Twenty-five years ago today, on October 16, 2001, Masta Ace released Disposable Arts, a full-length concept album that didn’t sell big but became one of the most respected underground records of its era.
Who Masta Ace Was by 2001
Born Duval Clear in Brooklyn, Ace was already a veteran. He came up in the Juice Crew, Mr. Magic’s legendary collective, and held his own on 1988’s “The Symphony” next to Craig G, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane. His debut, Take a Look Around, arrived in 1990. In 1994, “Born to Roll” crossed over and peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Sittin’ on Chrome followed in 1995.
Then he went quiet for a stretch. Disposable Arts was the comeback, and it was nothing like the car-culture era. Even the cover is an ironic nod to those Sittin’ on Chrome days.
The Story
The album plays like a movie. A young man comes home to Brooklyn after a prison bid, sees how far things have fallen, and enrolls at “The Institute of Disposable Arts.” Skits and songs move the plot forward, so it rewards a front-to-back listen.
The guest list was a who’s-who of the indie scene and beyond: Jean Grae, Rah Digga, King Tee, Greg Nice, MC Paul Barman, Young Zee, Tonedeff, Punchline and Wordsworth, plus Ace’s eMC crew-mates. Production came from a deep bench that included Ayatollah, Paul Nice, Domingo and Koolade.
Standout Tracks
- “Unfriendly Game” later showed up on The Wire and one of the show’s soundtracks.
- “Acknowledge”, the B-side to “Don’t Understand,” is a well-known diss aimed at Boogeyman and The High & Mighty.
- “Take a Walk” ended up on in-game radio in Saints Row.
Charts, Reception and Legacy
Commercially, it was rough. The album peaked at No. 90 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and its label, JCOR Entertainment, folded about a month after release. But critics got it: HipHopDX gave it 4.5 out of 5, and RapReviews scored it 8 out of 10.
The legacy kept growing. Ace followed it with A Long Hot Summer in 2004, and in 2013, a documentary on the making of Disposable Arts, directed by D. Aurelius, featured Ace, Rah Digga and Justin Hunte.
The IAHHM Take
Before concept albums were a marketing plan, Ace made one with no budget safety net and a label that disappeared on him. Twenty-five years later, the story still holds up. Where does Disposable Arts rank among hip hop’s great concept albums? Tell us.
More from The Archive: 30 Years of Xzibit’s ‘At the Speed of Life’.
Sources: Wikipedia: Disposable Arts | Wikipedia: Masta Ace | Wikipedia: 2001 in hip-hop
