HHG: First things first - "Arts & Entertainment" dropping November 3rd.  I had a chance to listen to an advance copy of the album and you guys are really bringing some good stuff to the table.  How long was this album in the making?

Masta Ace: It was in the making for about the last two years.  We both had our schedules occupied with other projects.  EDO was out with Special Teamz and promoting that and I was out with EMC promoting that, and of course working on those records.  So it took about two years of being in the studio, off and on, whenever we could to get it done.

HHG: How was it working with Double O from Kidz In The Hall?  It seems like he's one of the most well rounded producers in the game right now.

Masta Ace: He's a talented dude and he sent me a beat that I really loved.  I played it for EDO and then we got KRS on it and it just kinda made sense.

HHG: Speaking of, the guests on the album are crazy - KRS, Large Professor, Posdnus from De La - what was it like getting in the studio with those guys?

EDO.G: Everything was more organic, like we got all of these guests just by chance.  Like, I ran into Pos at Rock The Bells.  I had performed with Mos Def and we were at an after party together in Boston, and I was like, I need you on this record with me and Ace.  He was like, no problem.  With Large Professor, I was actually on my way to New York to the studio and I hit him up, told him I was coming to New York and he didn't call me back...then he just showed up at the studio.  He heard the beat and ended up just jumping right on it.  So, you know, everything was really organic man.  It was nothin' that we set out to do, getting particular artists or anything like that.  It was more so working with artists that we knew and we loved and we had relationships with and, you know, artists that we had always wanted to work with.

HHG: Ace, I got a question for you.  When we last spoke, it was 2004, "A Long Hot Summer" was out, and you were about to become a father.  How did that event affect you in terms of your drive, and your writing style and just everything in general?

Masta Ace: It definitely grounded me.  It definitely made me a little more stable, more about being at home and more about family.  When it's just you and your wife, you know, it's family but once you get that extra person that counts on you, then it really becomes a strong bond.  It just grounded me a lot.  Every time I go out and I'm performing, you know, I'm thinking about being at home and I'm calling home and staying in touch with her.  She's at an age now where she knows I'm leaving and she misses me and wants to hear from me.

HHG:  That would definitely be difficult sometimes I would imagine.

Masta Ace: It can be hard, it can be hard.  Thank God for Mac computers and iChat.