Ace Diamond

The journey of an artist is most powerful when his purpose for doing it gets more personal over time. Andrew Reis, also known Ace Diamond, is such an artist. The 29 year old Providence Hip Hop genius has just released "The Hand I Was Dealt" on Renaissance City Records, an amazing work of art with unforgettable tracks including "My Music" (beats by Rhode Island producer St. Patrick), "Life Go By", and "Those Three Words", a song about cancer. Wait a minute? A song about cancer? Isn't Ace Diamond only 29 years old? And what rapper writes about cancer?

In July of 2005, Ace was sitting at home when he fell victim to a sudden seizure. Doctors informed the then 26 year old Diamond that he was suffering from a brain tumor. With no health insurance and little money, things were not looking good. Enter Dr. John Duncan III, Director of the Neurosurgery Residency Program at Brown Medical School, who decided to take the case at no charge. Diamond clearly remembers the day, "He said to me, you are my patient and I have you through this whole fight." Duncan's staff quickly arranged for Ace to receive Rhode Island State Medical coverage and set a date for surgery.

Recovery from brain surgery usually requires a ten day hospitalization. In only three days, however, the amazing Ace Diamond stood on his own two feet and walked out of Rhode Island Hospital. At that moment, there was proof that miracles exist. How else can one describe the spiritual mystery of two gifted artists, one musician and one scientist, combining forces to do the impossible? According to Ace, Dr. Duncan "...has a presence. When he walks into a room, he has the energy of someone touched by God." Clearly, so does Diamond himself.

It was now the Spring of 2006, and Ace was back on stage. That same year, his mixtape, "The Transition" was widely released, causing a surge of interest in the young star. The many requests for him to perform cast a sheen of optimism over his career, and soon Ace had impressed the legendary Gene Dozier, whose 19 gold and platinum singles as a Writer and Producer made Dozier's offer to sign with Renaissance City Records an easy decision. In July of 2006, Diamond signed with Dozier, and that same month opened for Akrobatik, the Hip Hop artist and radio personality from Jammin 94.5 FM in Boston. In October, however, Ace's brain tumor returned and everything came to a grinding halt. Once again, Dr. Duncan agreed to operate for free to remove it. In the span of just one year, from December of 2005 to November of 2006, Diamond had survived two brain surgeries and, with a fresh outlook on life and death, was now ready to do the best writing and performing of his career.

So what exactly did Ace Diamond learn, and how have these experiences shaped his work and personality? According to Diamond, one brain tumor wasn't enough to absorb what the universe intended for him to learn. "From 2000 to 2005, I was opening for some top names in the business (Foxy Brown, Redman, Master P, just to name a few) but was not putting my whole heart into my work. I performed because others told me I was talented. When the first tumor came, I started to put myself behind my music 100% but was still hanging around a negative crowd. It wasn't until after the second surgery that I distanced myself from people I couldn't trust. It was like God said to me, '...you want to be about your music? I'm going to put you on your back so you can think about what's really important.' Everything I had was taken away, but at the same time I was given a message that I could handle it."

These days, Ace's mission has changed. No longer is he focused on the surface pleasures most Hip Hop artists long to taste. "I am here to inspire people, to tell my story--that God will never put me in front of something I cannot handle. My work is about family, my mom and my two sisters, and putting my mom in a better place. All of my best qualities come from my mother." Apparently, Ace's education is not just in his head. On June 29th, there was not a dry eye in the house as Ace performed "Those Three Words" at the American Cancer Society's 'Relay for Life' event. Ace knew the audience would expect a song about love because the title signals listeners to think of the phrase "I love you". Of course, they were surprised to discover that the song actually concerns a far different message, 'You've got cancer.' Ace did this deliberately, "Cancer has never entered the world of Hip Hop, and the Hip Hop community is not used to hearing about something that serious." Here is a
taste of the wonderful lyrics in "Those Three Words" which appears on "The Hand I Was Dealt":

C I didn't want to know like Mario

But it just hit me I didn't see it like a body blow

Though I always heard about ya

Never thought I'd c ya--meet ya

I mean damn breakin' down a real man

But c I know your whole story

Yes you cause trouble Tears fear and pain

Homewrecker just the same

Interestingly, Ace does not describe his music as dark and didn't want to write in the hospital, "...that was more a time of reflection and to wonder why this happened. After I got out of the hospital, I reconnected with my higher power and was ready to write." The proof is in the pudding, and when Ace says he can handle anything, I believe him. How else could he have done occupational therapy, physical therapy, chemotherapy and radiation all within three months (January 2007 to March 2007)? Currently in remission, Diamond literally taught himself to write again after his second surgery which left his nerves so swollen that he could not move his right side. Ace sums up his story of hope with a smile, "The experience has made me a better person and a better artist."

For more information and upcoming live appearances of Ace Diamond, please visit his website at www.myspace.com/acediamond401
- Associated Content and 4zero1.com