From being one of the most diverse emcees to reach both coasts, being "Born to Roll," and able to survive an industry that has been known to bury those who are not subservient. Masta Ace will survive and always be in a studio busting conscious tracks without the corporate fabricated "bullshit thug talk." Whether chilling on his home turf of Brooklyn, going on numerous world tours, or being spotted on stage freestyling next to Talib Kweli at a St. Johns show. Masta Ace has set a precedence that many aspiring emcees will never come close to reaching. One might remember him as the "Music Man" (a key member of the Juice Crew), or bumping his system "Kentucky Fry Chicken It" "Sittin on Chrome," but also one might wonder what this legend has been up to recently and what his insight is on the current state of hip-hop.

DJ PICK ONE: What up Ace, how you doing?
Masta Ace: Doing well, life is good.

DJ PICK ONE: So what you been up to lately?
Masta Ace: I have been mentally and musically planning my new album.

DJ PICK ONE: Did you get to go to any Rock Steady Anniversary events?
Masta Ace: Nah, I was out of town again, last 4 years in a row I been away the same week of the event.

DJ PICK ONE: So where you maintaining at lately?
Masta Ace: Living in Brooklyn, NY if that's what u mean.

DJ PICK ONE: From "Music Man" to "Inc Ride" to "Disposible Arts" what would you say has changed with yourself within these different eras of hip hop?
Masta Ace: I have learned to be less preachy in my message, i am more mature, I have change my out look on life from: 'one day after years and years of hard work and grindin' I can enjoy life' to 'life is here and now, enjoy it as you go along, take time and smell the roses'.

DJ PICK ONE: What would you say the most positive thing that happened to you?
Masta Ace: Going to and graduating from college and proving to myself that regardless of where I grew up and what I was surrounded by, I could accomplish whatever I set out to do in life.

DJ PICK ONE: What would say was the most negative thing that happened to you?
Masta Ace: I have tried to turn all the negative things that have happened in my life around and make them either positive or valuable learning experiences.

DJ PICK ONE: So what have you been working on lately?
Masta Ace: New album, I hope it will be ready to release early next year.

DJ PICK ONE: Working with different labels from Cold Chillin to Jcor what would you say were the biggest differences? And how did they effect you?
Masta Ace: I would say they were both similar experiences because neither situation was ideal for me as an artist...I was unable to flourish in either situation the only difference was that at Cold Chillin' I had many label mates that were successful and a priority...at Jcor they had no real priorities over me

DJ PICK ONE: Yeah it's been a minute since I saw you at the Talib show, with collaborations in mind, you have worked with many artists such as Guru, King Tee, Buckshot, Rah Digga, Wordsworth, Talib Kweli, Eminem, and many others. Out of everyone you have worked with who would you say you most enjoyed collabing with?
Masta Ace: I have not worked with Talib yet musically. I have him in mind for a song on my next album though...I enjoyed all the experiences pretty much but i would say that working with Punch & Words was the most fun. We formed a friendship from working together and carried that over to a tour in Europe for a month...it was a great time, one I will never forget.

DJ PICK ONE: Yeah man I just heard you on that new Cunninlynguists single its hot, so how'd you hook up with them?
Masta Ace: I got a call from Tone Def who mentioned that they wanted to collab on a song. I already knew deacon from the disposable album, but had never met him in person...he sent his beat in the mail..so there was the connection and we did it.

DJ PICK ONE: Is there anyone that you have yet to work with that you would like to?
Masta Ace: Talib Kweli, Beatnuts, Ed o G..I am working on all those for the next album

DJ PICK ONE: Who would you say embodies the true defintion of an emcee right now?
Masta Ace: I would say KRS-1, regardless of whether cats have liked his recent music offerings or not, the fact remains that lyrically, he has always embodied the term MC. from records to stage show, to battling he has done each at an incredible level in his career. The closest cat to him would be LL Cool J...and Busta Rhymes...although until recently I had never heard Busta drop a battle verse..he killed it.

DJ PICK ONE: Speaking of emcees, who would you say is the livest female emcee out there right now?
Masta Ace: I honestly dont like many female rappers right now, they are all carbon copies of each other, none of them is doing anything fresh or new..the 2 that i think are pushing the envelope today were both on my last album Jean Grae, and Rah Digga..they are the best out there.

DJ PICK ONE: How would you describe the current state of hip-hop right now?
Masta Ace: I think we are in a transition state right now. The end of the bling era...the emergence of more aggressive, music can be seen, more down south artists, Midwest artists...you will see a lot of experimentation in the coming years as a artists try to find that next sound...Dr. Dre will likely lead the way in that change with his next album...he is known to push music in new directions...i am much more optimistic about the state of hip hop now than i was 2 years ago.

DJ PICK ONE: What would you say are the biggest problems?
Masta Ace: Commercial radio's reluctance to take chances and let mix show DJs break new music...same problems at video and major record label level.... everyone is looking for the next Jay-Z or Eminem instead of looking for the next great thing...

DJ PICK ONE: With 2003 to 2004 coming up what do hip hopheads have to look forward to from the one and only Masta Ace?
Masta Ace: Look for my new album, I am excited about it.

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Hobin " DJ PICK ONE" Choi
Urban Music Director
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