Veteran MC Masta Ace already has experience with successful rap groups. In the late ’80s he joined up with the Juice Crew for the seminal “The Symphony,” a move which then helped to jumpstart his own solo career. So it makes sense that he turns back to the group format when rumors of his own retirement set in. Along with fellow Brooklynites Punchline and Wordsworth and Milwaukee native Stricklin, all of whom Ace had worked with on Disposable Arts and Long Hot Summer, the foursome came together as eMC in 2005. And what, do you ask, does eMC mean? The rappers are more than happy to answer that question in “EMC What It Stand For,” the first single from their debut, The Show (scheduled to be released in March), which features bass drum-heavy Nicolay production as well as some sick verses from each of the MCs (”EMC, Excellent mic controllers, each must come fulfill the quota/Every man can prove he’s a soldier, this ain’t chicken noodle soup with a soda,” “Each man can claim another victory/Why don’t you plead the Fifth dog, cuz you ain’t got shit to say/Your neck sore from vibing, blame Nicolay”), the track bounces without sacrificing lyrical content. The single came out way back in September, but as a lead-in to the full-length, it’s a relevant, exciting bit of work, and one of the better underground joints to surface in a while.