Disposable Arts Explained
Disposable Arts is the second solo and fourth overall studio album by American rapper Masta Ace. It was released on October 16, 2001 via JCOR Entertainment. Production was handled by Domingo, Luis Tineo, Xplicit, Ayatollah, Deacon the Villain, DJ 3D, DJ A. Vee, DJ Rob, Gerrard C. Baker, Koolade, Paul Nice, Rodney Hunter and Ace himself. It features guest appearances from eMC, MC Paul Barman, Jane Doe, Mr. Lee G, Apocalypse, Greg Nice, Jean Grae, J-Ro, King Tee, Leschea, Rah Digga, Young Zee and Tonedeff.
The concept of the album follows a young Brooklyn man's release from prison, his return home, and his life at "The Institute of Disposable Arts", a school in which Ace enrolls after realizing how bad the situation in Brooklyn is.
The album sold poorly compared to his previous albums, due to JCOR Entertainment folding a month after its release but it was generally well received by critics and fans alike. The cover art is an ironic nod to his "Sittin' on Chrome" days, showing Masta Ace sitting on a car seat in the street without a car. Included on the album is the song "Acknowledge", a notable diss track to rapper Boogeyman and group The High & Mighty. The song "Unfriendly Game" was used in the TV series The Wire and is included on one of its soundtracks. The song "Take A Walk" was used in the video game Saints Row, and was found on one of the various in game radio stations.
In 2013, D. Aurelius directed a documentary video of making the album, starring Ace, Rah Digga and Justin Hunte.
Personnel
- Duval "Masta Ace" Clear – performer, producer (track: 2), mixing
- Tony Hanna – vocals (track 1)
- Kinte "Apocalypse" Givens – vocals (tracks: 2, 10)
- Rashaan "Punchline" Truell – vocals (tracks: 3, 19), backing vocals (track 10)
- Vinson "Wordsworth" Johnson – vocals (tracks: 3, 19)
- Tony "Tonedeff" Rojas – vocals (track 4)
- Gregory "Greg Nice" Mays – vocals (track 5)
- Latania "Jane Doe" Morris-Rossell – vocals (tracks: 6, 18)
- Tsidi "Jean Grae" Ibrahim – vocals (track 7)
- Leroy H. "Mr. Lee G" Griffith, Jr. – backing vocals (track 8), vocals (track 14)
- Sas – backing vocals (track 8)
- MC Paul Barman – vocals (tracks: 9, 12, 23)
- Stephen "Strick" Stricklin – vocals (tracks: 11, 15, 16)
- Dewayne "Young Zee" Battle – vocals (track 11)
- Francis R. "Jugga the Bully" Roberts, Jr. – vocals (track 16)
- Sherri Ambercrombie – backing vocals (track 16)
- Suede – backing vocals (track 16)
- Blaise Dupuy – vocals (track 17)
- Jessica Harrell – backing vocals (track 18)
- Claudia Arindale – backing vocals (track 19)
- Ebony – backing vocals (track 19)
- Shireen Rahman – backing vocals (track 19)
- James "J-Ro" Robinson – vocals (track 20)
- Roger "King Tee" McBride – vocals (track 20)
- Drugga – vocals (track 20)
- Sean "Uneek" McFadden – vocals (track 20)
- Rashia "Rah Digga" Fisher – vocals (track 21)
- Leschea A. Boatwright – vocals (track 21)
- William "DJ JS-1" Tramontozzi – scratches (tracks: 5, 13)
- Luis R. Tineo – producer (tracks: 3, 16)
- Paul "Paul Nice" Kilianski – producer (track 5)
- Lamont "Ayatollah" Dorrell – producer (track 7)
- Thomas "Xplicit" Raic – producer (tracks: 8, 13)
- Gerrard C. Baker – producer (track 10)
- Matko "Koolade" Šašek – producer (track 11)
- Rodney Hunter – producer (track 14)
- Domingo Padilla – producer (tracks: 17, 21, 22, 24), recording (track 22), mixing
- Robert "DJ Rob" Alphonse – producer (track 18), recording (tracks: 1-4, 6-12, 14-19, 21, 23, 24)
- William "DJ 3D" Bagley – producer (track 19)
- Alix "DJ A. Vee" Val – producer (track 19)
- Willis "Deacon the Villain" Polk II – producer (track 20)
- Robert "Lord Finesse" Hall, Jr. – recording (tracks: 5, 13)
- Richard "Filthy Rich" Ahee – recording (track 5), mixing
Cast
- Correction Officer: Tony Hanna
- IDA Commercial: Tonedeff
- Lisa: Jane Doe
- Paul the Roommate: MC Paul Barman
- Caller from home: Strick
- Tyreek: Jugga
- Newscaster: Blaise Dupuy
- Bitch Nigga callers: Uneek & Drugga
- Interviewer: Chyrisse Turner
