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]
Top Of The World
Mase Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mase get Harlem on the rise
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on
I went from Helly Hansen to mini mansions
The girls in Aruba doing belly dancin'
Spent half of my advance on jars from Branson
To make it through my circumstances
Got a butter soft leather just to hide my pound
Got a house in the valley, come and find me now
Got enough dough to buy the town
So I might give a six to my chick, Benz to my mom
Crib so big it look like the center gone
Give her a couch just to spill Henney on
And been a don since Lotto's and Benneton
Some people say that I am not the same girl
They say I think that I am in my own world
What makes them think that I have changed, yeah
A little dough cannot erase my problems
Me, like you, I have to try and solve them
Yes, everything is quite the same, whoa
I'm just trying to be me (be me)
Doing what I got to do (doing what I gotta do)
Some people think that I'm (that I'm)
Just sittin' on top of the world (sittin', sittin' on top of the world)
I'm just trying to be me (yeah)
Provin' what I got to do (provin', oh)
Some people think that I'm (that I'm)
Just sittin' on top of the world (oh yeah)
Sittin' on top of the world
Sittin' on top of the world
Sittin' on top of the world
Top of the world, top of the world, top of the world
Sittin' on top of the world
Top of the world, top of the world, top of the world (yeah, yeah)
I wonder why it's often said that my life's
A fairy tale and everything is so right
I wish that you could know the truth, yeah
My life is real so please don't get it twisted
Problems the same and got to be dealt with
These are the things I wish you knew, oh
Always in someone's eye, so many questions why
How is it to be down with me, with me
Afraid to express myself, always me and someone else (I need)
I need to be free but it's not that easy
I'm just trying to be me
Doing what I got to do
Some people think that I'm (sittin', sittin')
Just sittin' on top of the world (on top of the world)
I'm just trying to be me (yeah)
Provin' what I got to do (provin', oh)
Some people think that I'm (that I'm)
Just sittin' on top of the world (sittin' on top of the world)
Sittin' on top of the world
Don't understand why (don't understand why)
People think I don't have friends who knew me back then
This was my dream (this was my dream)
But nothing has changed
I still do the same things
Yo, we can cut the talkin' short if it ain't about cake
I ain't sittin' on top, I want a house on the lake
I'm that snotty nosed cat with a new BM
If you mess wit Brand' then I got to bruise your chin
I be with Puff, the girls be like "Who's his friend?"
If I hit a chick once, she probably move me in
So you gotta tell me right now, either you wit'
The cats who make the hits or the one that see the chips
(Slow down Mase, you're killing 'em) But don't stop it
What's the use of buying the weight, if I'ma have to chop it?
I used to love the lady, 'til I learned her logic
She only mess wit Mase, know the money ain't no object
If it ain't Cris', he won't pop it
If it ain't platinum wit ice, he won't rock it
If it don't cost 60, he don't drop it
If it don't come with TV's, he don't cop it
You can stop it
I'm just trying to be me
Doing what I got to do
Some people think that I'm (think that I'm just sittin' on top of the world)
Just sittin' on top of the world
I'm just trying to be me
Provin' what I got to do (provin' what I gotta do)
Some people think that I'm
Just sittin' on top of the world (sittin' on top of the world)
Sittin' on top of the world
Yeah, Brandy on top of the world
Dark Child on top of the world
Mase be on top of the world, what?
Harlem World be on top of the world
Brandy on top of the world
Dark Child be on top of the world
M-A-Dolla sign-E all over the world
Brandy, all over the world
All over the world
All over the world
Yeah, yeah, yeah
What, what
Yeah, yeah, yeah, what, what, what
The lyrics of Mase's song 'Sittin' on Top of the World' are about how Mase has successfully transitioned from poverty to a life of luxury. He mentions buying a house in the valley, having enough money to buy a whole town, and giving a couch just to spill Henny on. However, Mase talks about how this newfound success does not mean that his problems have disappeared, and how people's perception of his life being perfect is not accurate. Brandy sings the chorus, where she talks about trying to be herself and do what she needs to do, despite the misconception that she is just sitting on top of the world with no worries.
The song shows that even when someone reaches the top of success, it does not necessarily mean that their problems are solved or that their life is as perfect as people may assume it is. It showcases how important it is to stay true to oneself and not let success get to one's head. The song also emphasizes the importance of solving one's problems, even if they have money or success.
Line by Line Meaning
Brandy on top of the world
Brandy is successful and on top of the world
Darkchild on top of the world
The producer Darkchild is also successful and on top of the world
Mase be on top of the world
Mase is experiencing great success and is on top of the world
Harlem World be on top of the world
The group Harlem World is also successful and on top of the world
Brandy on top of the world
Brandy continues to experience great success and is still on top of the world
Darkchild be top of the world
Darkchild is still successful and on top of the world
M-A-dollar sign-E all over the world
Mase is known all over the world and is successful globally
Brandy all over the world
Brandy's success has brought her fame and recognition all over the world
All over the world
The success of these individuals and groups has impacted people all over the world
I went from Helly Hanson to mini-mansions
I have gone from wearing a popular brand to living in luxurious homes
The girls in Aruba doing belly-dancings
Women in Aruba are dancing and enjoying life
Spent half of my advancing
I have spent a significant portion of the money I have earned
Jaws from branson
I have connections with wealthy individuals
I make it through my circumstances
I have overcome challenges and obstacles in my life
But u know I'm wiser now
As a result of my experiences, I have gained wisdom and knowledge
Move like kaiser now
I am now more strategic and thoughtful in my actions
gotta butter soft cover just to hide my pound
I need to use a soft cover to hide my gun
gotta house in the valley
I own a house in a wealthy area
Come and find me now
I am successful and can be easily found
Got enough dough to buy the town
I am wealthy enough to buy the entire town
So I might give a 6 to my chick Benz to my mom
I can afford to buy expensive gifts for myself and my loved ones
Crib so big it look like the Sinigon
My house is so large it resembles a famous hotel in Las Vegas
Give a couch just to spill henny on
I can afford to waste expensive alcohol
And Benadon since Lados and Benaton
I have been able to afford expensive brands like Lados and Benaton
Some people say that I'm not the same girl
Some people think I have changed due to my success
They say that I think I'm in my own world
People feel that I am becoming out of touch with reality
What makes them think that I have changed
I am unsure why people believe I have changed
A little dough cannot erase my problems
Money cannot solve all of my problems
Me like you I have to try and solve them
Like everyone else, I have to work to solve my problems
Yes everything is quite the same
I am still the same person despite my success
I'm just trying to be me
I am simply trying to be true to myself
Doing what I got to do
I am doing what I need to do to succeed
Some people think that I'm
There are people who have misconceptions about me
Just sittin on top of the world
People believe I am simply enjoying my success without working hard for it
I'm just try to be me proving what I got to prove
I am working hard to prove myself and my talents
I wonder why it's often said
I am curious as to why people often say
That my life's a fairy tale and
People believe that my life has been perfect and easy like a fairy tale
Everything is so right
People believe that everything in my life is perfect
I wish that you could know the truth
I wish people knew the reality of my life
My life is real so please don't get it twisted
My life is not perfect and I have struggles like everyone else
Problems the same and got to be dealt with
I face the same problems as everyone else and must deal with them
These are the things I wish you knew
I want people to understand the reality of my life
Always in someone's eye so many questions why
I am constantly in the public eye and face many questions
How is it to be down with me with me
People are curious about what it would be like to be close to me
Afraid to express myself always me and someone else
I feel afraid to be myself and always feel like I have to be with someone else
I need to be free but its not that easy
I want to be able to be myself and be free, but it is difficult to do so in the public eye
Don't understand why people
I do not understand why people
Think I don't have friends
People believe that I do not have friends
Who knew me bad when
There are people who knew me before I was successful
This was my dream nothing has changed
I have always dreamed of being successful and nothing has changed about that
Yo,you can quit cookin' short if it ain't about cake
If it does not involve money, I am not interested
I ain't sittin' on top I want a house on a lake
I am not satisfied with my current level of success and want even more
I'm that snotty nosed cat with a new BM
I am a successful and arrogant individual with a new BMW car
If you mess with Brandy I gotta bruise your chin
I am protective of Brandy and will fight anyone who tries to harm her
I be with Puff the girls be like "Who's his friend?"
I am friends with Diddy and women are interested in his connections
If I hit a chick once you probably move me in
If I sleep with a woman once, she will likely become emotionally attached and want to live with me
So you gotta tell me right now
You need to give me a straightforward answer
Either your wit The cats that make the hits or the ones that see the chips
You need to tell me if you are with the people who create hit music or the ones who make a lot of money
(Slow down Mase your killin' me)
(Mase, you are overwhelming me)
But don't stop it
Keep going despite my request to slow down
Whats the use of buying a weight if I'm a hav to chop it
What is the point of buying drugs if I have to sell them in smaller quantities?
I use the let a lady till I learned the logics
I used to let women control me until I realized it was not logical
She only mess with Mase know the money ain't an object
Women are only interested in me for my wealth even though it is not important to me
If it ain't crissy he won't pop it
I will not drink any alcohol that is not Cristal brand
If it ain't platinum with ice he won't rock it
I will not wear any jewelry that is not made of platinum and does not have diamonds
If it don't cost 60 he don't drop it
I will not buy any clothes that do not cost at least $60
If it don't come with TVs he won't cop it
I will not buy any car that does not have TVs in it
u can stop it , yea yea yea what what what?
You can try to stop me, but I will not change my ways
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Nycolia Turman, Rodney Jerkins, Mason Betha, Traci Hale, Isaac Phillips, Fred Jerkins, Lashawn Ameen Daniels
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vigspark
Darkchildβs music always had that flow
@jasonlewis2337
Yes I need DarkChild and Brandy 2020
@babygirleriss_
facts
@redsox1935
@@jasonlewis2337 Darkchild should have produced Brandy's new album
@damonkyle9813
@@jasonlewis2337 nah they had a falling out because he start selling out her sound to other artists after 2002
@kelvinkillings3742
Brandy is a black Gem that made R&B popular.... she made black pop yo seriously. Brandy is a big deal. Letβs cherish her while sheβs still here!
@reydneesouza7647
Kelvin Killings itβs sad to see that Brandy, Aaliyah and Monica doesnβt get the recognition that they deserve, for revolutionizing r&b, and theyβre not respected enough, even tough theyβre legends
@BenMeier814
Umm, not really, and sheβd even say that herself. She and Monica, both Credit Whitney for paving the way for black women in mainstream music. Not discounting Brandyβs talent, she is an absolute stunner and beyond talented, but Whitney really did pave the way
@tysonb3568
But Whitney had a more serious sound and voice and didnβt dance at all. Brandy had the new voice and was a dancer
@Charlett2013
Whitney was in the 80βs, Brandy is the Queen of the 90βs. Sheβs an extremely big deal.