonder if I blasted
A little Elvis Presley
Would they pull me over and attempt to arrest me?
I doubt, doubt it
They'll probably start dancin',
Jumpin' on my dick and
Pissin' in they pants and
I wonder if I played some Elvis Presley, would the cops try to arrest me? I don't think so. They would probably start dancing and enjoying the music, even jumping on my car and showing excitement
wiggle and then jiggle and grab on they pelvis
But you know my name, so you never hear no Elvis (word)
They would wiggle, jiggle, and grab their pelvis in excitement, but they'll never hear Elvis because they know me and how good my music is
Strictly the hardcore, dirty street-level shit
Guards on my side so watch what the devil get
Positivity hittin' like fifty level deep
Comin' out the, comin' ou the woofers in my jeep
This is strictly hardcore, dirty street-level music. I have guards on my side, so be careful what you say or do. Positive energy is coming through, hitting deep like fifty levels. It's coming from the singers in my Jeep
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
Ima Jeep Ass Niguh
I am a Jeep-loving guy
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: DUVAL CLEAR, NORMAN GLOVER, REGINALD ELLIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind