Old School Mondays:: Master Ace - Take A Look Around Edition

This week's OSM is of the grab box variety. And I do mean box, not bag, as in when I have nothing in mind for OSM on Sunday night I reach into one of the boxes of tapes in my storage room and write about the first thing I grab. This week it happened to be the legendary Master Ace's debut, Take A Look Around.

I love Ace, but I was sure I'd featured this album before on the hill, so I did a little searching through the archives. Despite the fact that I'm still sure I've posted songs from this album before, my search turned up nothing, and so old-school Ace it is for this sunny May day. And who would have a problem with that? Not I, and really, I doubt anyone who loves classic hip hop would have an issue with it either. Ace is one of those MC's you could listen to all day and not get tired of - he's honest (who else, in the tough guy mid-90's, would rap about getting their pimped-out truck stolen from outside the studio?), engaging, and clever (He's done not one, but two, very good concept albums, not an easy task).

As for Take A Look Around, it was always one of my favorite "under-appreciated" albums. It was quality, and very listenable all the way through, with a couple hits, Music Man & Me & The Biz, but a number of other tracks I also enjoyed like I Got Ta, Letter To The Better, and Take A Look Around. Ace was always ready with the battle raps, but as conscious lyrics were kind of in vogue when this came out in 1990, he also attempted to get folks thinking. As you might expect from the debut album of a Juice Crew member, the production is handled almost entirely by Marley Marl (except for four songs done by Mr. Cee) and the more I re-visit these old Juice Crew-related albums, the more I realize I certainly didn't give Marley near enough credit for just how damn good he was.

So then, enjoy the two aforementioned big songs from the album, Music Man (also the comically named Mice Master Mix) and Me & The Biz, as well as the original 12" version of Letter To The Better. If you are like me, these will be a welcome addition to your Monday. Enjoy.

MP3:: Master Ace - Music Man

MP3:: Master Ace - Music Man (Mice Master Mix)

MP3:: Master Ace - Me and the Biz

MP3:: Master Ace - Letter to the Better (Original 12' Version)

VIDEO:: Master Ace - Me & The Biz

VIDEO:: Master Ace - Music Man