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 Inc. "Slaughtahouse" (The Source, 1993)

After making a name for himself as a member of the legendary Juice Crew, and releasing his debut in ’91, ‘Take a Look Around,’ Masta Ace returned in ’93 with his breakthrough album, ‘Slaughtahouse,’ along with his I.N.C. crew. Man, I can still remember the clear yellow cassette for the album (which I still keep in rotation). Considered a loose concept album, 'Slaughtahouse' took aim at the "so-called hardcore rappers coming out these days ... Masta Ace Incorporated are taking them straight to the ‘Slaughtahouse.'" The press release for the 12" added: ‘Following up their underground hit, ‘Jeep Ass Nigguh,’ ‘Slaughtahouse’ is bound to create controversy as phony rappers from coast to coast re-check their style and attitude." Released on LA’s Delicious Vinyl, like their follow-up ‘Sittin On Chrome,’ the album would lend itself to some funkier West Coast production. Often uncredited is the 'Jeep Ass Nigguh' remix, 'Born To Roll,' which was later released on 'Sittin On Chrome,' but was a summer anthem I always attributed to 'Slaughtahouse.' I can still hear that heavy bass rolling in cars around the park streets in Queens. The B-Side single 'Saturday Nite Live' was dope too. In the interview above, Masta Ace says "The reason why my album is different than other albums that are out is because nobody dies on my album. I mean it's not your typical 'shoot-em-up bang, bang' record. Although my album is hardcore, I break the stereotype where someone has to die." 

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.