MASTA ACE INTERVIEW

It’s been a quarter of a century since the release of “The Symphony” by Marley Marl & The Juice Crew and our introduction to Masta Ace. 25 years on and one of the greatest story tellers in Hip Hop is still relevant – Most rappers these days aren’t even 25 years old! There’s been ups and downs, triumph and turmoil, love and hate.. But one things’s for sure – Masta Ace has always and will always stay Grindin’.

It’s been 25 years since we first heard you on “The Symphony”. How does it feel to see new artists blowing up that aren’t even 25 years old and who do you rate from this new breed of rappers coming through?
I’m happy to see the talented young cats doing their thing! I was once a twenty-something newcomer trying to find my way. I think Joey Badass and Jay Electronica represent a bright future for our genre.

A lot of older heads (mostly fans) try to take the egotistical high ground that unless you know your history and have grown up around the 4 elements and can recite the classics word for word you shouldn’t be into hip hop.. What’s your take on that and maybe a message to those closed minded individuals?
It’s not fair to expect an 18 year old to know the lyrics to a Rakim song. It’s our job to help expose them to the relevant artists of the past. Once they get taste of where Hip Hop has been they will have a better appreciation of it. it’s almost impossible for every young fan to know all the full history because it is so vast! We shouldn’t alienate but attempt to include them by teaching

With 25+ years in the industry now you must have seen plenty of ups and downs. What would be your absolute highlight and low point so far?
The low point of my journey was in 1998 when my hometown dismissed me as a “West Coast sellout” due to the success of “Born To Roll” and “INC Ride”. My new album got shelved and I thought I was done making records I was angry and didn’t wanna rap anymore.

My highpoint has been the last decade. My album “Disposable Arts” was the catalyst for a new beginning. My path to redemption was laid and I am stil on that path almost 12 years later! This has been the best part of my career!

The early Juice crew days.. Some of most revered artists in Hip Hop getting together early in their careers to make some classic music.. We know the history and how it all came together, but do you have any funny or embarrassing stories from that era that may not have been told before?
I don’t want to throw any of my comrades under a bus so no

Do you still speak to or hang out with any of the old Juice Crew? What happened to the planned reunion show in London last year? Will we ever see this happen?
I speak most often to Craig G or Big Daddy Kane. Kane and I shared the stage this past month in Glasgow, Scotland. The reunion tour will be a very difficult thing to organize. It would take an extremely patient and diligent promoter/agent to deal with the many different personalities, egos, demands and moving parts that is the “Juice Crew”.

Around the time you released Slaughtahouse and Sittin’ On Chrome you really developed your own sound and style – what were you listening to and influenced by?
Definitely Cypress Hill, Funkdoobiest, The Chronic album and A Tribe Called Quest were all huge influences during that time period.

The mid-late 90s saw somewhat of a hiatus for you album wise, but with plenty of 12″s released through indy labels. Your albums have always had such a cohesive common theme to them. Did you have any of these albums planned or written, perhaps still unreleased, during this time or were you just writing tracks and releasing them as they came?
As I mentioned that was a low point for me I had an album planned that never came out. From late 1997-1999 I was discouraged and angry about my career. The indy songs I did in the late 90’s were tests to see if I still had it in me to record.

Was it a frustrating time for you not getting an album out and bouncing between labels for each release or were you happy just writing and releasing as the tracks came?
I was just trying to figure things out asking myself if i had anything more to offer to the game. Not being signed was a blessing in disguise as it gave me creative freedom I had never known.

Do you have an all time favourite track of your own you still love performing live or still just listen to in private and think “Damn I’m good!”?
It could be “Take A Walk” or “Beautiful” it could also be “Son Of Yvonne” off the new album. Each song has sentimental meaning to me

How does Duval Clear differ from Masta Ace and what does he enjoy doing when he’s not being Masta Ace?
I am Masta Ace when I am on stage performing and after the show when I am taking the pics with fans and signing autographs. All of the rest of my life I am Duval as I don’t bring my onstage persona home to my family

I understand you’ve been coaching High School Football for quite some time now.. Have any of your players or teams gone on to great success?
I coached for 11 straight years at the High School level. I am proud to say that a good majority of my guys have gone on to college. Some play or have played football in college. The day they graduate High School they are a success in my eyes.

I understand you’re taking a break from it this year.. Do you miss it and will you go back?
Yes…The test this year is to see if I miss coaching and if so how much. That wil determine if I go back again or not. I am actually looking forward to the free time and family tim this fall. Coaching is a huge commitment and I dont tour during the season this year I wont have that constraint.

Giants or Jets or..?
Eagles…Giants are one of our rivals I root for the Jets though

Knicks or Nets or…?
Right now Knicks. It will take a minute to get used to Brooklyn Nets. You dont automatically become a Nets fan because they have the word “Brooklyn” on their jerseys.

Being a Brooklyn born New Yorker, it must be great to see the Nets in the league.. Do you get along to many games?
I haven’t been to a game yet. I dont get to many NBA games at all for that matter. Football is my first love and always wil be

Are you still living in Brooklyn? It must have changed significantly since you grew up there..
I dont live there any longer I moved in 2006. Its very different there now but in a good way. It’s a lot more trendy and hip and of course its much safer than it was back in the day. The nightlife has improved and I predict in a few years people wont have to go to Manhattan to have a good time.

If you didn’t follow your path as a veteran Hip Hop artist, what would you be doing for a day job today?
I would be working for an advertising agency writing and creating cool funny TV commercials.

You seem to have a great working relationship with Marco Polo. Is a full album on the cards? I’ve seen a potential soundtrack to your life mentioned in other interviews..?
The plan is for us to make that record as a soundtrack to my life story. The documentary has been on hold for a bit so I refuse to record the music until its eminent. I dont want the music to feel dated but we do have several beats picked already.

You’ve visited Australia quite a lot in the last 10 years – what are your fondest memories of your time here? What’s the strangest or funniest thing you’ve seen or heard in your travels here?
My off days in Sydney were great the beauty of Australia is what I remember most. I dont have a funny story but I do get sick there and was amazed that I got full medical attention for about $60.

What’s next for you in your career?
The new EMC album is great and the documentary about my life which I want to turn into a TV series, a fictional novel, music with Marco Polo and getting my label M3 to the next level

Is retirement something you ever think about and what would you do? How would you ever switch off the brain’s creativity and desire to write?
I won’t switch it off. I will just redirect that creative energy to something else. I have a TV show idea as well that I have been writing for some time.

And lastly, from someone who has been doing it for so long.. What’s your definition of “Grindin'”?
Being able to by any legal means necessary feed your family. Wearing multiple hats for the benefit of your career. Being proactive in branding yourself and connecting with fans on a more personal level through social media. Runniong a serious merch game the list goes on

Interview by Ology