Masta Ace on Marley Marl, The Symphony, MF DOOM, and Hip Hop Legacy

Masta Ace joins Mic Fox at MNN Studios NYC for rapfabulous CONVOS — sharing stories from Brownsville to Cold Chillin’, from The Symphony with Marley Marl, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, and Craig G, to his creative rebirth with MF DOOM and Marco Polo.

Ace breaks down:
• How he accidentally ended up on The Symphony — and what Kane and G Rap really said before recording.
• The moment he heard his voice on radio for the first time.
• How “Sittin’ on Chrome” flipped an 80s New York beat into a 90s anthem.
• Why Slaughtahouse was his response to the rise of gangsta rap.
• His latest projects with Marco Polo and his transition into playwriting and mentorship.

Recorded at MNN Studios, NYC
Hosted by Mic Fox
Stream rapfabulous every weekend on 94.7 The Block (NYC), 106.5 The Beat (Richmond), 104.3 Jams (Chicago), and now New Orleans.

0:00 – Masta Ace on Marley Marl, G Rap & Kane’s reaction before “The Symphony”
1:10 – Mic Fox welcomes Masta Ace to rapfabulous CONVOS
1:35 – When did you fall in love with hip-hop?
2:00 – Growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn in the late ’70s
7:00 – From Brownsville to the University of Rhode Island
11:00 – Discovering his pen and early DJ crew “Spin Masters Disco”
13:00 – The rap contest that won him 6 hours with Marley Marl
18:00 – Meeting Kool G Rap and recording demos in Queensbridge
20:00 – How “The Symphony” happened — and how he almost wasn’t on it
23:00 – Hearing his voice on the radio for the first time
24:00 – Lessons from Cold Chillin’ and early record deals
26:00 – Breaking big in London with “Letter to the Better”
29:00 – Creating Slaughtahouse as a response to gangsta rap
31:00 – The truth behind “Sittin’ on Chrome” and the sound of NYC
34:00 – Stepping away from the industry and coming back
35:00 – The MA DOOM: Son of Yvonne story and working with MF DOOM
37:00 – The Richmond Hill album with Marco Polo
39:00 – Mentorship, coaching, and giving back
41:00 – Writing his hip-hop musical and plans for London’s West End
42:50 – Closing thoughts & Mic Fox wrap-up