Track Listing

1. Count
2. Big City
3. Good Ol' Love
4. Fats Belvedere
5. Da Grind - Masta Ace & Apocalypse
6. HOOD
7. Stoop
8. Beautiful
9. FAY - Masta Ace & Strick
10. Fats Crib
11. Soda And Soap - Masta Ace & Jean Grae
12. Do It Man - Masta Ace & Big Noyd
13. Brooklyn Masala - Masta Ace & Leschea
14. Proposition
15. Travelocity - Masta Ace & Punch/Words
16. Ways
17. Wutuwankno - Masta Ace & Edo G
18. After Party
19. Oh My God - Masta Ace & Beatnuts/Rahzel
20. Cellmate
21. Revelations

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141929 in Music
• Released on: 2004-10-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.co.uk Review
A veteran from the late '80s, Masta Ace had an old soul even when he was young. As far back as 1993's Slaughtahouse, Ace was backlashing against gangsta posturing and fake thuggery--before it became trendy to do so. His career has been uneven (if not invisible) during the past decade, but A Long Hot Summer is the dark-horse candidate for the season: a well-crafted concept album that has Ace spreading stoop wisdom. He's sentimental, to be sure, but not overwrought or ironic; his is a more meditative, relaxed attitude, matched by his smooth flow. His production team goes international, with French and even Eastern European beat-makers joining in, and they lay down a jazzydelic vibe that complements Ace's reflective manner. Ace claims that he's retiring after this album, but if it's his swan song, A Long Hot Summer is a fine, fitting closure to a career that has been rejuvenated in its autumn years. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews

Long, hot and very strong
Masta Ace continues to "bring terror to the bling era" in this supremely crafted concept album. Maybe that should read "bling error"; it works either way and illustrates the depth of this prequel to 2001's Disposable Arts. Like that, A Long Hot Summer makes a mockery of the episodic fare churned out by Ace's more celebrated competitors. Hopefully unlike that, this will reach the audience it deserves and discourage a classy player from following through on the threat he makes here: to quit a game he deserves to be winning.

Ace's skill and versatility are showcased throughout by a production crew almost as numerous as the deep track list. Entering the fray with energy levels to match Dug Infinite's heavy Big City beat, Ace sounds equally at home flowing effortlessly over 9th Wonder's soulful Good Ol Love. Beautiful lives up to its name with sublime sounds from Croatia's Koolade before Jean Grae arrives to witness the LP's lyrical high point in Soda and Soap; "sometimes you gotta find a better place to be in, maybe go to a mountain dew a little skiing" exemplifies Ace's ability to drop soda and soap powder references with an ease that makes Gza's Labels sound contrived. The less inspired production is saved for a supporting cast including Big Noyd, the Beatnuts and Wordsworth where their interplay with Ace more than compensates for less spectacular soundscapes.

This is excellent, if it is to be the last offering from Masta Ace, he will have embarrassed his rivals yet again by choosing to go out at a level they are never likely to reach.

Classic hands down
Last year was a good year for Master Ace, Almost seem's he finally got the reconigtion he's deserved for all this time he's been in the Hip-Hop industry... However he has since announced he's hanging up the mic and leaving the game.. but on a note so powerful as this "CLASSIC" Hip-Hop album at least he leaves us with a very memorable effort... he also released 'Disposable arts' in 2004 which also holds up as a classic... Its a very laid back album and Ace's flow and simplistic, easy listen rhyme scheme is a pleasure to embrace... A must have!

A long hot album!
Hip-hop as it should be...phat beats, clever rhymes, varied subject matter and all told as an album-length story in a way that only Masta Ace can. In my opinion, this may be his best work since Slaughtahouse and I urge any self-respecting Hip Hop fan to check for this LP.