Masta Ace "Sittin' on Chrome" (May 2, 1995)

In the five years that passed between his debut, Take a Look Around, and his third full-length, Sittin' on Chrome, Brooklyn rapper Masta Ace's sound changed a lot. Angrier lyrics were already starting to show up on his sophomore release, Slaughtahouse, but it was nothing in comparison to Sittin' on Chrome. Not that the themes are fueled by testosterone and rage here (and not that they were on Slaughtahouse, either, though there was a great deal more vitriol), but the overall feel of the album--which has by now moved past the boom bap old-school beats into fuller, gloomier production that more aptly represents the mid-'90s East Coast sound--is much darker, with slower, heavier songs that ponder life in the ghetto. But the record's not an attack on the system that has caused the poor conditions of inner-city existence; rather, it's more of a collection of sketches that show it in its entirety, both the good and the bad. The whole Masta Ace Incorporated crew (Lord Digga, Leschea, and Paula Perry) is present here and does a good job--along with Ace, of course, whose flow and lyrics combine to show him off at his best--at adding depth and realism to the album's 16 cuts, interludes and all. It's a formula that clearly works well: Sittin' on Chrome boasted the MC's most popular songs, "Born To Roll" (which was also included as a bonus track on Slaughtahouse), "The I.N.C. Ride," and the title track itself, but the other material--"Eastbound," "People in My Hood"--is equally as interesting, and makes the record a very worthwhile addition to a rap collection. - Old School Rap & Hip-Hop, 2008. It took a while for this album to resonate with me because of the production, but once it did, I really began to appreciate the versatility and forward-thinking of Masta Ace. Subsequent albums would prove that point even greater. Revisit it...

Promo jersey for Masta Ace's Sittin' on Chrome album...

Masta Ace Incorporated "Sittin on Chrome" (5/2/95)

"With each of his releases, Brooklyn-born Masta Ace has kept listeners grabbing at air when they try to get a grasp of his style; his musical formula can seem simple and calculated, but he still remains an elusive target. What's even more impressive is that Ace has not distanced himself from his fans. His 1990 debut, 'Take a Look Around,' was a lively, Marley Marl-produced hook-fest, while 1993's 'Slaughtahouse' (which marked the incorporation of actual group members) was one of the most artistically advanced hardcore records of that year. Ace's lyrics can go from deadpan posturing to painting live images of ghetto life, and he's known for avoiding obvious hip-hop trends. His third release, 'Sittin' on Chrome,' is just as imaginative as 'Slaughtahouse,' but you get the feeling Ace has set a few booby-traps along the way. First-time listeners may not notice the way the songs are strung together, creating an oblique storyline of Ace and his cousin who joins him and his I.N.C. posse on some beat-heavy journeys. Cuts like 'The I.N.C. Ride' and the title cut seem to dangle before you in simplistic splendor, defying you to label Ace a West Coast wannabe (he calls his sound "Brooklyn Bass"). But then the watery samples on 'Eastbound' or 'Da Answer' will send you in another direction. Never resorting to tired imagery of gratuitous bloodshed, Ace stays cool and collected throughout, letting the listeners and critics make the mistake of formulating a label for his art." - CMJ, 1995. Get On Down released a fresh 100-piece puzzle of the album's artwork in 2012, and there's also a Deluxe 3CD version you can purchase at UGHH while it still remains in their stock.

Leschea "Rhythm & Beats" (Vibe Magazine, 1997)

"Leschea comes off like a hardcore Brooklyn rapper who's trying the R&B side of the street by singing over recycled hip hop beats. Partying, street dreams, drug games, and hanging out on the Ave. are themes that keep popping up on Rhythm & Beats, especially on the current single, "Fulton Street," and "Let Me Know," an auto-biographical story about Leschea's relationship with a drug dealer. Leschea stays clear of everyday lovey-dovey songs and, instead, voices the pain of losing a loved one to the prison system. If R&B singers haven't been keeping it real, Leschea is trying to change all that." - Vibe, June-July 1997. Leschea was born and raised in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn NY, and began singing and performing at the age of eight. In 1995 she sang background vocals on Masta Ace's album, Sittin on Chrome which subsequently landed her a deal with Warner Bros. records in 1996. In 1996 she scored chart success with the singles "How We Stay" and "Fulton St.". "Fulton St." was a top 10 best selling single in NYC for seven weeks. Some say her debut album, Rhythm & Beats was prematurely released and never got the attention it deserved. She was released from Warner Bros. after the production company complained of poor marketing and promo. She has been married to executive producer Masta Ace since 2001 and currently has an online radio show called the "Leschea Show." Check out "Fulton St." and the full LP streaming below...

The full review in Vibe Magazine, June-July 1997...