eMC is a hip hop crew composed of rappers

Masta Ace Duval Clear (born December 4, 1966), known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is an American rapper and record producer from New York City. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut " The Symphony". He is noted for his distinct voice ...

Wordsworth William Wordsworth (7 April 177023 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication ''Lyrical Ballads'' (1798). Wordsworth's ' ...

and Stricklin. Punchline was also a member, but he left the group in October, 2014.

Biography

Though not officially formed as a group until 2005, the crew came together in 2001 while touring together on Masta Ace's ''

Disposable Arts ''Disposable Arts'' is the second solo album by American rapper Masta Ace, his follow up album since ''Sittin' On Chrome'' (1995). Background The concept follows a young Brooklyn man's release from prison, his return home, and his life at "The I ...

'' tour. Ace described the group's formation in an interview with IllHillEast.com:

Career

In 2006, the group's first collaborative track was released online, titled "Four Brothers". eMC's first group effort, ''

The Show Show or The Show may refer to: Competition, event, or artistic production * Agricultural show, associated with agriculture and animal husbandry * Animal show, a judged event in the hobby of animal fancy ** Cat show ** Dog show ** Horse show ** Sp ...

'' was released on

iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...

on February 26, and the CD release was on March 25. A single from the album, "What It Stand For", was released in July 2007, and is available for free download on the group's MySpace page. It features production from Nicolay. On January 21, 2014, it was announced the group was signed to the newly re-founded

Penalty Entertainment Penalty is an American record label and entertainment company, founded and run by CEO Neil Levine. The company was founded in 1995 as a record label specializing in hip-hop music. The original Penalty label was acquired by its distributor, Tomm ...

, which is run under

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...

and distributed by

RED Distribution RED Music, stylized RED MUSIC, formerly RED Distribution, LLC (Relativity Entertainment Distribution) was a Sony-owned sales and marketing division that merged under The Orchard in 2017. RED previously handled releases for more than sixty i ...

. "Spun A Web" was their first single since the new signing, produced by David E Beats and released on February 24, 2014. It samples Coldplay's "Trouble", from their debut album ''Parachutes''. In October, 2014 Punchline left the group after many years. According to Masta Ace, Punchline "just wasn't on the same page as the three of us". On February 20, 2015, the group announced their second full-length album, ''The Tonite Show'', would be released on May 5, 2015, on M3/Penalty Entertainment/Sony Red. This was their first project as a trio.

Artist history

Masta Ace

Masta Ace (born Duval Clear,

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

) debuted in 1988 as a member of the legendary

Juice Crew The Juice Crew was an American hip hop collective made up largely of Queensbridge, New York-based artists in the mid-to-late 1980s. Founded by radio DJ Mr. Magic, and housed by Tyrone Williams' record label Cold Chillin' Records, the Juice Cre ...

. He released his acclaimed debut, '' Take a Look Around'', in 1990. In 1992, Ace formed the crew

Masta Ace Incorporated Masta Ace Incorporated was an American hip hop crew formed by rapper Masta Ace. History The group, also known as ''The I.N.C.'', included Eyceurokk (Eyce, Uneek and Rokkdiesel), Lord Digga, Paula Perry and R&B vocalist Leschea. Ace first gai ...

, and released two albums with the group, 1993's ''

SlaughtaHouse ''SlaughtaHouse'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Masta Ace Incorporated and the second album by Brooklyn-based rapper Masta Ace. It was released on May 4, 1993, through Delicious Vinyl. Recording sessions took place at Fireho ...

'', and 1995's ''

Sittin' on Chrome ''Sittin' on Chrome'' is the second and final studio album by American hip hop group Masta Ace Incorporated and the third album by Brooklyn-based rapper Masta Ace. It was released on May 2, 1995, through Delicious Vinyl. Recording sessions took p ...

''. Save for a number of vinyl singles, Ace was missing from the hip hop scene between 1996 and 2000, until returning with his acclaimed concept album ''

'', which featured guest appearances from Strick, Punchline and Wordsworth. Ace returned again in 2004 with another acclaimed concept album, ''

A Long Hot Summer ''A Long Hot Summer'' is the third solo album from American emcee Masta Ace. The release is a follow-up to his 2001 concept album ''Disposable Arts''. It was extremely well received by both fans and critics, however sales were poor. The story f ...

'', which also featured guest spots from his fellow eMC members.

Punchline & Wordsworth

Punchline (born in Lower East Side, New York) and Wordsworth (born in Brooklyn, New York) originally gained popularity through their appearances at the

Lyricist Lounge The Lyricist Lounge is a hip hop showcase of rappers, emcees, DJs, and Graffiti artists. It has spawned the album ''Lyricist Lounge, Volume One'', ''Lyricist Lounge 2'' and '' Lyricist Lounge & Ecko Unlimited presents: Underground Airplay'', as ...

& All That! open mic events. The two debuted as Punch-N-Words in 1998, making a number of guest appearances that year, dropping in on

A Tribe Called Quest A Tribe Called Quest was an American hip hop group formed in Queens, New York City, in 1985,Q-Tip

's ''

The Love Movement ''The Love Movement'' is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, and their last album released during group member Phife Dawg's lifetime. Released on September 29, 1998, by Jive Records, it is a concept album, explor ...

'' album,

Mos Def Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...

Talib Kweli Talib Kweli Greene (; born October 3, 1975) is an American rapper. He earned recognition early on through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's musical career continued with ...

's '' Black Star'' album, and

Rawkus Records Rawkus Records was an American hip hop record label known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass and fun-dustrial (Dystopia One). Label heads Brian Brater and Jarret Myer then s ...

' ''

Lyricist Lounge, Volume One ''Lyricist Lounge, Volume One'' is the second hip hop compilation album by American record label Rawkus Records. The double-disc was released on May 5, 1998 as the first installment of ''Lyricist Lounge'' album series, based on New York's ''Lyri ...

'' compilation. The duo released their self-titled debut ''

Punch N' Words EP ''Punch N' Words EP'' is an EP by the rap duo Punchline and Wordsworth William Wordsworth (7 April 177023 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literatu ...

'' in 2000 on Mona Records, then continued their careers with guest appearances and solo efforts. Wordsworth released his solo debut album, ''

Mirror Music ''Mirror Music'' is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Wordsworth. It was released by Halftooth Records in 2004. Title Regarding the album's title, Wordsworth commented: "I felt the songs reflected the emotion, time or period that eith ...

'', in 2004 to positive reviews. Punchline left the group in 2014.

Strick

Strick (also known as Stricklin, born in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

) made his official debut in 1999, when he signed to rap label

Tommy Boy Records Tommy Boy Entertainment is an American independent record label and multimedia brand founded in 1981 by Tom Silverman. The label is credited with helping and launching the music careers of Queen Latifah, Afrika Bambaataa, Stetsasonic, Digital U ...

. Strick was featured alongside

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

Royce Da 5'9" Ryan Daniel Montgomery, known professionally as Royce da 5'9" (or simply Royce 5'9"), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Montgomery is currently one half of the rap duo Bad Meets Evil with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem, and ...

on Tommy Boy's Black Label, and the two collaborated on the track "It's Over" from the ''Hip Hop 101'' compilation. After his deal with Tommy Boy fell through, Strick began making numerous appearances on underground mixtapes, one which attracted the attention of Masta Ace, who enlisted Strick for an appearance on his 2001 album ''Disposable Arts''. Strick then joined Ace for the album's supportive tour. He also appeared on Ace's 2004 album ''A Long Hot Summer'', and was featured on that album's supportive tour as well.

Discography

Albums *''

'' (2008) *''The Tonite Show'' (2015) EPs *''The Turning Point EP'' (2014)

Past collaborations

* "The Booth", Strick (produced by Masta Ace) (from "Conflict" b/w "The Booth" 12", 2000) * "Block Episode", Masta Ace featuring Punch & Words (from ''

'', 2001) * "I Like Dat", Masta Ace featuring Punch & Words (from ''Disposable Arts'', 2001) * "Something's Wrong", Masta Ace featuring Strick &

Young Zee Dewayne Battle (born December 24, 1970), known professionally as Young Zee, is an American underground hip hop emcee. He was a former member of the Outsidaz, alongside Pacewon. Career Outsidaz The Outsidaz, a large hip hop crew that became t ...

(from ''Disposable Arts'', 2001) * "Unfriendly Game", Masta Ace featuring Strick (from ''Disposable Arts'', 2001) * "Things On My Mind" Punchline & Wordsworth (from "Game Over II", 2001) * "Family 1st". Punchline, Apocalypse & Masta Ace (from "Family 1st" 12", 2003) * "F.A.Y.", Masta Ace featuring Strick (from ''

'', 2004) * "Travelocity", Masta Ace featuring Punch & Words (from ''A Long Hot Summer'', 2004) * "Not Fair". Wordsworth featuring Punchline (from ''

'', 2004) * "Evol" Wordsworth featuring Masta Ace & Justin Time (from ''Mirror Music'', 2004) * "The Hitman" Masta Ace & Strick (from "The Hitman" 12", 2006) * "Get U Awn" Chords featuring Masta Ace & Punchline (Garden Around The Mansion´´2006)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emc Hip hop groups from New York City Musical groups established in 1998 Musical quartets 1998 establishments in New York (state)