Ace Reign

Artist Information

Biography

"Make no mistake, Ace is no punk. Tracks such as 'Red Banadama' and 'B---- N-----' shows that she can go hard with the big boys."
Michael Langston Moore, Examiner.com

Ace Reign, born April D. Winston, on April 10, 1984 is an American Producer/Songwriter/Rap artist from Washington, DC. She began her career as a songwriter by capturing the details of life as her streets unfolded themselves before her.

Ace was more determined to remain true to herself and make timeless music. As a result, her music is not just about creating something that people can sit back, enjoy and bop their heads to, but she uses her passion for music as a tool to share her life struggles and experiences that others can relate to. “Making music is a way to vent my thoughts and emotions without making myself vulnerable to others. Its an outlet. My music enables me to reach people near and far in a positive way…to share my thoughts and motivate others in some way.” She hopes that people benefit from the good quality that her music provides and it will break barriers that are normally imposed on female hip-hop artists.

What’s Unique about Ace Reign’s Music?
Ace is slowly breaking the glass in making her goal a reality. She has been able to break into mainstream music industry by working with some well-renowned international producers like Rob Stern, Grammy and platinum artist, Josh Gabriel and Sander Kleinenberg, owner of Little Mountain Recordings from the Netherlands. They all were taken aback by the intelligent harmonious lyrics the twenty-six years old was spitting.

Benefits
Ace’s music is appealing to both genders and all ages. Her style of music provides little of everything for listeners – from R&B to rock, a touch of classical with a slash of house polished by traditional hip hop sound throughout. The best way to describe her blend of music is an old school sound with a new school swagger.

Testimonies
“Her voice is like diamonds, very distinctive. I think we have discovered the newest queen of rap,” says freelance writer, Deaidre Newby. Many music lovers will agree with Newby’s sentiments. Leslie with Tribe Magazine stated relating to Ace’s music, “very hot tracks!” Alex Karydi from the Examiner expressed that “her music is inspiring.” Sheila Hudson, CEO of Technology Vizion says, “Ace is one of the few artists whose lyrics are about real life and not about the flashy lifestyle.” James Henderson, an employee with the DMV Project stated that people could “visualize the lyrics. It has an old school kind of new age rap and R&B feel to it… a rock feeling.” Henderson sentiments are what Ace wants people to experience when they listen to her music. “I want people to benefit from the tasteful quality that my music provides – something that people can dance, pop bottles or just relax to.” Ultimately, she wants her music to break a final blow to barriers that separates the boys from the girls. “Great music is what it is, great music. It should not matter whether I am a man or woman. Accept it for the value it brings.”

Instrumentation

Discography

2011 Love Conspiracy by Michelle De featuring Ace Reign, Lacy B and Kruxify
2011 High Life by Three Words and Ace Reign
2011 Grind or Die
2010 We Make Love
2010 Crazy
2010 This Love, collab with Sander Kleinenberg
2009 Candy Coated Whip, music by Robert Stern and Josh Gabriel
2009 Still Ridin, music by Robert Stern
2009 When it Reigns it Pours Volume 1 Released 2010
2008 On These Streetz, music by Robert Stern
2007 Maria
2007 Red Bandana
2003 Beyond da Surface

Official Website

http://www.reverbnation.com/acereign

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Youtube
• reverbnation

Audio

• Crazy by Ace Reign
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• Grind or Die by Ace Reign
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• High Life by Ace Reign (snippet)
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• This Love
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• Candy Coated Whip by Ace Reign ft Josh Gabriel & Rob Stern
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• Still Riding by Ace Reign ft Rob Stern
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• Look Beyond the Surface
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Artist Spotlight
  

  General information about artist, bio and music featured on Tribe Online Radio.

• Indie Music Review: Ace Reign [+ Show ]
  

  Ace Reign is a Washington, D.C. based rapper who, at the age of ten, took baby steps towards becomin...Ace Reign is a Washington, D.C. based rapper who, at the age of ten, took baby steps towards becoming a songwriter by jotting down aspects of her life on paper. That led Ace, born April D. Winston, to form a group called La Cosa Nostra in 1999 with her oldest brother and a female companion.
  
  The group ultimately disbanded, but the fire for music never died. That passion is clearly evident on Ace Reign’s mix tape, "When It Reigns It Pours, Volume 1."
  
  Despite the likes of MC Lyte and Queen Latifah paving the way for modern day successes such as Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj, female rappers must continue to prove themselves in an arena steeped in testosterone and bravado. That can sometimes force a woman to try too hard, causing her lyrics to become overly gritty and sexualized.
  
  In the case of "When It Reigns It Pours," Ace Reign manages to avoid many of these pitfalls.
  
  Make no mistake, Ace is no punk. Tracks such as "Red Bandana" and “B---- N----” shows that she can go hard with the big boys:
  
  Punk a---- slippin’
  For underestimating b----
  Yeah, I roll with the hardest, young black Goddess
  I shine so bright, it’s like my skin was f---- polished
  All haters, I demolish
  
  Still, Ace is at her best when the guard comes down and we learn more about her desires, passions, and beliefs. On the track "Maria," which samples The Jackson Five song of the same name, Ace expresses the joy of being in love:
  
  Damn, first kiss just like magic
  You give me life with the joy you bring
  If only I could sing, I would serenade you everyday
  
  The same is true for “When We Make Love,” an affectionate love letter of a song that, in the hands of a lesser artist, might have slipped over the edge into debauchery.
  
  "When It Reigns It Pours" even manages to be uplifting. On the track "Look Beyond the Surface," Ace rails against anyone who chooses to judge her based on her appearance or sexual preference, which in rap music, is virtually unheard of:
  
  Love is blind
  Comes in any shape, form, or fashion
  So don’t let it pass ya
  Life is meant to be lived for many things
  If you live for nothing, I guess you’ll die for anything
  
  There are still some tracks that come across as less than original. Songs such as “Still Ridin” and “Candy Coated Whip” are braggadocios, anti-hater anthems you’ve heard on the radio for years. Despite that, Ace Reign has a nice flow that’s supported by unique beats, strong production, and at times, very revealing lyrics.
  
  Score: *** out of *****
  
  --
  
  Ace Reign has recently collaborated with Josh Gabriel and Sander Kleinenberg, owner of Little Mountain Recordings from the Netherlands, to record the track "This Love." You can find it on their album "5k," which was released on October 24th.

• Up and coming female rapper: D.C. native, Ace Reign [+ Show ]
  

  Ace Reign, also known as Ace of Spade, born April D. Winston, is an American producer, songwriter, r...Ace Reign, also known as Ace of Spade, born April D. Winston, is an American producer, songwriter, rapper artist from Washington, DC. She began her career as a songwriter at age 11 by portraying the details of life on her street. After a failed group consisting of herself, her brother, and a female friend called La Cosa Nostra in 1999, Ace refocused her attention on her education and worked on enhancing her writing skills.
  
  Refocused and energized, Ace was more determined than ever to remain true to herself and make classic music. As a result, her music is not just about creating something enjoyable; she uses her passion and experiences to also make it relatable. “Making music is a way to vent my thoughts and emotions without making myself vulnerable to others. Its an outlet. My music enables me to reach people near and far in a positive way…to share my thoughts and motivate others in some way.” Ace is heading towards breaking barriers that are typically imposed upon female hip-hop artists.
  
  She has been able to break into mainstream music industry through some well-renowned international producers such as Rob Stern, a progressive international techno audio producer. Through this connection, Ace was introduced to Grammy and platinum artist, Josh Gabriel, and owner of Little Mountain Recordings from the Netherlands, Sander Kleinenberg. They both recognized the realism and simplicity in her rhymes vocalized through her melodious and soulful voice. Kleinenberg, who has set the standard for progressive house music, invited Ace to play around with some beats. They were all impressed by the cultured, harmonious lyrics the twenty-six year-old was spitting. Ace was not yet ready to sign with a major label at the time but was asked to compose and record the track “This Love” on their album released on October 24, 2010. Gabriel and Stern both collaborated with Ace to produce “Still Ridin” and “Candy Coated Whip,” two tracks from her "When it reigns it pours, Volume 1 mix tape" album.
  
  Ace’s androgynous style of music features a range from R&B to rock, classical to house, soul to eclectic, fused with a classic hip hop sound throughout. Her style can be compared to the sounds of soul/R&B/hip hop group Floetry and English pop rapper Lady Sovereign while she sites the greats - Tupac, Biggie, and Nas - as influences.
  
  Ace's flavor is a refreshing change as her ingenuous yet mature flow sets her apart from the profusion of hip hop revolved around flashy, vulgar, violent, or mindless material. The music production is high-quality, containing sophisticated musicality and a well-rounded and pleasureable sound palate.
  
  Because it covers such a wide range of sounds, Ace's music does not fit into any one genre. Although this could be seen as a benefit to attract a broader audience, it can become rather difficult to brand yourself as an artist without debuting within a niche or with a signature sound. Her sound can be broadly placed in a hip hop category but while some of the tracks on the album lean towards spoken word neo-soul, others are much grittier, contrasting with a much harder and rougher classification of hip hop. She has already proved herself unique in the game but can do so further by establishing her niche either by focusing on one style or blending to create one cohesive one.
  
  You can preview and purchase Ace's volume 1 mix tape here or here. Stay tuned for her second mix tape CD, “When it Reigns it Pours Vol. 2” and other projects in the near future. Share your thoughts on Ace Reign's music below.

• 5K M.A.N.I.C album release
  

  "Ace Reign is obviously amazing talented"

• Ace Reign feature article
  

  "Your music sounds awesome and we'd like to work with you."— Rafa, Vent Magazine

• Don’t sleep on the current artist [+ Show ]
  

  Ace Reign was born to be different. Her current cd release “When it Rains it Pours, Vol. 1” is a na...Ace Reign was born to be different. Her current cd release “When it Rains it Pours, Vol. 1” is a natural fit into today’s new age of Hip-Hop. Don’t sleep on the current artist who has the potential to be one of the top Hip-Hop Female Artist today! As you look beyond her sensitivity, her style involves the 90’s throwback era along with the current Hip-Hop edge. A music connoisseur realizes that Ace is one of the few artists whose lyrics are about real life and not about the flashy lifestyle only one imagines having. The track “Look Beyond the Surface” describes the adversities we face when people pass judgment based on the outside and not spending time finding out what is real on the inside. As Ace Reign continues to break down barriers and rise to the top, she will be able to leave a lasting impression on Hip-Hop. Stay tuned, the coming reign will be Ace Reign.
  
  Sheila R. Hudson
  SCBP Assistant Pride Director & Program Coordinator

• Ace a gimmick or a fad [+ Show ]
  

  As a HUGE fan of music and a highly critical listener of rap, I have found myself drawn to Ace Reign...As a HUGE fan of music and a highly critical listener of rap, I have found myself drawn to Ace Reign's music. There is an honesty in her lyrics and a passion in her delivery that I haven't seen much of lately. She doesn't come across as a gimmick or a fad ... but as a passionate performer with a gift for turning real life situations and emotions into something beautiful and real.
  
  I've had the pleasure of reading other articles featuring her and her music and while I agree that she is an amazing talent, I can't really find anyone to compare her to. What I CAN agree with is that Ace Reign is an AMAZING talent that the world needs to hear. Her refusal to sell sex and BS just to make a name for herself makes her a standout in the industry to me. The things that would normally repel me, are non-existent with her and I look forward to watching her star shine and being a witness to her continued rise to the top.
  

• Ace Reign Guess Appearance on Sander Kleinenberg 5K Album [+ Show ]
  

  Dutch producer SANDER KLEINENBERG unleashes in North America today, June 14, 2011, 5K, his debut stu...Dutch producer SANDER KLEINENBERG unleashes in North America today, June 14, 2011, 5K, his debut studio album via his own label This Is Recordings (INgrooves). Coinciding with the album’s release, he has made available a new video for “T.I.O.N. (This Is Our Night).”
  The song is the lead track on KLEINENBERG’s 5K and is available as a single with its original version accompanied by the Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano Amazon Project Mix. Its video is directed by High5Collective (http://high5collective.tumblr.com/) highlighting a group of partygoers fueled through the night via a selection of mysterious neon liquids and features a cameo by SANDER at the end.
  5K was co-produced with Josh Gabriel and features guest appearances by fellow Dutchmen Kraak & Smaak, Ursula Rucker, Ace Reign, Neil Ormandy and more. Its debut single “Remember When” caught the attention of fans the world over with its alluring vocal courtesy of Jamie Cullum. Log on to Aol now to hear a full stream of 5K at: http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/spinner#/19. The album is also available via all digital retailers with a deluxe version available featuring an extended track listing at iTunes.
  Meanwhile, KLEINENBERG is currently wrapping up a select run of North American tour dates where he is featuring material from 5K set to his custom complementing visuals. Shows are confirmed for Scottsdale, Orange County, CA, San Diego and Los Angeles this week, after which he’ll return to Europe for festivals and tour dates on the continent.
  SANDER KLEINENBERG’s ‘5K’ is available now via iTunes at:
  Deluxe: http://bit.ly/lyTslY
  Regular: http://bit.ly/kartTC

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