Masta Ace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Masta Ace
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Masta Ace performing in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Duval Clear |
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| Born | December 4, 1966 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Education | University of Rhode Island (BS) |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
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Duval Clear, born on December 4, 1966, is a talented American rapper and music producer from New York City. He is famous by his stage name, Masta Ace. Masta Ace was an important member of the Juice Crew, a hip hop group led by Mr. Magic. He became well-known for his part in their 1988 song "The Symphony", where he performed with other great rappers like Kool G Rap, Craig G, and Big Daddy Kane. People often recognize Masta Ace for his unique voice and his amazing rapping skills.
Contents
Masta Ace's Music Journey
Early Career and First Album
Masta Ace graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1988. He had met music producer Marley Marl in 1987 during a summer break. Ace first appeared on a song called "The Symphony" in 1988. This song featured many members of the Juice Crew, including Craig G, Kool G Rap, and Big Daddy Kane. It was part of Marley Marl's In Control album. That album also included two other songs by Masta Ace: "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" and "Simon Says".
In 1989, Masta Ace released his first solo song, "Together". A year later, his first album, Take a Look Around, came out. It was released by Marley Marl's Cold Chillin' label. The album featured production work from Marley Marl and DJ Mister Cee. Two songs from the album, "Music Man" and "Me & The Biz", became minor hits.
New Group and Crossover Success
After his first album, Masta Ace felt that hip hop music was changing too much. He thought that some rap styles were becoming too focused on violence and not real. In 1993, he released his album SlaughtaHouse. On this album, Ace shared his feelings about these changes. He created a new group called Masta Ace Incorporated. This group included Eyceurokk, Lord Digga, Paula Perry, and singer Leschea.
Songs like "SlaughtaHouse" and "Saturday Nite Live" came from this album. A remixed version of one song, "Born to Roll", became very popular in 1994. It reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the same year, Ace joined a temporary group called Crooklyn Dodgers. They formed for the movie Crooklyn by Spike Lee. Masta Ace, along with Special Ed and Buckshot, recorded the movie's title song. This song also became a hit, reaching number 60 on the Hot 100 chart in 1994.
Continued Success and New Beginnings
In 1995, Masta Ace released Sittin' on Chrome, which was very popular on the radio. This album was also released with his group, Masta Ace Incorporated, now known as The I.N.C. It was Ace's most successful album, reaching the Top 20 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Sittin' On Chrome included "Born to Roll" and two other hit songs, "The I.N.C. Ride" and "Sittin' on Chrome". By this time, Ace was also producing his own music, often using the name Ase One.
After this album, Ace had disagreements with some I.N.C. members, which led to the group breaking up. For the next five years, Masta Ace was not as active in the hip hop scene. He released several individual songs on vinyl records during this time.
Return to Music and Concept Albums
Masta Ace returned to the music scene in 2001 with his album Disposable Arts. This album was a "concept album". It told a story about Ace's time at a funny rap school called the "Institute of Disposable Arts". Many people praised Disposable Arts as one of the best underground hip hop albums of 2001.
Some fans thought the album's last song, "No Regrets", meant Ace would stop making music. However, Ace proved them wrong. In 2004, he released his fifth album, A Long Hot Summer. This album was also a concept album and told a story that happened before Disposable Arts. It explained the "Long Hot Summer" that led to his character's situation in the earlier album.
After this, Ace announced a new rap group called eMC. The group included himself, Punchline, Wordsworth, and Strick. Ace said in 2006 that he would only record with eMC, not as a solo artist. eMC's first album, The Show, was released in 2008.
Recent Projects and Collaborations
In 2009, Masta Ace teamed up with rapper Ed O.G. from Boston. They released an album together called Arts & Entertainment.
In 2012, Masta Ace released MA Doom: Son Of Yvonne. This album was entirely produced by MF Doom. Ace explained that he made Son of Yvonne to share things he wished he had told his mother before she passed away.
In 2014, Masta Ace reunited with Stricklin, Wordsworth, and Punchline as eMC. They signed a new record deal. Later in 2014, it was announced that Masta Ace would release another solo album, The Falling Season, which came out in 2016.
In 2018, producer Marco Polo announced he was producing a new Masta Ace album called A Breukelen Story. This album was released on November 9, 2018. In June 2024, their song "P.P.E." was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Awards in the Adult Contemporary Hip Hop category.
International Collaborations
Masta Ace has worked with many artists from different countries.
- He was featured on the song "Talkin' What I Feel" by the British group Young Disciples in 1991.
- He and Croatian producer Koolade made the song "Beautiful" for Ace's album A Long Hot Summer.
- He appeared on a song called Živili with Bosnian rapper Frenkie and Phat Phillie.
- He performed on the track "Beat and I a já und ich" with German rapper Dendemann for Czech hip hop group Prago Union.
- He was featured on the track "Born In New York" on Polish rap group Familia H.P.'s album "42".
- In 2003, he appeared on the song "Get u awn" with Punchline for Swedish rapper Chords'.
- In 2008, Masta Ace traveled to Australia to record for the Funkoars track "This is How".
- He is also featured on the song "Sminke" by the Norwegian Hip Hop duo Karpe Diem.
- In 2007, he appeared on "Admit It" by Swiss hip hop group Nefew.
- In 2010, he appeared on "Set You Free" with Wordsworth for UK DJ/Producer "Skitz".
- In 2010, he was on "You don't know about it" with M-Dot for French DJ/Producer DJ Jean Maron.
- In 2012, he was featured on "Progression" by German DJ/Producer DJ Q-Fingaz.
- In 2012, he was on "The Bridge" by Polish hip hop group Slums Attack.
- In 2014, he worked with Australian rapper Nix on the single "SHE".
- On December 19, 2014, Ace was featured on "My Style" with German Producer The Mighty Moe.
- In 2014, he was featured on "2 the Essence" with Tajai for German Rapper Kool Savas.
- In 2015, he appeared on "Thinking of You" by Swedish hip hop duo Professor P & DJ Akilles.
- In 2015, he was featured on "Nothing Changed" with Kidaf & Nekfeu for German producer Shuko.
- In 2022, he was featured on the track "Unzerstörbar" by German Rapper Umse.
Masta Ace's Impact on Music
Masta Ace is seen as a very skilled and important rapper. Music journalist Peter Shapiro called him "one of the great pure New York MCs". Allmusic described him as "truly an underappreciated rap veteran". Even though he is very talented, Rolling Stone magazine noted that sometimes fans forget to mention him alongside other great rappers like Rakim and Big Daddy Kane.
Eminem, a famous rapper, has said that Masta Ace was one of his influences. In his book The Way I Am, Eminem wrote, "Masta Ace had amazing storytelling skills – his thoughts were so vivid." He also mentioned Masta Ace in his song "Lucky You".
Personal Life
In 2000, Masta Ace was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. He kept this private until 2013. While on tour in the Czech Republic, his medicine was seen during a police check, and he then shared his health news with the public.
Masta Ace's Albums
Solo Albums
- Take a Look Around (1990)
- Disposable Arts (2001)
- A Long Hot Summer (2004)
- MA Doom: Son of Yvonne (2012)
- The Falling Season (2016)
Group and Collaborative Albums
- SlaughtaHouse (with Masta Ace Incorporated) (1993)
- Sittin' on Chrome (with Masta Ace Incorporated) (1995)
- The Show (with eMC) (2008)
- Arts & Entertainment (with Ed O.G.) (2009)
- The Turning Point EP (with eMC) (2014)
- The Tonite Show (with eMC) (2015)
- A Breukelen Story (with Marco Polo) (2018)
- Richmond Hill (with Marco Polo) (2024)
