Masta Ace

Masta Ace is the stage name of Duval Clear, an American rapper and record producer from Brownsville, New York City, born in 1966. He is associated with hip hop and has worked under the names Ase One as a producer and as part of several groups and collaborations, including Juice Crew, Masta Ace Incorporated, the Crooklyn Dodgers, eMC, Action and MA Doom. His labels include M3 Macmil Music, Damasta Music and Penalty Entertainment.

Early career and Juice Crew

He is a member of Mr. Magic’s Juice Crew and first draws major attention through his appearance on the posse cut “The Symphony” with Kool G Rap, Craig G and Big Daddy Kane. The track appears on Marley Marl’s album In Control, released in 1988, which also includes “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” and “Simon Says”.

In 1989, he releases his first solo single, “Together” b/w “Letter to the Better”. His debut album, Take a Look Around, follows in 1990 on Cold Chillin’, with production from Marley Marl and DJ Mister Cee. It includes the singles “Music Man” and “Me & The Biz”, the latter built around Ace impersonating Biz Markie in place of a planned collaboration.

SlaughtaHouse and Masta Ace Incorporated

In the early 1990s, he becomes increasingly critical of commercial hip hop and the rise of gangsta rap. That viewpoint shapes SlaughtaHouse, issued in 1993 as a satirical concept album centred on an exaggerated gangsta persona. The project introduces Masta Ace Incorporated, with Eyceurokk, Lord Digga, Paula Perry and Leschea, and includes the singles “SlaughtaHouse”, “Saturday Nite Live”, “Style Wars” and “Jeep Ass Niguh”.

A remix of “Jeep Ass Niguh”, titled “Born to Roll”, becomes a crossover hit in 1994 and reaches number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the same year, he joins the temporary group Crooklyn Dodgers with Special Ed and Buckshot for Spike Lee’s film Crooklyn, contributing the title track, which reaches number 60 on the Hot 100.

In 1995, he releases Sittin’ on Chrome with Masta Ace Incorporated, also known as The I.N.C. It becomes his most commercially successful album and reaches the Top 20 of Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album includes “Born to Roll”, “The I.N.C. Ride” and “Sittin’ on Chrome”. During this period, he also begins producing as Ase One.

Independent releases and concept albums

After internal conflicts, Masta Ace Incorporated disbands and he steps back from the mainstream scene. He releases a series of vinyl singles on independent labels, including “Cars”, “Yeah Yeah Yeah”, “NFL”, “NY Confidential”, “Express Delivery”, “Spread It Out/Hellbound”, “Conflict”, “Ghetto Like”, “So Now U A MC” and “Brooklyn Blocks”.

Disposable Arts, released in 2001, is a concept album about a fictional rap school and is critically acclaimed. It first appears on JCOR Records and is later reissued in 2005 on his M3 label. The album includes “Acknowledge”, and that same year he also contributes voice work to the television series Kung Faux.

In 2004, he releases A Long Hot Summer, another concept album that serves as a narrative prequel to Disposable Arts. In 2012, he releases MA Doom: Son of Yvonne, produced entirely by MF Doom and shaped as a personal album about his relationship with his late mother. He follows with The Falling Season in 2016.

Collaborations and later work

He forms eMC with Punchline, Wordsworth and Stricklin; Punchline leaves the group in 2014. Their album The Show is released in 2008 after delays. In 2009, he teams up with Boston rapper Ed O.G. on Arts & Entertainment, shortened to A&E, and the artwork is later changed because of trademark concerns.

In 2014, eMC signs with Penalty Entertainment and Sony Red. He also contributes to documentary projects reflecting on his earlier work. In 2018, producer Marco Polo announces and releases A Breukelen Story, and in 2024 the track “P.P.E.” receives a nomination at the Hollywood Independent Music Awards in the Adult Contemporary Hip Hop category.