Ace Hood Bio
Antoine Franklin McColister (born May 11, 1988), known professionally as Ace Hood, is an American rapper and songwriter from Florida. Born in Port St. Lucie and raised in Deerfield Beach, he turned to music after a high-school football injury and was discovered by DJ Khaled. Hood became the first artist signed to Khaled’s We the Best Music Group in 2008; his debut studio album, Gutta (2008), produced the Hot 100 single “Ride”. He followed with Ruthless (2009), Blood, Sweat & Tears (2011) — which included the single “Hustle Hard” — and Trials & Tribulations (2013), led by “Bugatti”. After leaving We the Best in 2016, Hood pursued an independent career while continuing to release mixtapes and perform.
Early Life and Background
Antoine Franklin McColister was born on May 11, 1988, in Port St. Lucie, Florida. His mother is of Haitian origin, and he was raised alongside a younger cousin, Ty Barton Jr., in Deerfield Beach, a community in Broward County. He graduated from Deerfield Beach High School, where he played football before a tenth-grade injury ended his athletic plans.
The injury forced McColister to reconsider his future, and he began taking music seriously as a result. Realizing he would not be able to pursue football professionally, the Broward County native started writing and performing his own rhymes. That decision set him on the path that would eventually lead to a record deal and a career in hip-hop.
Path to Rap
Following the football setback, McColister teamed up with a local group called Dollaz & Dealz and released a single titled “M.O.E.” in 2006. He also began promoting himself through open-mic events and talent shows around Deerfield Beach, building a small local following. The experience sharpened his stage presence and helped him develop a clearer sense of direction as an artist.
In 2007, he met DJ Khaled outside the offices of the WEDR 99 Jamz radio station. After McColister handed Khaled an autobiography and a demo tape, the producer asked him to freestyle over the instrumental of his song “I’m So Hood.” The audition impressed Khaled enough that he signed McColister to his We the Best Music Group label, making him the first act on the imprint. The signing launched McColister — now performing as Ace Hood — onto the national rap scene.
Ace Hood Career
Early Career (2006–2008)
Ace Hood’s debut studio album, Gutta, arrived in 2008 through We the Best Music Group in a joint venture with Def Jam Recordings. The project included singles such as “Cash Flow” featuring T-Pain and Rick Ross and “Ride” featuring Trey Songz, with the latter becoming his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. He also dropped mixtapes titled Ace Won’t Fold and All Bets On Ace during this period, and appeared alongside several rappers on DJ Khaled’s “Out Here Grindin’,” which peaked at number 38 on the Hot 100 and later earned gold certification from the RIAA. Gutta debuted at number 36 on the Billboard 200, selling roughly 25,000 copies in its first week.
His growing profile led to industry recognition, including a spot on XXL magazine’s Freshmen of ’09 list. The early buzz positioned Ace Hood as one of the promising new voices in Southern hip-hop and gave him a platform to expand his audience beyond Florida.
Breakthrough (2009–2013)
On June 30, 2009, Ace Hood released his second album, Ruthless, once again on Def Jam. The record included guest appearances from Akon, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Ludacris, Jazmine Sullivan, The-Dream, Birdman, and Lloyd, and debuted at number 23 on the Billboard 200. He confirmed a third album titled Blood, Sweat & Tears, which was released on August 9, 2011. The lead single “Hustle Hard” became his highest-charting solo entry at the time, reaching number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the album debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200. Ace Hood promoted the project with his first concert run, the Hustle Hard Tour, and contributed three tracks to DJ Khaled’s We the Best Forever.
In 2013, Ace Hood released his fourth studio album, Trials & Tribulations, under We the Best and Cash Money Records. The lead single “Bugatti,” featuring Future and Rick Ross and produced by Mike WiLL Made It, debuted on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 42 and peaked at number 33 on the Hot 100, becoming his most successful single as a lead artist. The album included collaborations with Meek Mill, Anthony Hamilton, Chris Brown, Betty Wright, and Lil Wayne, further cementing his standing in the Southern rap landscape.
Notable Works and Milestones
Ace Hood’s signature releases include Gutta (2008), Blood, Sweat & Tears (2011), and Trials & Tribulations (2013), along with standout singles “Ride,” “Hustle Hard,” and “Bugatti.” His work with DJ Khaled and his We the Best roster helped define a key era of Southern hip-hop, and his guest spot on “Out Here Grindin’” earned RIAA gold certification.
Ace Hood Award Nominations
Verified public records do not list specific award nominations for Ace Hood across his career to date, so this section is omitted to avoid speculation.
Ace Hood Awards Won
Verified public records do not list specific award wins for Ace Hood across his career to date, so this section is omitted to avoid speculation. His single “Out Here Grindin’” with DJ Khaled received RIAA gold certification, an industry sales milestone rather than a traditional music award.
Ace Hood Family
Ace Hood was raised by his mother, who is of Haitian origin, in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He grew up alongside a younger cousin, Ty Barton Jr., and graduated from Deerfield Beach High School. Public records confirm that he has children from earlier relationships, including twin daughters born in 2011.
Personal Life
Ace Hood is a Christian and has spoken openly about his faith. He and his previous girlfriend, Shanice Tyria Sarratt, welcomed twin girls, Lyric and Sailor Blu McColister, on May 25, 2011; Lyric passed away shortly after birth due to health complications. He also has a son from a previous relationship. After proposing to longtime girlfriend Shelah Marie in April 2019, the two married on February 7, 2020, and they have remained together since. In 2021, Ace Hood joined the cast of Love & Hip Hop: Miami for the first half of the fourth season, expanding his public profile into television.