Second and final album by Masta Ace Incorporated aka The INC, a Brooklyn rap group formed by former Juice Crew member Duval "Masta Ace" Clear, Reginald "Lord Digga" Ellis, Paula Perry, Schea "Leschea" Boatwright, and the trio Eyceurokk (C. "Eyce" McFadden, Sean "Uneek" McFadden and Rokkdiesel), who left the group shortly after the release of the first CD.
The production is handled by Masta Ace aka Ase One, The Bluez Bruthas (Norman "Norm" Glover & Lord Digga), Louie Vega and Uneek. Cella Dwellas is the only guest. After criticizing the new hip-hop trend represented by gangsta rap on the previous record, Masta Ace releases an LP in which he meets the West Coast, having tasted the success of the songs made with the Crooklyn project in '94.
This album has a weak and functional concept, and it tries to put East Coast and West Coast rhythms together: the production seems to be influenced by the West Coast sound, but it doesn't sound West Coast yet, the music is minimal, scarce, bland. Only a quarter of the tracks feature rhythms supported by noteworthy samples: "The INC Ride" sampled by the Isley Brothers, "What's Going On!", Which has three different samples together, "Turn It Up" sampled Roy Ayers, and "Da Answer" uses a piece by Keni Burke. In these 72 minutes, there are other samples, but most of them are drum loops: the drum plays an important role in the construction of the beats, and the samples almost all fade into the background.
Masta Ace is the major performer of the record, present in 15 out of 16 tracks (6 soloists), nevertheless, the tape is a second important showcase for his friends: he's joined by Lord Digga (8), Leschea (5) and Paula Perry (3). Leschea is the only one to get a solo song besides Masta Ace himself, the little-appreciated "Turn It Up". In the course of listening, the LP continues to vary annoyingly between mediocre, decent and excellent tracks, in these last ones Masta Ace is often the only protagonist. The production, sometimes bad, doesn't help the product to be consistent and cohesive, "Ain't No Game" and "Terror", are splendid exceptions.
Released by Delicious Vinyl, the album has a positive response in sales and critics, however, later comes a break between Masta Ace and The INC members Lord Digga and Paula Perry, which leads to the ensuing disbandment of the group. In general, the album suffers from excessive length, quickly becomes exhausting and boring due to a questionable choice of rhythms, an exhausting mixing, of a clearly uninspired lyricism and a monotonous, soporific, forgettable, not good rap style. It might satisfy Masta Ace fans, but it's not essential for any other.
Rating: 7/10.
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