Masta Ace (born Duval Clear) is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York. Appearing… Read Full Bio ↴Masta Ace (born Duval Clear) is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York. Appearing on the classic 1988 posse cut, The Symphony, he garnered notoriety as an unsung asset to the Juice Crew posse, and is therefore, widely considered one on the roster, where he released a number of well-respected albums that were nonetheless little-heard outside purist circles. The single that has earned him the most attention has been Jeep Ass Niguh (alternatively known as "Born To Roll", essentially a remix which uses the track from Def Jam artist Original Concept's "Knowledge Me").
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.
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.
Last Rights
Masta Ace Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Last Rights' by these artists:
Damien Jurado I'm not a bird You catch and release Your last phone call So…
The Enemies Looking for some conversation Thank god there's no one here …
We have lyrics for these tracks by Masta Ace:
A Walk Thru the Valley As I walk through the valley of one eighty-seven land No…
Ace Iz Wild Let's get wild Yeah, Master Ace in the house The…
Acknowledge "Pay homage, respect .." -> Nas Yeah, one-two.. "..Acknowled…
Ain Here come the jams, yo punks, guard your domes It's the…
Aint You Da Masta Here come the jams, yo punks, guard your domes It's the…
As I Reminisce Yeah Just sittin' here in the studio, you know Thinking ab…
Beautiful Mmm hmmm, yeah BK, Uptown, Boogie Down, Queens It's beautifu…
Beautiful feat. Wordsworth Mmm hmmm, yeah BK, Uptown, Boogie Down, Queens It's beauti…
Big City 'New York, Big City of Dreams' To get by, cats doing…
Bklyn Masala Yeah So sexy [Verse 1] I met her on the corner of Gates…
Block Episode Woke up this morning hearing shots below my project window …
Boom Bashin' Back and forth Forth and back We got the shit that is…
Born To Roll Braniac, dumb-dumb, bust the scientifical Approach to the c…
Brooklyn Battles Mmm...yeah that sound kinda ill...word...yeah... Master Ace …
Brooklyn Masala Yeah So sexy [Verse 1] I met her on the corner of Gates…
Can't Stop The Bumrush Yeah, here it comes (Come on everybody) Yeah, here it …
Crazy Drunken Style [ Lord Digga ] Good good mornin, this is a warnin You…
Crush Hour My nickname is the M-U-S to the IC Man Good morning…
D Ski's Intro Hey what's up? My name is I'm 12 years old this…
Da Grind Yeah Send this one out to everybody, trying to make end…
Da Pro I'ma throw it like Santana Jo han, yo man is a…
Dear Diary [Man] Do you ever sing a little song like this when…
Dear Yvette [Masta Ace] Ay yo shorty I'm sayin, I knew you…
Do It Man Check it out yo, 'ey yo They call me Big Noyd,…
Don't Understand And I don't understand why Yes, you are now rockin' with…
Don't Understand featuring Greg Nice And I don't understand why Yes, you are now rockin' with…
Eastbound From the east.. (fades)x3 I boom and I bash and I…
Enuff Yea, from BK to the world. I've had enough Now-a-days, the…
F.A.Y I'm startin' to think that my skill is a waste Still…
F.A.Y. I'm startin' to think that my skill is a waste Still…
Fats Belvedere The name′s Fats Belvedere And if you live in my hood,…
Four Minus Three "Ready to rock this at the drop of a dime,…
Fresh Fest I just want to be large, large like Whodini 'Cuz fame…
Game [Masta Ace] I'm about to take this beat, and teach you…
Ghetto Like... [Masta Ace] Its tha bass In yo face Yo yo yo YEAH!!! …
good love Give me some of that good ol' love Oh, let…
Good Ol Love Produced By 9th Wonder Give me some of that good ol' love Ohh, let me…
Good Ol' Love Give me some of that good ol' love Oh, let…
H.O.O.D Yea, goin' out to the H double That's for you, you,…
Hellbound [Eminem] Yo, Slim Shady! Yo, I'll fuckin, I'll I'll puke,…
Hold U [It's the way I hold you (x7)] [Masta Ace] I will never…
Home Sweet Home Yeah it's good to be home No place like it home…
I Did It I did it, yeah i did it, yeah That's right i…
I Got Ta "I got ta" (Repeat 4x) (I got ta) Pick up the…
I Like Dat (feat. Punch & Words) [Welcome to the wonderful world of …
INC Ride Chorus: It's the ride why'all, come on we're goin on a…
Intro D Ski's Hey what's up? My name is I'm 12 years old this…
Jack B. Nimble Yeah, it's a real sad story Show you just how unjust…
Jeep Ass Niguh May I see your driver's license, please?May I see your…
Late Model Sedan (I think underground is whatever, your mood or your feelings…
Letter To The Better "is everybody ready? all right, here we go" Allow me…
Letter To The Better (Original 12 "is everybody ready? all right, here we go" Allow me…
Mad Wunz I got the mad wunz (3x) You know I got the…
Maintain Verse One: Masta Ase I'm surrounded, by psychopathic, littl…
Maybe Next Time Some rappers pick up the mic and like to dabble But…
Me & My Gang Get me another beer man Yo I can't even believe it You…
Me And Biz [Master Ace] Awww yeah! Uh uh huh One two microphone…
Me and the Biz [Master Ace] Awww yeah! Uh uh huh One two microphone…
Movin On Yo we gonna do it now? To get ahead, in life I…
Movin' On Remix Yo we gonna do it now? To get ahead, in life I…
Music man Muuuuuuuusic! The music man (Repeat 4x) I am the man, but I…
N.F.L. Masta Ace: Yeah, Yeah....Check it... (Verse One) All yall …
Nineteen Seventy Something I was raised to the sound of the 70's Earth, wind…
No Regrets Woman interviewing Ace: "Okay Ace, one more question before…
Nostalgia Yo, what's up Marco? What's up Brooklyn? Filthy rich People…
NY Confidential Yo, Call me M-A Ni**a jam like Jimmay Caught a rimmay, mak…
Oh My God Yall rap dudes are funny, I dont feud with dummies, I dont…
Postin High Here we go, we're on the late night tip Master Ace…
Rap 2K1 Last month I spent two weeks on a vacation I had…
Revelations [Verse One] At times I don't know who I be And when…
Rollin featuring Masta Ase O.C. Intro: Masta Ace Y…
Seasons [Intro] One two It's Masta Ace, Cunninlyguists We about to g…
Sittin' On Chrome Sittin on chrome (8X) Chorus: *with sample from Eazy E* …
Slaughtahouse * this song has two parts: A. the…
Slow Down Party animal back at the tele now Katie and her best…
Soda & Soap (feat. Jean Grae) [Verse One: Masta Ace] I met …
Soda & Soap Featuring Jean Grae [Verse One: Masta Ace] I met this girl named Fantasy on…
Something Yeah, big Strick, let's get it on Yo, last night I…
Son of Yvonne Yeah, I was born, son of Yvonne Brownsville kid that wanna…
Spread It Out [Masta Ace] Uh-oh.. ("DOH!") yeah.. M.A. .. ("WOO-HOO!") …
Style Wars *Punk mother fucker* Check it out and a... It's the rick-e…
Take A Look Around I got something I want y'all to do Take a look…
Take a Walk Blue skys, sunshine, what a day, let's take a walk…
Terror Lord Digga] Hit me over the head, nigga! Yeah, you're god …
the b side Two times for your mind. Masta Ace Incorporated, hitting wit…
The Big East Aw...yeaaaah... Who is the man with the hats with the snaps…
The Grind Yeah Send this one out to everybody, trying to make end…
The I.N.C. Ride Chorus: It's the ride y'all, come on we're goin on a…
The Mad Wunz I got the mad wunz (3x) You know I got the…
The Other Side of Town Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. Sorry to bother you…
The Outcome My thesis, Jesus, telekinesis, please just, rip these cats t…
The Phat Kat Ride Chorus: It's the ride why'all, come on we're goin on a…
The Ways So you want to be in music business? Listen A life in…
Think I Am "Who you think I am?" check, check, yeah Look fam, you…
Together Drop it Ace and Action Steady Pace by my side The name of…
Too Long (Masta Ace - talking) Man, I was starting to think I…
Top 10 List "at 8 you're a sucker, at 7 a motherf**ker" (repeat…
Travelocity Yo International, globetrotter, in Bratislava This girl Deli…
Travelocity (feat. Punch (feat. Punch N Words) [Wordsworth] Yo International, gl…
travelocity feat. punch and words Yo International, globetrotter, in Bratislava This girl Deli…
Travelocity Ft Punch And Words Produced By D.A.M.S. Yo International, globetrotter, in Bratislava This girl De…
Turn It Up Say, turn it up, turn it up, say, turn it…
Type I Hate [Rah Digga] Yo, this joint right here is dedicated to all…
Unfriendly Game [Masta Ace] I'm about to take this beat, and teach you…
Wake Me When I'm Dead Oh, what a night, yo, that I just been through I…
What Am I "Who you think I am?" check, check, yeah Look fam, you…
Who U Jackin' Verse One: Paula Perry, Masta Ace One two one two,…
Who U Jackin'? (feat. Paula Perry) [Verse One: Paula Perry, Masta Ase] …
Wutuwankno (feat. Ed O.G) Yea, M A L O Take a look at…
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