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]
Tell Me What You Want
Mase Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chorus
Tell me what you want from me
Take a look at what you see
Let me know if it's right here
Something you can have for years
Tell me what you want from me
Take a look at what you see
Something you can have for years
[Mase]
Now Mase be the man want to see you doing good
I don't want to get rich, leave you in the hood
Girl in my eyes you the baddest
The reason why I love you, you don't like me cause my status
I don't want to see you with a carriage, living average
I want to do my thing so we be established
And I don't want you rocking those pharrohs
Girl, I will give you karats till you feel you a rabbit
Anything in your path, you want you can have
Walk through the mall, if you like it you can grab
Total it all up and put it on my tab
Then tell all your friends all the fun you had
Chorus
[Mase]
Hey Mama, won't you come here to Papa?
You don't like the way your tata's lookin at Shada?
In a 600 ain't no smokin cigada
Come over here I think I see your baby faddah
Here ya go the number to my casa
If you in a rush you call me manyana
Whatever you need girlfriend I got the whole enchilada
Just the way you like it Mase gonna do you propa
Girl I can tell you was meant for me
I can tell by the way you was sent for me
While I'm on tour trying to make them centuries
And they ask who your man you better mention me
If you don't, you know you got a problem
If you want no beef girlfriend don't start none
And it just so happens that I'm seeing cash
Cause you messed up a lot just trying to be fast
And I ain't gonna ask who smashed the E-Class
Pull up to the rear with the whole front crashed
Now you want to laugh, good thing that's the past
If you ever lie again girl that will be your last
Chorus
[Mase]
Now the more you treat me royal I adore you
That's why I don't mind doing these things for you
You did things for me I wouldn't believe you did
That's why I always want to keep you here
In a year or two girl, I could see you with my kids
Girl, you make a thug want to get a legal gig
It's only right we spend our lonely nights
Gettin crazy biz till we awake the kids
Don't get too loud got respect for you honey
To keep it all real, you come second to my money
Can you be my ghetto love prophecy?
Everybody love you girl, not just me
And I know you really care a lot for me
I want to see you happy even if it's not with me
Repeat chorus til fade
The song "Tell Me What You Want" by Mase and Total is about Mase being in love with a woman who doesn't seem to reciprocate his feelings because of his wealth and status. Mase wants to prove his love and devotion to her by providing her with everything she wants and needs, but also acknowledges that he may come second to his money. He wants her to be honest with him about what she wants from him and is willing to do whatever it takes to make her happy.
The lyrics of the song express Mase's desire to be with the woman and the lengths he is willing to go to prove his love for her. He desires to establish their relationship and ensure that she doesn't have to settle for an average life. He sees her as the most beautiful woman and wants to spend his life with her. However, he is also practical in his approach, stating that she should be honest with him about what she wants and that he won't mind if she chooses to be with someone else if that makes her happy.
In summary, "Tell Me What You Want" is a romantic song about a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to express his love for his girl. It is about the importance of communication in a relationship and the need for honesty and trust.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me what you want (repeat 5x)
Asking the partner to express their desires in the relationship
Tell me what you want from me
Asking the partner to clarify their needs and expectations
Take a look at what you see
Asking the partner to evaluate the current situation and express their feelings
Let me know if it's right here
Asking the partner to confirm if the current situation is acceptable to them
Something you can have for years
Promising a long-term, stable relationship
Now Mase be the man want to see you doing good
The singer wants the partner to be successful and live a good life
I don't want to get rich, leave you in the hood
The singer has no intention of abandoning the partner or leaving them behind
Girl in my eyes you the baddest
The artist admires and respects the partner
The reason why I love you, you don't like me cause my status
The partner does not love the artist for their fame or wealth
I don't want to see you with a carriage, living average
The artist wants to provide the partner with a luxurious lifestyle
I want to do my thing so we be established
The singer wants to build a successful life with the partner
And I don't want you rocking those pharrohs
The artist dislikes a certain type of hairstyle and wants the partner to change it
Girl, I will give you karats till you feel you a rabbit
The singer promises to provide the partner with a lot of expensive jewelry
Anything in your path, you want you can have
The singer is willing to provide the partner with whatever they desire
Walk through the mall, if you like it you can grab
The partner can freely shop and buy whatever they want
Total it all up and put it on my tab
The artist will pay for everything the partner wants
Then tell all your friends all the fun you had
The artist wants the partner to share their happiness with others
Hey Mama, won't you come here to Papa?
A term of endearment, asking the partner to come closer
You don't like the way your tata's lookin at Shada?
The singer is jealous and suspicious of the partner's interactions with someone else
In a 600 ain't no smokin cigada
The artist owns an expensive car, and smoking is not allowed in it
Come over here I think I see your baby faddah
The artist thinks they see someone who may be related to the partner's child
Here ya go the number to my casa
The artist gives the partner their home phone number
If you in a rush you call me manyana
The singer is always available for the partner, even if it's the next day
Whatever you need girlfriend I got the whole enchilada
The artist has everything the partner needs or wants
Just the way you like it Mase gonna do you propa
The singer will fulfill the partner's desires and needs
Girl I can tell you was meant for me
The singer believes the partner is their soulmate
I can tell by the way you was sent for me
The singer feels that fate brought them together
While I'm on tour trying to make them centuries
The artist is working hard to become successful and wealthy
And they ask who your man you better mention me
The partner should always acknowledge that the artist is their boyfriend
If you don't, you know you got a problem
If the partner doesn't acknowledge the singer, it will cause issues in the relationship
If you want no beef girlfriend don't start none
If the partner doesn't want any problems, they shouldn't do anything to upset the singer
And it just so happens that I'm seeing cash
The artist is currently making a lot of money
Cause you messed up a lot just trying to be fast
The partner made mistakes in the past by being impulsive and reckless
And I ain't gonna ask who smashed the E-Class
The artist is aware that the partner may have had a sexual encounter in their car, but doesn't want to know the details
Pull up to the rear with the whole front crashed
The partner crashed their car, damaging the front part
Now you want to laugh, good thing that's the past
The artist doesn't want to dwell on past mistakes and wants to move forward
If you ever lie again girl that will be your last
The singer warns the partner that lying will not be tolerated in the relationship
Now the more you treat me royal I adore you
The more the partner treats the singer well, the more they love and respect them
That's why I don't mind doing these things for you
The singer enjoys doing things for the partner because they treat them well
You did things for me I wouldn't believe you did
The partner has done things for the artist that exceeded their expectations
That's why I always want to keep you here
The artist wants to keep the partner in their life because they make them happy
In a year or two girl, I could see you with my kids
The singer is thinking about having children with the partner in the future
Girl, you make a thug want to get a legal gig
The partner inspires the singer to consider a lawful job instead of a criminal one
It's only right we spend our lonely nights
The artist and partner should spend their free time together
Gettin crazy biz till we awake the kids
The artist and partner engage in intimate activities until it's time to take care of their children
Don't get too loud got respect for you honey
The artist doesn't want the partner to be too loud during intimate moments out of respect
To keep it all real, you come second to my money
The singer values their wealth and career, but still loves the partner
Can you be my ghetto love prophecy?
The artist wants the partner to be their fate in love, despite difficult circumstances
Everybody love you girl, not just me
The partner is loved and admired by many people
And I know you really care a lot for me
The singer knows that the partner loves and cares for them deeply
I want to see you happy even if it's not with me
The singer wants the partner to be happy, even if they are not together in the future
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DARYL HALL, SARA ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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