| Richmond Hill | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Masta Ace and Marco Polo | ||||
| Released | January 26, 2024 | |||
| Genre | Hip Hop | |||
| Label | Fat Beats | |||
| Producer | Marco Polo | |||
| Masta Ace chronology | ||||
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| Marco Polo chronology | ||||
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Richmond Hill is a collaborative studio album by American rapper Masta Ace and Canadian hip hop record producer Marco Polo. Released in 2024 via Fat Beats Records, the album serves as the follow-up to their 2018 project A Breukelen Story . While the previous album explored Marco Polo's journey from Toronto to Brooklyn, Richmond Hill returns to the producer's roots, drawing inspiration from his childhood in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Ontario, Canada. [1]
The album blends Marco Polo's warm soul samples and crisp percussion with Masta Ace's signature narrative lyricism, forming a cinematic exploration of how childhood experiences, family support, addiction struggles, and early artistic influences shape adulthood. Interludes recount Marco Polo's upbringing, love for hip-hop and cartoons, and challenges on the road to becoming a producer. Guest appearances span multiple generations of hip hop, including Inspectah Deck, Blu, Coast Contra, Che Noir, Speech, Stricklin, Wordsworth, and others. [1]
Richmond Hill continues the autobiographical storytelling approach established on A Breukelen Story. Whereas the earlier album focused on Marco Polo's relocation to Brooklyn and his entrance into the music industry, the new project looks further back into his formative years. The narrative interludes feature moments from his childhood, reflections on addiction and recovery, and the support system offered by his parents.
Musically, Marco Polo incorporates soulful textures, sharp drums, and atmospheric samples, creating a reflective but energetic backdrop. Masta Ace uses his veteran perspective to address modern societal issues, personal growth, and generational change, mirroring the album’s theme of the past informing the present.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "December 26th (skit)" | 1:07 |
| 2. | "Brooklyn Heights" | 2:58 |
| 3. | "Certified" (featuring Coast Contra) | 3:48 |
| 4. | "Cartunes (skit)" | 0:38 |
| 5. | "Hero" (featuring Inspectah Deck) | 2:48 |
| 6. | "Life Music" (featuring E. Smitty, Speech, Stricklin) | 3:04 |
| 7. | "Below the Clouds" (featuring Blu) | 4:45 |
| 8. | "St. Roberts (skit)" | 0:24 |
| 9. | "Heat of the Moment" (featuring Pav Bundy) | 3:15 |
| 10. | "Jordan Theory" | 3:01 |
| 11. | "Money Problems" (featuring Che Noir) | 3:12 |
| 12. | "Scarborough (skit)" | 0:33 |
| 13. | "P.P.E." | 3:04 |
| 14. | "Outside In" (featuring C-Red, E. Smitty) | 4:10 |
| 15. | "Connections" | 3:48 |
| 16. | "Plant Based" | 2:33 |
| 17. | "December 25th (skit)" | 0:40 |
| 18. | "All I Want" (featuring Wordsworth) | 1:57 |