The best known is the rapper, whose extensive Wikipedia page has been partly copied below.
Mason Durell Betha (born August 27, 1975),[1] better known by stage name Mase (often typeset as Ma$e) who was previously known as Murda Ma$e, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and inspirational speaker. He was an artist on Sean "Diddy" Combs's hip hop label Bad Boy Records. He was introduced as Bad Boy Entertainment's next big artist during the summer of 1996 when he was featured on the remix to 112's debut single, "Only You", which peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Singles Sales chart as well as its Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. With his soon-to-be-trademarked[citation needed] slow flow, Mase quickly developed a crossover fan base as he was featured on original tracks, as well as remixes, by popular R&B artists such as Brian McKnight, Mariah Carey, Keith Sweat, and Brandy, among others. Puff Daddy (Diddy) featured Mase on "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" from The Notorious B.I.G.'s double-LP Life After Death, the album's biggest hit single. He then featured Mase on several songs on his own debut album, No Way Out: the lead single, "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", which hit number one on the Rap, R&B, and Pop charts, as well as on "Been Around the World", which would also reach number one on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks. By the time Mase released his own debut album, Harlem World, in late 1997, the rapper had become Bad Boy's premier artist, filling the void left by the death of Biggie Smalls. He is married to Twyla Betha and leads an international ministry.
Contents
[hide]
1 Early life
2 Career
2.1 Harlem World
2.2 Double Up and retirement
2.3 Return to music and subsequent controversy
2.4 Second comeback
3 Discography
3.1 Albums
3.2 Compilations
3.3 Official Mixtapes
3.4 Filmography
4 References
5 External links
[edit] Early life
Rapper Mase was born Mason Durell Betha in Jacksonville, Florida on August 27, 1975, moved to Harlem, New York City with his family at age five, returned to Florida at age 13, and then moved back to Harlem two years later.[1] Betha was a point guard for the Manhattan Center High School basketball team and in 1993 he performed as "Murder Mase" in a rap group called Children of the Corn which also included successful solo artists Big L and Cam'ron (at the time known as Killa Cam). Of his ten childhood friends, eight were murdered and two went to prison. While attending SUNY Purchase, Mase met hip hop producer Country, was introduced to producer Sean Combs, and dropped out of college to pursue a rap career.[2]
[edit] Career
[edit] Harlem World
Mase's first solo LP, '"Harlem World"', debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.[1]
[edit] Double Up and retirement
Mase's sophomore effort, Double Up, was released in 1999 and distributed by Bad Boy Records and sold 107,000 copies in its first week, debuting at #11. Though it reached #5 when popular rap music was dominated by Master P and his No-Limit crew. Double Up also featured much more aggressive material. Perhaps no other sign was as clear as a line in the last song of the album, "From Scratch": "If I could do it all again, I'd do it all for Christ."
On April 20, 1999, during an interview with Funkmaster Flex on New York radio station Hot 97, Mase announced his retirement from music to pursue "a calling from God." He felt he was leading people, friends, kids and others down a path to hell, stating that he left to find God in his heart and follow him.[citation needed] He declared it was time for him to serve God in his way, saying rap was not real and that he wanted to deal with reality, and that he had become unhappy with what he did, no matter how much it paid.[citation needed]
[edit] Return to music and subsequent controversy
After a five-year hiatus from the music industry, Mase made a comeback with "Welcome Back" during the summer of 2004. Prior to the album's release, the rapper was featured on Nelly's "In My Life," as well as the remix to Fat Joe's "Lean Back".
Mase's third album, Welcome Back, released August 24, 2004. The album debuted at #4 on the charts, selling 188,000 copies in the first week; the album would eventually go gold, selling 559,000 copies in the United States. Released after a five-year break from the rap scene, the album was a product of Mase's newly developed Christian persona. Portraying a "cleaner" image during this short-lived return to the industry, Mase dubbed himself "a Bad Boy gone clean," on the lead single, also titled "Welcome Back." This new approach to rap was received with mixed reviews. However, even though the album was not a commercial success like Harlem World, the singles, "Welcome Back" and "Breathe, Stretch, Shake," received moderate radio airplay and video play on BET and MTV, with the latter reaching #28 on the Billboard Hot 100; both singles were also certified gold by the RIAA.
Mase for a short time had recorded for G-Unit. He has since said that working with the group was not something he regrets, but that the message he was sending was a mistake. He joined G-Unit to appeal to a different audience so they could see that they could change just as he did, thinking that "in order to get people where I'm at, I have to go back to where I once was." Under G-Unit, he released a "Crucified 4 The Hood: 10 Years of Hate," a mixtape from the DJ Whoo Kid series, but an official album was never released. According to 50, Diddy refused to let Mase out of his contract with Bad Boy for anything less than $2 million. Uncertain that Mase's album would sell well enough to make up for that type of investment, 50 gave up on trying to bring Mase onto G-Unit.
[edit] Second comeback
Following the formula that worked for him 13 years earlier, Mase has begun to appear on popular R&B artists' remixes. In early June 2009, he was featured on the last verse of "Uptown Boy" by Harry O, signed to The Inc., which also features Ron Browz. Weeks later, Mase appeared on a street remix for Drake's "Best I Ever Had." Mase stated that since the death of Michael Jackson it has lit the fire inside him and he is ready to come back. He appeared on Power 105.1 to have a phone conversation with "The Prince of New York" DJ Self to discuss his latest attempt at a comeback. During this interaction, former-friend-turned-rival, Jim Jones, called in to make peace and hinted at the possibility of the two working together in the near future. Mase would then use that very radio show as his outlet to release new music throughout the rest of the summer as he'd have a new song or feature premiere every Friday on DJ Self's show. On July 3, 2009, Mase appeared on the remix to Trey Songz' hit single "I Need A Girl," where he shouts out "And Diddy told them that '10 years from now we'll still be on top. I thought I told you that we won't stop," referring to the line on "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems."
In October 2009, Mase appeared on a live on-air interview on V-103 with appearance release forms to Bad Boy Records which he gave to Diddy in the middle of the interview for his signature. Diddy signed the forms and was quoted: "He has the freedom to go do whatever he wants to do." However, the forms do not end Mase's contractual obligations to Bad Boy Records, but rather allow him to appear on songs with artists from other labels.[3]
Puff's Intro
Mase Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spoken Intro (Puff Daddy)
Hmm yeah
The year is 1997
The place: New York New York big city of dreams
Harlem U.S.A. hundred and tenth street 1 25th 8th Avenue
7th Avenue Lenox Polo Grounds Hundred 45th street Hundred
12th street Hun' 35th street
This is where he resides at
This is his world
Harlem World
And this is his story
A story of... life, death, sex, drugs, happiness
Jealousy, envy, reality
This is his world... Harlem World...
Harlem World...
Harlem World...
The spoken introduction to Mase's song "Puff's Intro" is a powerful expression of the artist's identity and experience. Puff Daddy sets the scene in New York City, the city of dreams, and specifically in Harlem, the birthplace of Mase. The introduction provides specific locations in Harlem where Mase grew up, further emphasizing the connection between Mase and his neighborhood.
The introduction goes on to describe the themes that will be explored in the song, including life, death, sex, drugs, happiness, jealousy, envy, and reality. These themes are presented as intertwined realities of Harlem, a world in which Mase is deeply situated. The use of repetition, with the repeated phrase "Harlem World," emphasizes the importance of this geographical and cultural space in forming Mase's identity and the content of his music.
Overall, the spoken introduction to "Puff's Intro" provides a powerful narrative of Mase's life and the conditions that shaped his perspective. By emphasizing the importance of Harlem and the realities of life within that cultural context, the introduction sets the stage for the themes that will be explored in the rest of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hmm yeah
Puff Daddy starts the song with a sound of affirmation and clears his throat.
The year is 1997
The song is set in 1997, which is the time when the rapper Mase was most popular.
The place: New York New York big city of dreams
The song is about New York, which is known as the city of dreams.
Harlem U.S.A. hundred and tenth street 1 25th 8th Avenue
These are the streets and avenues in Harlem where Mase grew up and lived.
7th Avenue Lenox Polo Grounds Hundred 45th street Hundred
These are some more streets and places in Harlem that are significant to Mase's story.
12th street Hun' 35th street
These are more streets in Harlem that are important to Mase.
This is the birthplace of that nigga they call Mase
Harlem is the place where Mase was born and raised.
This is where he resides at
This is where Mase currently lives, and where he spent most of his life.
This is his world
Harlem is Mase's world, and he knows it inside and out.
Harlem World
Mase's world is Harlem, which is also the name of his debut album.
And this is his story
The song is about Mase's story, specifically about his experiences with life, death, sex, drugs, happiness, jealousy, envy, and reality.
A story of... life, death, sex, drugs, happiness
The song tells the story of Mase's experiences with various topics such as life, death, sex, drugs, and happiness.
Jealousy, envy, reality
Mase has also dealt with the negative emotions of jealousy and envy, and the harsh realities of life.
This is his world... Harlem World...
The song ends with the repetition of the phrase 'Harlem World', which is a reminder that Mase's story takes place in Harlem.
Harlem World...
The song concludes with a final repetition of the phrase 'Harlem World'.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MASON BETHA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind