— Ace Hood links up with Atlanta’s own rapper-activist Killer Mike to celebrate Black history-makers in the “Greatness” music video.
Following the release of his critically acclaimed M.I.N.D (Memories Inside Never Die) EP, Broward County’s Ace Hood has proceeded to drop some powerful visuals – most recently, last month’s “At War” music video. Now, he’s turned it up a notch as he and Killer Mike highlight some of history’s greatest Black movers and shakers.
“Greatness”, serving as an overall celebration of Black Excellence, finds the two artists taking stock of the many hardships they faced along their journeys before laughing at the failures of those who aimed to derail their rises, as Killer Mike raps, “A greater man, I’m greater than any hater, man/I started off serving hand-to-hand in Decatur, man.”
When describing the meaning and purpose behind the track, Ace Hood explained,
“‘Greatness’ is a reminder as a black man, father, artist, and human that, regardless of society’s dream, we all are born with a specific greatness unique to who we are. It’s up to oneself to do the work and connect with that higher frequency.”
Directed by Alex Heider, who recently connected with Ace Hood for the equally dynamic “At War” and “Free” videos, “Greatness” opens with the image of Ace sitting in a home office decorated with antique furnishings, before transitioning to the interspersed portraits of Black historical figures lining the home’s mahogany walls. Those immortalized in the portraits include Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to go to space; Arthur Ashe, the first Black athlete to win many of tennis’ most prized tournaments; Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in Congress and first Black person to run for US presidency; and Young Dolph and Nipsey Hussle, both revolutionaries of independence in Hip-Hop — even including a subtle ode to an iconic Malcom X moment. After paying homage to the leaders that paved the way for them to achieve their own “Greatness,” the last two portraits are revealed, capturing the heroic images of Ace Hood and Killer Mike.
By recruiting Killer Mike as his EP’s sole feature, M.I.N.D (Memories Inside Never Die) is animated by a clear social message that dissects the mentality required to triumph over personal and generational trauma that both artists understand so well. With this incredible new visual, Ace Hood has only cemented that message.
Listen to the album and check out the full visual right here. Also, be sure to follow Ace Hood on his official Instagram and Twitter pages to see what’s next for the independent veteran.