This weekend (January 26), Masta Ace & Marco Polo have released Richmond Hill. The longtime MC/producer battery's second album is a thematic sequel to 2018's A Breukelen Story. That concept LP, named one of Ambrosia For Heads' best of that year, looked at Brooklyn, New York's history-including as a home to Brownsville native Masta Ace as well as Marco-a transplant originally from Ontario, Canada.
Richmond Hill examines Marco's journey. The former Rawkus Records artist and veteran album-maker retraces his roots in skits throughout the Fat Beats Records LP. The 18-track collection also shows how Masta Ace and Marco Polo can blend in many environments-something they've done for over 50 combined years. One of the LP's most compelling moments is "Certified," a collaboration with Hip-Hop quartet Coast Contra. It is currently featured atop the Ambrosia For Heads playlist (follow it here).
Coast Contra represents one of the most exciting and skills-forward acts of Hip-Hop's new class. The foursome includes Taj Austin and Ras Austin-twin sons of Ras Kass and Teedra Moses, as well as Philadelphia MC Eric Jamal, and Colombian-American Rioloz. In addition to multiple projects, The Coast has dropped some of the finest freestyles of the last three years.
On "Certified," all parties mesh over a high-energy, percussion-driven Marco Polo beat. Masta Ace raps fast about fast-money and a survivor's mentality, while referencing his own tenacity and 20-year-old Long Hot Summer album. Coast follows, with Rioloz going bilingual in his menacing delivery where the MC talks about growing up in a hut to moving to the United States with dreams like this. With less than four minutes of total song, the five MCs get busy as a unit. The song is fiery and efficient - hosted by an MC who knows a thing or two about posse cuts.
Richmond Hillalso features Wu-Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck, Blu, Che Noir, and Wordsworth, among others.
