Masta Ace

Within New York’s influential Juice Crew, Masta Ace wasn’t the biggest star (Big Daddy Kane), liveliest performer (Biz Markie), or most hardcore (Kool G Rap), but rather the moral center—a fervent defender of hip-hop’s ethos as it outgrew the five boroughs. Born in 1966 and raised in Brooklyn, Ace debuted alongside his posse on Marley Marl’s 1988 cut “The Symphony” with a screed against stealing lyrics. His critical eye toward gangster posturing and blingy materialism sharpened on his albums, starting with 1990’s Take a Look Around. He’s an acute observer, narrating shootings and detailing neighborhood characters in fine detail. He’s also more versatile than he gets credit for. His 1994 hit, “Born To Roll,” with his group Masta Ace Incorporated, remixed an earlier single, “Jeep Ass Niguh,” in a West Coast style with a fat bassline sampled from Original Concept—much to New York traditionalists’ chagrin. Backpack classics Disposable Arts (2001) and A Long Hot Summer (2004) took more pointed aim at rap’s commercialism.