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.
Something
Masta Ace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, last night I had a nightmare that I was wack
Nope, I'm sorry, it's that you said something dope
Fuck it, it don't matter, 'cause I know shit ain't really like that
'Cause if you said something dope, I know somebody else probably had to write that
You on the wrong song an' I'm on the right track
I hit the cypher, and you bounce talkin' 'bout "Strick, I'll be right back!"
What the fuck you comin' back for?
Just in time 'fore your ass got a cracked jaw
Made 'cause I stack more, and what the Lakers sign Shaq for?
Incredible rhymer, what the hell am I sell crack for?
I'm real, you a ac-tor, I'm hot, you just not a fac-tor
You on some bound to do, I'm on some already done shit
I'll burn you with the same light you just lit up your blunt wit'
And I don't came wit' the style you probably 'bout to come wit'
You the opposite of smart feces, get it? Dumb shit
Couldn't give a fuck who you run wit'
Or them niggas you 'bout to go get
Matter of fact, go get 'em, you'll just be layin' on the floor wit' 'em
Lookin' up at me talkin' 'bout: "Why you let the fo-fo hit 'em?
I really don't know these niggas, I just did a show wit' 'em
Went back to the telly and I hit a couple of hoes wit' em
Met 'em at the studio an' just spit a couple of flows wit' 'em
Bought a bag of dro and just sat back and got high wit' 'em"
Oh yeah, that's good to know, now you 'bout to die wit' 'em
Head straight to the pearly gate, say hi to the big guy wit' 'em
Or take it to that other level, down with the devil and fly wit' 'em
Grumble and groan, piss and moan, boo-hoo and cry wit' 'em
Atleast go home and tell his momma bye bye wit' 'em (bye, momma)
'Cause duke, I'm the hottest nigga on earth right now
And bust my gun in nine months 'bout to give birth right now
Run all up in a nigga hood and take his turf right now
Nothing's what your life is worth right now
I've been in shit for too long, it's about time I burst
A & R's ready to quit 'cause they ain't find me first
Record labels ready to shut down 'cause they ain't sign me first
So let me stop right now 'cause I know y'all niggas be dieing to be writing my verse
[Chorus]
If y'all don't know how we get sent on
From twelve at night to the cracks o' dawn
Got girls in the back takin' off they thongs
Then feelin' that something's wrong!
If y'all don't know how we get sent on
From twelve a.m. to the early morn'
If you seen them things then blow ya horn
'Cause if ya not there's something wrong!
I came outta rap training camp as a reigning champ
An' lay motherfuckers down just like the pain of a cramp
I won't stop 'till I see my name and my face on a stamp
And y'all still won't be able to stick me or fuck wit' me
I'm 'bout to leave my mark on this game like a buck fifty
Took shots but I duck swiftly, you just missed me
Fuck Alice, ????, Norton and fuck Trixie
I'ma fuck like it's my honeymoon 'till I touch sixty
You ain't a thug so don't try to get tough with me
If you think about tryna hit me, you'll get snuffed quickly
Deep down, hate Bobby Brown, but love Whitney
At times I wish it was O.J and the glove fit me
Then I wouldn't have to hear none of you wack niggas
Talk about how your crew's rich and you stack figures
In my hand's a chrome gun with a black trigger
I know you think your shit's big, but I pack bigger
Just ask your wife, 'cause I blasted her pipes
If I tell Strick to pass me a knife would you ask for your life?
You's a pussy, I can tell by your song
Homo/thug rapper, I can tell by your thong
Got sugar in your tank, you probably shit syrup
The world's about to see what it is when I hit Europe
And when I come back on for my birthday
I'ma do another video, too explicit to play
[Chorus]
Ace, Zee, yo Strick, Bricks, Zee, Outsidaz, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Niggas fear me like the fear of Aids
I take out pretty boys wearin' shades
Or thug niggas with they hair in braides
Then fuck yo' girl through that thing she wearing
Get her pregnant to leave that bitch a single parent
Got mad cars, you probably apin' in a Jaguar
Drunk at Justin's, while you hang out at a fag bar
Scared at jail, but at home you tryna rob
When you got inside you got sodomized by a lotta guys
Girls pile up in Young Zee room
I fucked the wives of about twenty grooms on they honeymoons
We had a check sellin' bottles of rock
An' so much dope came we re-modeled the spot
That's why y'all cats be spittin' that shit from em
See you grinnin' when I stop and the rims keep spinnin'
Fuck with Zee I'll bash ya face
I'll fucks wit' Masta Ace, bitch
The lyrics of Masta Ace's song "Something's Wrong" delve into the art of rap and the genuine nature of artists. The artist begins by rapping about how he had a nightmare that he was wack and thus couldn't perform well. He eventually insists that in reality, if someone else wrote lyrics for others, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are wack. The artist moves on to talk about the differences between himself in comparison to other artists, with the capacity to perform so well that he is known as the hottest artist on earth right now. He further insinuates his superiority in the industry, being capable of running up on people's turfs and messing up everything they have worked hard to achieve. The lyrics explore the true nature of rap and the need to be authentic to deliver well to listeners.
The chorus of the song echoes a message of something being available despite seeming to be wrong. It consists of how the artist gets sent on and talked about by others, which is viewed by some as wrong. That despite its peculiar nature, those who are also "sent on" should try to join in and appreciate it.
Overall, "Something's Wrong" can be perceived as a call to potential artists to be authentic in their craft, not just being mere actors, but instead, creating their flow and not being perturbed by external influences.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, big Strick, let's get it on
Alright, Strick, let's start this
Yo, last night I had a nightmare that I was wack
Last night I had a dream where I was terrible at what I do
Nope, I'm sorry, it's that you said something dope
Never mind, I take that back, you actually said something impressive
Fuck it, it don't matter, 'cause I know shit ain't really like that
Doesn't matter though, because I know it's not true
'Cause if you said something dope, I know somebody else probably had to write that
If you actually said something impressive, chances are someone else wrote it for you
You on the wrong song an' I'm on the right track
You're not suited for this song, but I am
I hit the cypher, and you bounce talkin' 'bout 'Strick, I'll be right back!'
I join the rap session, while you leave and say you'll return soon, Strick
What the fuck you comin' back for?
Why would you even bother coming back?
I pulled up to the front of the club and hurried and scurried up out the back door
I arrived at the club, but quickly left through the back door in a rush
Just in time 'fore your ass got a cracked jaw
Just in time before you would have gotten punched in the face
Made 'cause I stack more, and what the Lakers sign Shaq for?
You're upset because I make more money, and why did the Lakers sign Shaq?
Incredible rhymer, what the hell am I sell crack for?
I'm an amazing rapper, so why would I sell drugs?
I'm real, you a ac-tor, I'm hot, you just not a fac-tor
I'm genuine, you're just pretending, I'm successful, you're insignificant
You on some bound to do, I'm on some already done shit
You're still trying to achieve things, while I've already accomplished them
I'll burn you with the same light you just lit up your blunt wit'
I'll destroy you using the same skills you just showcased in your rap
And I don't came wit' the style you probably 'bout to come wit'
And I don't have the same style as the one you're about to bring
You the opposite of smart feces, get it? Dumb shit
You're the complete opposite of intelligence, do you understand? You're stupid
Couldn't give a fuck who you run wit'
I don't care at all about the people you associate with
Or them niggas you 'bout to go get
Or the guys you're planning to bring with you
Matter of fact, go get 'em, you'll just be layin' on the floor wit' 'em
Actually, go ahead and get them, because you'll all end up lying on the ground together
Lookin' up at me talkin' 'bout: 'Why you let the fo-fo hit 'em?
You'll be looking up at me, questioning why I allowed the gun to shoot them?
I really don't know these niggas, I just did a show wit' 'em
I actually don't know these guys, I just performed alongside them
Went back to the telly and I hit a couple of hoes wit' em
Afterward, I went back to the hotel and had sex with a couple of girls with them
Met 'em at the studio an' just spit a couple of flows wit' 'em
I met them at the recording studio and rapped a few lines with them
Bought a bag of dro and just sat back and got high wit' 'em
I bought some marijuana and relaxed, getting high with them
Oh yeah, that's good to know, now you 'bout to die wit' 'em
Good to know, now you're about to die alongside them
Head straight to the pearly gate, say hi to the big guy wit' 'em
You'll go straight to heaven, greet the almighty with them
Or take it to that other level, down with the devil and fly wit' 'em
Or you can take it to the next level, join the devil and soar with him
Grumble and groan, piss and moan, boo-hoo and cry wit' 'em
Complain, whine, and cry alongside them
At least go home and tell his momma bye bye wit' 'em (bye, momma)
At least go home and say goodbye to your mother with them
'Cause duke, I'm the hottest nigga on earth right now
Because, my friend, I am currently the most popular and talented rapper on the planet
And bust my gun in nine months 'bout to give birth right now
I'm about to shoot my gun and cause trouble, similar to a woman giving birth
Run all up in a nigga hood and take his turf right now
I'll invade someone's neighborhood and claim it as my own right now
Nothing's what your life is worth right now
Your life is currently worthless
I've been in shit for too long, it's about time I burst
I've been dealing with struggles for too long, it's time for me to succeed
A & R's ready to quit 'cause they ain't find me first
Record label A&R representatives are prepared to give up because they didn't discover me first
Record labels ready to shut down 'cause they ain't sign me first
Record labels are willing to close because they didn't sign me first
So let me stop right now 'cause I know y'all niggas be dieing to be writing my verse
Let me stop rapping right now because I know you guys are dying to write my verses
If y'all don't know how we get sent on
If you don't understand how we party
From twelve at night to the cracks o' dawn
From midnight until the early morning
Got girls in the back takin' off they thongs
There are girls in the back removing their underwear
Then feelin' that something's wrong!
But sensing that something isn't right!
If y'all don't know how we get sent on
If you don't understand how we party
From twelve a.m. to the early morn'
From midnight until the early morning
If you seen them things then blow ya horn
If you saw those things, then honk your horn
'Cause if ya not there's something wrong!
Because if you don't, something is amiss!
I came outta rap training camp as a reigning champ
I emerged from my training as a rap champion
An' lay motherfuckers down just like the pain of a cramp
And defeat opponents as easily as one would defeat a muscle cramp
I won't stop 'till I see my name and my face on a stamp
I won't stop until my name and face are recognized on a postage stamp
And y'all still won't be able to stick me or fuck wit' me
And even then, you won't be able to defeat or compete with me
I'm 'bout to leave my mark on this game like a buck fifty
I'm about to make a significant impact on this industry, like a deep razor cut
Took shots but I duck swiftly, you just missed me
People tried to attack me, but I skillfully avoided their attempts
Fuck Alice, ????, Norton and fuck Trixie
I don't care about Alice, ????, Norton, or Trixie
I'ma fuck like it's my honeymoon 'till I touch sixty
I'll have sex vigorously until I reach the age of sixty
You ain't a thug so don't try to get tough with me
You're not a gangster, so don't attempt to act tough towards me
If you think about tryna hit me, you'll get snuffed quickly
If you consider attacking me, I'll punch you without hesitation
Deep down, hate Bobby Brown, but love Whitney
Deep inside, I dislike Bobby Brown, but I love Whitney Houston
At times I wish it was O.J and the glove fit me
Sometimes I wish I were in O.J Simpson's situation, and the glove fit me
Then I wouldn't have to hear none of you wack niggas
Then, I wouldn't have to listen to any of you terrible rappers
Talk about how your crew's rich and you stack figures
Boasting about how your group is wealthy and you accumulate money
In my hand's a chrome gun with a black trigger
I hold a chrome gun with a black trigger in my hand
I know you think your shit's big, but I pack bigger
You may think your penis is large, but mine is even larger
Just ask your wife, 'cause I blasted her pipes
Simply ask your wife, because I had sex with her
If I tell Strick to pass me a knife would you ask for your life?
If I ask Strick to hand me a knife, would you beg for your life?
You's a pussy, I can tell by your song
You're a coward, I can tell by your music
Homo/thug rapper, I can tell by your thong
You're a fake gangster rapper, I can tell by your underwear
Got sugar in your tank, you probably shit syrup
You're not who you claim to be, you probably excrete sweetness
The world's about to see what it is when I hit Europe
The world is about to witness my true talent when I go to Europe
And when I come back on for my birthday
And when I return for my birthday
I'ma do another video, too explicit to play
I'll create another music video that is too explicit to be aired
Ace, Zee, yo Strick, Bricks, Zee, Outsidaz, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ace, Zee, Strick, Bricks, Zee, the Outsidaz, yes, yes, yes, yes
Niggas fear me like the fear of Aids
People are scared of me, just like they fear contracting AIDS
I take out pretty boys wearin' shades
I defeat attractive men who wear sunglasses
Or thug niggas with they hair in braids
Or gangster guys with their hair styled in braids
Then fuck yo' girl through that thing she wearing
Then have sex with your girlfriend through the clothing she's wearing
Get her pregnant to leave that bitch a single parent
Impregnate her to make her a single mother
Got mad cars, you probably apin' in a Jaguar
I own many cars, while you're probably pretending to own a Jaguar
Drunk at Justin's, while you hang out at a fag bar
I get drunk at Justin's restaurant, while you spend time at a homosexual bar
Scared at jail, but at home you tryna rob
You're afraid of going to prison, but at home, you attempt robberies
When you got inside you got sodomized by a lotta guys
Once you were incarcerated, you were sexually assaulted by multiple individuals
Girls pile up in Young Zee room
Girls gather in Young Zee's room
I fucked the wives of about twenty grooms on they honeymoons
I had sex with the wives of approximately twenty husbands during their honeymoons
We had a check sellin' bottles of rock
We made money selling bottles of a popular alcoholic drink
An' so much dope came we re-modeled the spot
And we received so much drugs that we renovated the location
That's why y'all cats be spittin' that shit from em
That's why you guys rap about those experiences
See you grinnin' when I stop and the rims keep spinnin'
I see you smiling when I stop my car, but the rims continue rotating
Fuck with Zee I'll bash ya face
If you mess with Zee, I'll punch you in the face
I'll fucks wit' Masta Ace, bitch
I mess with Masta Ace, bitch
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARQUES TOLIVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Salistar Smythe
I don't remember when this originally came out, but I remember downloadin' it in 2003, I love this song, especially Young Zee's part.
Joel Mills
so easy to imagine him rapping to this as well, back in the day anyway
Josh Neal
Holy shit. I would swear that is Royce. Strick.
d1x1eone
eminem was meant to be on this track
Josh Neal
Royce, Eminem and B-Real
lion6913
4:04
lion6913
4:05
lion6913
4:02
CrazySheyDZNuts
@Graail7 that would be funny as shit if he replied to you from a comment he made 3 years ago.
Unconquerable Detroit
Eminem needs to pay you , he took your entire style