So for those who dont know ace was an original juice crew member, also a member of INC. After pumping out some dope albums with Masta ace incorporated, he took a 6 year hiatus from rap. And came back with a whole new style of rap, which was very popular among his loyal fans.
MA DOOM is in this title, because the album is produced MF DOOM. However MF did no work with ace, just signed off on a beat tape.This is a concept album following ace in his childhood and rise to fame. Ace is the king of concept albums, so this new album has some pressure, can it live up? Let's see.
1. D Ski's Intro
This is a simple intro of a young Masta Ace talking about how he wants to be a rapper, it sets up the theme of the album and nothing else.
2. Ninteen Seventy Something
Ace tells a story of how we would take records from his mom and rap over them to practice his rhyming. This paints a picture of a young kid willing to risk getting in trouble to make raps. I really like the story telling on this song and as usual ace is on point. The beat is from a song called Agrimony by MF DOOM and it is really good listening.
3. Son of Yvonne
The title track is Ace talking about how thankful he is that he grew up the way he did. Ace continues to rhyme smoothly over the soothing beat witha very methodical style. Some may find this track boring, but a fan of great rhyme structure will love this.
4. Da' Pro
This is a very old school Ace track. This is the type of song you could have found on Sittin' on Chrome, and it is simply fantastic. Like I have already said Ace can rap to a beat like no other. He controls the beat on this track in a way that you have to hear in order to know what I am talking about. Incredible track.
5. Store Frontin'
This is a funny little skit, you wont listen to it more than once.
6. Me and My Gang
This beat was from a skit on MM...Food, and Ace is able to turn it into a song very well. Now obviously we all don'y have friends similar to these, but this is a relatable song. It describes all of the different odd-ball characters that Ace supposedly hung out with. Everyone loves hanging out with friends, and that really is the theme of the song. To this point not a single song has been one you'd want to skip.
7. Crush Hour (feat. Pav Bundy)
The theme of this album gets a little lost during this track. While Ace is able to bring the same perfected rhyme style to this track, it is more of a love ballad to a woman. It seems that most hip-hop albums have at least one love ballad, which is something I could generally do without.
8. Think I am (feat. Big Daddy Kane & MF DOOM)
This is the point in the album's story when Ace achieves fame. So how fitting that on this song you have his long time friend and fellow juice crew member Kane. It also includes DOOM to give this song a lot of star power. All three rappers kill the song, and the beat is weirdly enchanting. All three rappers kill it, and it is great to hear Kane on a song nowadays.
9. Fresh Fest
With my favorite beat on the album, which is from the track Deep Fried Frenz on MM...Food, we have a highlight of the album. Ace describing his climb to fame and inspiration, with an amazing track. Granted this might be the lamest hook I've heard... ever, but I find myself singing it very often for what that's worth.
10. Hoe Tel Leftovers
Ace hitting on some girls that haven't already been sexually annihilated by Kane.
11. Slow Down
A young ignorant Ace is played by a couple of whores after a show, because he thinks he's a big deal, and is robbed by the girls. It goes to a hospital where he recalls what happened. This is a very interesting listen, and is advised if you are a fan of story telling in rap.
12. Home Sweet Home
I'm not quite sure where this song ties into the theme of the album but i like its inclusion in the album. Just some more easy listening, and fantastic hip-hop.
13. I Did It
This is a very good skit. It is ace thanking his mother, and it starts as the kids voice and morphs into Ace. Just a feel good skit.
14. I Did It
Ace is now on top (or as "on top" as he ever got), and he is telling us why he did it. It is a very generic list of things, that most rappers would say that they did it for, but is a good song nonetheless. This is another feel good song and you find yourself being a little proud of Ace, and his accomplishments.
15. In Da Spot (ft. Milani the Artis)
This in a sense is the victory lap. It is a fun little song, but doesn't add much to the project as a whole. Aside from having the worst name ever the female guest rapper is not bad at all, and manages to hold her own on the track with Ace.
16.Outtakes
This is really funny to listen to once. It is the bloopers of Ace's friends trying to do the skits correctly. You won't listen to this often, but it is funny as hell.
Rating: 4/5
I found myself having almost no problems with this album. I enjoyed every track on the album, and think Ace did an amazing job of telling the story. Why after what I said is this not a 5? The album is a little short, and isn't as good as Ace gets. Those of you who have heard , Sittin' On Chrome, or, Disposable Arts, know that this isn't his apex by any means. I enjoy going further into his catalog at some point, but for know, I strongly advise you listen to this.