“I got the name Ace as a child. My family always thought that I would be the one who would succeed in whatever I did…I feel like I’m an army in myself. I carry my own weight and since I represent for the hood, why not attach that to my name?”
Antoine McColister, better known by his stage name Ace Hood hails from Florida, the state that has brought you hip hop superstars like Flo Rida, T-Pain, Trina and DJ Khaled.
At the age of 17, Ace teamed up with the Broward-County-based entertainment label, Dollaz & Dealz, to record the hit “M.O.E.” (”Money Over Everything”) which sparked an immediate buzz in South Florida. Ace began to perform and network which helped him gain popularity. In no time, Ace set his sights on performing for DJ Khaled at his annual birthday bash.
“We was outside the radio station not even trying to get a deal, just hoping to perform at his birthday bash,” he recalls. “We just figured we’d try and perform. He had a contest going on where you had to give a certain amount of reasons why you should perform at the birthday bash. So I was going to rap for him on camera and show him why I was worthy. Although he had to go to a meeting, he came out, looked at me and said I love his image. We handed him a CD and once we did that he listened to it and called my manager that night. He said I love his swag, I hear starvation in his music and I want to take a meeting with him.”
That meeting turned into Ace becoming the first artist signed to DJ Khaled’s label “We the Best” distributed by Def Jam Records. You can currently hear his latest hits “Cash Flow” featuring T-Pain and Rick Ross, “Hustle Hard” and “Body 2 Body” featuring Chris Brown across the radio airwaves everywhere. Just a few weeks ago he released his highly anticipated album “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” and we caught up with him to discuss everything from the music biz, collaborations, his album, and much more…
John Simon Daily: Your album was recently released, congratulations, do you have a favorite track?
Ace Hood: Thank you. “Lord Knows.” Just because it’s things that I went through. Tough nights, tough times. Only the Lord Knows the things that I’ve endured from trying to get back on in this industry, creating the album and providing for family.
JSD: How long did it take you to complete the album and what was the process like?
AH: It took me a lifetime being that every record represents a point of time in my life. In actual terms it took about a year to get the album to exactly where I wanted it to be. Every instrumental was hand picked. Every bar was pre meditated. Every song title was hand picked. My message and my struggle was captured right.
JSD: Why did you name the album “Blood, Sweat, and Tears”?
AH: I tried to think in my head what represented what I’ve been through. Blood, Sweat and Tears was the only thing I could think of that did it. And when I think back it really was Blood, Sweat and Tears for me to be here.
JSD: How did the song ‘Hustle Hard’ come along?
AH: Hustle hard was my circumstances. My back was against the wall. I needed to jump back on the music scene I wanted people to respect my music. To come back it had to be nothing less than big. It was the only thing to do.
JSD: When creating a song, what generally comes first, lyrics? melody? concept?
AH: Usually the hook comes first for me. That’s the most important part of the record.
JSD: You recently collaborated with Chris Brown, who else would you like to work with?
AH: Jay-Z…I’d like to work with him one day.
AH: Not at all.
JSD: Whats your ultimate goal as an artist?
AH: To be a mogul. To be something great. To be remembered as an artist who brought a purpose to hip hop. Being a musician who really captured people all across the world and helped influence someone. That’s my goal.
JSD: Who are some of your Musical influences?
AH: I’m influenced by Lil’ Wayne, Trick Daddy, Canibus..the Hot Boyz. The artists I grew up listening to mainly.
JSD: Favorite artist?
AH: Definitely Wayne.
JSD: Besides rapping, what would you be doing now if you were not famous?
AH: To be honest I’d probably be in school if I wasn’t making music. I would hate it but I’d force myself to do it.
JSD: Do you have any touring plans anytime soon?
AH: Yes definitely. I’m putting together some plans now, I have a few offers but I will definitely be doing a tour in support of the album.
JSD: What are the Pros and Cons of the music industry?
AH: It is extremely hard. It takes a lot of hard work to be where you want to be and you have to out work those at the top. You got the political side of the business too so you have to handle your business properly and watch who you surround yourself with.
JSD: Do you have any advice for anyone looking to break into the music industry?
AH: Keep going. Keep hustling. Keep grinding. Believe in your product and believe in yourself.
Favorite Movies?
Boyz N The Hood
Nicki Minaj or Lil Kim?
Nicki
Movies or Clubs?
Movies
Studio or Tour Bus?
Studio
Facebook or Twitter?
Twitter
Special Thanks to Ace Hood and be sure to check out his new album on iTunes
1 comment
Ace hood you are very inspiring rapper and i agree with about with little wayne!
LOVE YOU,
Deja<3
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