Overlooked Emcee #1. Masta Ace
Masta Ace is a Brooklyn emcee and former member of the infamous Juice Crew. Ace did not shine in hip hop's limelight as others in the Crew such as MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, and Marley Marl however he deserved his respect. He formed the Masta Ace Inc. crew and they birthed two albums with notable success. After 1995 Ace did not make another album until 2001. That album is Disposable Arts. Arts sold less than his previous but it has gained a rep as one of the best concept records of all time. Our host decided to tell a full narrative for 24 tracks. But enough of the set up, let's get into it.
The Release (interlude)
Our plot and set up, Masta Ace's character is released from prison. Normally I despise skits but this is necessary to the story. Ace leaves and the guard tells him he expects him back.
Too Long feat. Apocalypse
Y'all waited too long for this...
Leading directly into Too Long, the transition is perfect. Our host declares none of his "friends" held him down in prison and his experience in the joint. Apoc holds his side down too. This is what you want of out a opening track.
Block Episode feat. Punchline and Wordsworth
Woke up this morning hearing shots below my project window, The TV's on from playing all night on Nintendo Masterful story telling by Masta Ace (no pun intended), he breaks down his Brooklyn neighborhood as a kid and now. The hook addresses this as recurring and no longer surprising. Our guests hold it down extremely well. They fit into the story with their own point of views. This shit is next level hood awareness bruh.
Commercial (interlude)
More set up in the album, the institute of Disposable Arts. It's a mock commercial advertising Hip Hop that Ace is watching. It's kinda funny too. "Be a half assed producer."
Don't Understand feat. Greg Nice
I don't do White music, I don't do Black music, I make rap music, for hip hop kids
Masta Ace is walking through his hood and gets the feeling everyone thinks he's losing his mind. He makes it clear he's doing this for Hip Hop and the kids dying in New York. Ace has decided against committing crimes and he's working to save his neighborhood. Nice is solid too.
Goodbye Lisa (interlude)
Ace calls a lady named Lisa and tells her he's moving to the IDA University. She rejects this idea and Ace says he's out the hood.
Hold U feat. Jean Grae
I will never forget the day that we first met, I wasn't even feeling you then but worse yet, I was all up in the mix with one of your friends
Jean Greazy hops on the album and Ace details a love he has for a girl he thought he never had a chance with. Does Jean step up? She goes toe to toe with our host and they work great as a duet in this piece. A nice Dionne Warwick sample too.
Every Other Day
One of the weaker beats. A Jamaican like hook leads to Ace dropping some great verses. The song relates to people of all kinds wanting the most in life every day. Even relating it to the Lil' Kim/Foxy Brown and MC Lyte/MC Antoinette feuds
Roommates Meat (interlude)
Paul Barman steps in for a skit. Ace meets him as he freestyles. Pretty cool skit forreal forreal. Barman's funny here too.
Take a Walk feat. Apocalypse
Let's take a walk through the deepest part of the hood, I wanna know who it was that said it was all good Grown man raps dawg. Ace is aiming this at the "its good in the hood" cats, he's not fucking around and wants people to see the reality of their bullshit and walk through the violent hood. Ace invites, Queens, Compton, The South, Longbeach and anybody in this situation expanding to the whole nation. Apoc keeps it real too.
Something's Wrong feat. Strick and Young Zee
Strick makes this shit his for the opening verse. The Hip Hop culture comes in here. Zee holds it down too but it comes last and he's slightly overshadowed. They all display their skill from the unfortunately non-existent Hip Hop University i would throw my money at.
The Classes (Interlude)
This is the most spectacular skit in history.
Acknowledge
Taking the role of the teacher he tells the students of hip hop to sit down and pay attention. This is actually a diss track to High & Mighty and Boogeyman. Shits rough man. The hook samples Guru and homey Nasir Jones. He even takes a God tier shot at Vince McMahon's failed football league.
These XFL rappers tryna fuck with a real pro
there are just astounding lines all over
And I heard your album, this must be something you're new at
Cause I'd rather hear a Lil' Wayne/Lil' Zane duet
When your album go on sale after the first hour, remember like Nas nigga, I Gave You Power
You Can't spit so You Obviously Must Swallow
Enuff Mr. Lee Gee
Taking diss shots now at record labels instead of the new school. Ace being old school relates his upcoming in rap as to how the record labels view rappers now. It's hard to follow the Godliness in the last entry but this is pretty good. Shout out to Ghostface Killah.
Watching The Game (Interlude)
Never in my life have I been looking forward to skits on an album until Disposable Arts. This also moves the story along, Ace's old friends are now in jail and he's doing just fine since he didn't stick around the place.
Unfriendly Game feat. Strick
And niggas see the pigskin, they blast cops, So federal agents dress as mascots
Ace relates the hood to football, an amazing concept idea. It plays out great on wax too. Strick steps back in, following the trend of non-wack guest verses.
Alphabet Soup
Okay, so Ace is out to make the most creative rap album in fucking history. This is pre-Papoose doing Alphabet Slaughter. He uses the alphabet in this song to carry it a long before every fucking mixtape rapper made their bootleg version. It's a lone verse and it is stand out, which is common on this album. I wish Masta Ace was my teacher in school.
Dear Yvette feat. Jane Doe
Sampling LL Cool J's track of the same name off his classic Radio LP. Yvette a bit of a hoe if you ain't know. Jane plays the role of Yvette and they pull it off like a dream. If only guy and girl rappers could make songs with a point together more often instead of lame ass happy romance shit.
I Like Dat feat. Punchline and Wordsworth
Sex rap track steps in. Normally i'd hit skip but the trio can do no wrong on this LP. Some of the imagery is more than i needed in my day. It's not necessary but for a album with so many interludes I suppose Ace felt required to give you the bang for your buck. Pun intended.
P.T.A feat. King Tee and J-Ro
This serves as the dreams an underground rapper wants in life, the hoes, mansions, cars, all that shit. And fuck going platinum, Ace wants to go uranium. All of these topics of the preceding and following track(s) are cliches of normal rappers but these dudes put wack rappers to shame with their ability on it.
Type I Hate feat. Rah Digga and Leschea
Another dope lady joins Ace. Rah Digga ain't a slouch on the mic. The topic is the people out for your money and are only faking as your friends. Snakes, if you will. I feel Chief Keef took influence from this. Just kiddin', i'm sure that inept fuck doesn't even know Masta Ace. The hook is meh though. Only song i feel like skipping, not even awful but it's of lower quality than the standard set by this LP.
Dear Diary
This clever muthafucka spits in the third person. Ace is considered a has been now and he's told to let Hip Hop go and walk away. It's funny that he proves that he's still dope by shit talking himself.
Last Rights (interlude)
Masta Ace has graduated from IDA and is having success in Brooklyn. His ex Lisa is pregnant for the third time and an overall fucking loser. Her ex is also 25 to life for murder. Preserve the music y'all.
No Regrets
As the name, Ace has not a single regret about anything he's done or if he even fails in the future. Every underground rapper should take a listen to this.
The Highlights:
Block Episode
Alphabet Soup
No Regrets
Unfriendly Game
Dear Yvette
The Lowlight:
Type I Hate
The Gem:
Dear Diary
Is it Worth a Purchase?
Do I have to tell you? It's 24 tracks with around 5 skits and there's not a single dull moment. This may be the most underrated Hip Hop album of all time, while also being one of the best ever written and conceived.
Overall Grade A+
There you have it, fam. Until Next Time...One Love.
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