Masta Ace: The original members were Biz Markie, Roxane Shante, MC Shan, Craig G, Kool G Rap, DJ Polo, later on Big Daddy Kane, and myself. Marley Marl, of course, was the producer of all of those acts. Coming up it was a competitive atmosphere. If you wanted to make any kind of impact, you had to go hard. No wackness allowed. Hearing a Kool G verse or a Kane verse made me go in harder and come correct when it was my turn. I think we made the posse hip-hop bigger. Before that time it hadn't been a lot of posse records. Having a collective crew under one name started with us and a lot of crews came out later. To this day that is still pretty big. Maybach Music is an example of that.
Royalty Magazine: The Juice Crew produced many answer records and beefs during its run. What was that experience like? What message were you guys trying to send the world, the industry and other emcees through your music? What are some of your most memorable beefs or rivalries during that time? How has the passing of Mr. Magic affected you as well as the world of hip-hop?
Masta Ace: As far as the beefs you alluding to, there was BDP vs MC Shan, LL Cool J vs. MC Shan. At the time I wasn't signed at the time. I was just a fan at the time, listening to the records. Neither Kane or I inherited any of those beefs that the others had going on. I hadn't met any of these guys until about 1986 so I wasn't that close to Mr. Magic like KRS-One or Craig G was.
Royalty Magazine: From when you first started to now, how has hiphop changed in your opinion? Are you familiar with the term hip-pop? Are you feeling hip-pop at all or do you think it has an impact on watering down the true nature of hip-hop? Do you think rappers have the same heart now as they had back then? Why or why not?
Masta Ace: Honestly, hip-pop has pretty much always existed. There have always been records that were more mainstream and got more airplay than what we considered "pure hip-hop". "It Takes Two", when it first came out wasn't viewed as real hip-hop despite it being seen as classic hip-hop. The same could be said for "Parents Just Don't Understand". Now you can see it as a way to penetrate the ears so as to discover the layers of hip-hop. It's needed sometimes to open the door to hip-hop music for someone.
Royalty Magazine: You are known for having great story telling skills and a master at dropping classic theme albums. What motivates you when it comes to creating a concept for an album and/or track? How important is the relationship between the writer/emcee and the audience when it comes to writing or spitting a verse?
Masta Ace: My motivation is that I entertain people. I just don't want them to hear something or just a series of songs. I want to transport them, take them where they can see what I'm talking about. I want it to be like a movie. I want them to visually see what I'm talking about. The lyrics, intros, interludes, and skits help create that picture. I would want to make a record I would want to listen to if I were a fan.
Royalty Magazine: Which era of music (past or present) has affected and/or has had the most impact on you as an artist? Please elaborate. Who are some of your influences?
Masta Ace: In the early days, cats like LL Cool J, Rakim were big influences to me. A lot of rap crews from New York were influences as well (i.e. Cold Crush, Furious Five). Those kind of guys, even Kane when he came out, were influences. Each of those guys put a different spin on hip-hop when they came out, what you could do lyrically. Each time I heard one of these artists it helped me to understand the lyrical possibilities and what you could do with hip-hop.
Royalty Magazine: If you had a chance to appear in the BET Cypha, what artists would you team up with? What beat would you want to rock to?
Masta Ace: I don't know what beat I would rock to. I don't know if I'd want to be on there, to be honest with you. I'm going to be straight up with you. Based on what I've been seeing, I don't know that I'd want to be on that. I might actually decline to be on that.