''Take a Look Around'' is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Masta Ace. It was released on July 24, 1990 through

Cold Chillin' Records Cold Chillin' Records was a record label that released music during the golden age of hip hop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. A producer-and-crew label founded by manager Tyrone Williams and run by Len Fichtelberg (d. November 4, 2010), ...

with distribution via Reprise Records. Recording sessions took place at House Of Hits in

Chestnut Ridge, New York Chestnut Ridge is a village in the town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of the state of New Jersey, east of Airmont, south of Spring Valley, and west of Nanuet. The population was 7,916 at the 2010 census. ...

and at Libra Digital Sound in Long Island City.

Production Production may refer to: Economics and business * Production (economics) * Production, the act of manufacturing goods * Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services) * Production as a stati ...

was handled by

Marley Marl Marlon Williams (born September 30, 1962), better known by his stage name Marley Marl, is an American DJ, record producer, rapper and record label founder, primarily operating in hip hop music. Marlon grew up in Queensbridge housing projects ...

and Mister Cee.

Background

After appearing on the classic hip hop

crew cut A crew cut is a type of haircut in which the upright hair on the top of the head is cut relatively short, graduated in length from the longest hair that forms a short pomp ( pompadour) at the front hairline to the shortest at the back of the crow ...

" The Symphony" with the

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 ...

in 1988, Ace released his first single, "Together" b/w "Letter to the Better" in 1989. "Together" was included in the album as well as a remixed version of "Letter to the Better". Released in June 1990, "Me and the Biz" (b/w "I Got Ta") peaked at #47 on the

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

and #8 on the

Hot Rap Songs Hot Rap Songs (formerly known as Hot Rap Tracks and Hot Rap Singles) is a chart released weekly by ''Billboard'' in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stati ...

. The song, a tribute of sorts to labelmate

Biz Markie Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer. Markie was best known for his 1989 single "Just a Friend", which became a Top 40 hit in ...

, in which Ace plays the role of both himself and Biz (who reportedly couldn't make it to the studio for the actual collaboration he desired), was later featured on '' Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' as a song in rotation on the fictional radio station ''

Playback FM '' Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' is an open-world, action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. First released on 16 October 2004 for the PlayStation 2, ''San Andreas'' has an in-game radio that can tu ...

''. A single for "I Got Ta" was released only in the UK and Europe. Reaching a peak position of number thirteen on the

, the album's third single, "Music Man" (b/w "Ace Iz Wild"), remained on the chart for a total of nine weeks. "Movin' On" (b/w "Go Where I Send Thee") was released on March 6, 1991 as the final single from ''Take a Look Around''.

Track listing

Sample credits

Music Man *"Ben Casey Theme" by

David Raksin David Raksin (August 4, 1912 – August 9, 2004) was an American composer who was noted for his work in film and television. With more than 100 film scores and 300 television scores to his credit, he became known as the "Grandfather of Film Music ...

*"Nothing Is the Same" by

Grand Funk Railroad Grand Funk Railroad (often shortened to Grand Funk) is an American rock band formed in 1968 in Flint, Michigan, by Mark Farner (vocals, guitar), Don Brewer (drums, vocals), and Mel Schacher (bass). The band achieved peak popularity and succ ...

I Got Ta *"

Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" is a funk song written by James Brown and Bobby Byrd. Recorded in 1970 by Brown and the original J.B.'s with Byrd on backing vocals and updated with a new melody, it was twice released as a two-part single in 197 ...

" by James Brown Letter to the Better *"Take Some...Leave Some" by James Brown *"

Think (About It) "Think (About It)" is a funk song recorded by Lyn Collins and released as a single on James Brown's People Records in 1972. The recording was produced by Brown (who also wrote the song) and features instrumental backing from his band The J.B.'s ...

" by

Lyn Collins Gloria Lavern Collins (June 12, 1948 – March 13, 2005), better known as Lyn Collins, was an American soul singer best known for working with James Brown in the 1970s and for the influential 1972 funk single, " Think (About It)". A favorite ...

*"Mickey's Monkey" by

The Miracles The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and most influential group ...

*"Keep on Dancing" by

Alvin Cash Alvin Cash (born Alvin Welch; February 15, 1939 – November 21, 1999) was an American pop singer and actor. Biography Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Cash was and a graduate of St. Louis's Sumner High School (also attended by Luther Ingram, Billy ...

Me and the Biz *" The Message" by Cymande The Other Side Of Town *"

Get Out of My Life, Woman "Get Out of My Life, Woman" is a song written by Allen Toussaint and first recorded by Lee Dorsey. It reached number five on the U.S. ''Billboard'' R&B chart and number 44 on the Hot 100 singles chart in 1966. Background In a song review for Al ...

" by

Lee Dorsey Irving Lee Dorsey (December 24, 1924 – December 1, 1986) was an American pop and R&B singer during the 1960s. His biggest hits were "Ya Ya" (1961) and "Working in the Coal Mine" (1966). Much of his work was produced by Allen Toussaint, with in ...

*"The Other Side of Town" by

Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music.

*"UFO" by ESG Ace Iz Wild *"C'mon Children" by

Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million reco ...

*" Escape-Ism" by James Brown Four Minus Three *" Hard to Handle" by

Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. ...

Can't Stop The Bumrush *"Razor Blade" by Little Royal and The Swingmasters *"

Get Up Offa That Thing "Get Up Offa That Thing" is a song written and performed by James Brown. It was released in 1976 as a two-part single (the B-side, titled "Release the Pressure", is a continuation of the same song). It reached #4 on the R&B chart, briefly returnin ...

" by James Brown Movin' On *"Keep on Movin'" by

Soul II Soul Soul II Soul are a British musical collective formed in London in 1988. They are best known for their two major hits; 1989's UK number five and US number eleven " Keep On Movin'", and its follow-up, the UK number one and US number four " Back to ...

*"Kissing My Love" by

Bill Withers William Harrison Withers Jr. (July 4, 1938 – March 30, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He had several hits over a career spanning 18 years, including " Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), " Grandma's Hands" (1971), " Use Me" (197 ...

*"Don't Take It Personal" by

Jermaine Jackson Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (born December 11, 1954) is an American singer-songwriter and bassist. He is best known for being a member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of The Jackso ...

Brooklyn Battles *"If You Let Me" by

Eddie Kendricks Edward James Kendrick (December 17, 1939 – October 5, 1992), better known as Eddie Kendricks, was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group the Temptation ...

Maybe Next Time *"(You're Puttin') a Rush on Me" by Stephanie Mills *"

Soul Power "Soul Power" is a song by James Brown. Brown recorded it with the original J.B.'s (plus Fred Wesley) and it was released as a three-part single in 1971. Like "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and other hits from this period it features ...

" by James Brown Postin' High *" Street Life" by The Crusaders *"High" by Skyy As I Reminisce *"One Man Band (Plays All Alone)" by

Monk Higgins Milton Bland (October 3, 1930 – July 3, 1986) better known as Monk Higgins, was an American musician and saxophonist who was born in Menifee, Arkansas. Biography Higgins's biggest hits were the instrumental tracks "Who Dun It" (which reached ...

*"N.T." by

Kool & the Gang Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. ...

Take a Look Around *"

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is a poem and song by Gil Scott-Heron. Scott-Heron first recorded it for his 1970 album ''Small Talk at 125th and Lenox'', on which he recited the lyrics, accompanied by congas and bongo drums. A re-record ...

" by Gil-Scott Heron Together *"Do You Have the Time" by The Younghearts *"One Man Band" by

& the Specialites

Personnel

* Duval Clear – vocals, co-producer *Menia Sims – vocals (track 9) *Eyceurokk – vocals (track 13) *Mike and Jay a.k.a. Together Brothers – vocals (track 15) *Andre Booth – keyboards (track 15) *D.J. Steady Pace – scratches * Marlon Williams – producer & engineering (tracks: 1, 3-7, 9-11, 14-15) * Calvin Laburn – producer (tracks: 2, 8, 12, 13) *Everett "Bizz-E" Ramos – engineering & mixing (tracks: 1, 3-7, 9-11, 14-15) *Ivan Rodriguez – engineering & mixing (tracks: 1, 3-7, 9-11, 14-15) *Chris Tergesen – engineering & mixing (tracks: 2, 8, 12, 13) *DJ Clash – engineering & recording (tracks: 1, 3-7, 9-11, 14-15) *Leon Lee – engineering & recording (tracks: 1, 3-7, 9-11, 14-15) *Thomas 'On Time' – engineering & recording (tracks: 1, 3-7, 9-11, 14-15) *Tony Aliprantis – engineering & recording (tracks: 2, 8, 12, 13) *Tony Papamichael – engineering & recording (tracks: 2, 8, 12, 13) *

Benny Medina Benny Medina (born January 24, 1958) is an American record executive, talent manager, and television producer. Early life and education Medina was born in East Los Angeles, California, of Dominican parents into a poor family. The death of hi ...

– executive producer *Tyrone Williams – executive producer *George DuBose – art direction, photography *Aldo Sampieri – design

Charts

References

External links

* {{Authority control Masta Ace albums 1990 debut albums Cold Chillin' Records albums Albums produced by Marley Marl