Information AboutMase |
Ma (born '''Mason Durrell Betha''' on August 27 , 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida ) is an American Rapper , best known as an artist on Sean Combs ' ( Diddy ) Hip Hop label Bad Boy Records during the late 1990s . Since 2005, Mase has become a free agent and is currently recording songs with G-Unit . BIOGRAPHY Raised in Harlem, New York , Mason Betha began his music career as a Gangsta Rapper . While in the proto-supergroup "Children of the Corn", he called himself Murder Mase, rapping alongside Big L , Cam'ron (then known as "Killa Kam"), McGruff and Bloodshed . In 1996 , Mase travelled to Atlanta in hope of meeting producer Jermaine Dupri. Instead, he ran into Sean Combs and rapped for him on the spot in a nightclub. Puffy instantly signed Mase to Bad Boy records. His image was refined as Diddy set about developing a marketable pop rapper out of an artist formerly known for violent imagery in his lyrics. That same year, Puffy put Mase into 112 's Only You Remix which instantly showcased the young rappers talent. In 1997 Mase recorded and released his first album, ''Harlem World'', which became a multiplatinum success, and featured the hit single "Feel So Good", which included a prominent sample of Kool & The Gang 's "Hollywood Swinging" and the chorus from Miami Sound Machine 's "Bad Boy". Other successful ''Harlem World'' singles included "What You Want" (featuring Total ), "Lookin' At Me" (featuring Puff Daddy, produced by The Neptunes ), and "24 Hours To Live" (featuring The Lox , Black Rob , & DMX ). Notably popular among mainstream audiences, Mase became one of Bad Boy's premiere acts. CONTROVERSY Retirement During the promotional period for his second album, ''Double Up'', and its single "Get Ready" (featuring Blackstreet ), Mase announced that he had become a Born-again Christian and was retiring from music. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia and studied at Clark Atlanta University , eventually earning an honorary Ph.D. in Theology in 2002 from St. Paul's Bible Institute in New York City and becoming Reverend Mason Betha. Rev. Betha was the pastor and founder of both the S.A.N.E. Church International and the Mason Betha Ministries in Atlanta. Betha also became a member of World Changers Church International in the Atlanta suburb of College Park . Return After a five-year absence from the industry, Mase returned to music and Bad Boy Records with the ''Welcome Back'' album, and the single of the same name (sampled from the '' Welcome Back, Kotter '' TV theme song). Despite returning to secular entertainment, Mase still claimed the status of a pastor. The album contained no curse words and was not derogatory in any way towards females, though some critics have stated his lyrics sound like Mase is promoting Prosperity Gospel . A few months after his ''Welcome Back'' album, it was rumored that Mase had defected to G-Unit Records under his old persona of "Murda Mase". After much speculation, Mase appeared at a Young Buck concert in Madison Square Garden wearing a G-Unit spinning necklace. A short while later, he came out with a few songs on G-Unit mixtapes. Feuds with rappers Once returning to rap, Mase wasted no time addressing rappers who in the beginning worked with him before his appointment to G-Unit. His recent feud started with fellow Harlem based rapper Cam'Ron. After returning to Bad Boy to record his album, he had made comments directly at Cam'Ron , and Jim Jones of The Diplomats (known also as Dip-Set). On radio, the rappers had verbal exchanges disputing his previous comments about Mase's dissent towards rap. Since then, Mase has recorded songs discrediting Cam'Ron and Dip Set. Cam'Ron has blasted Mase as being a hypocrite and sinner for his "glorifying" return to gangster rap. Also Mase criticized rappers who he claimed stole over his rap style. He has targeted Fabolous , Loon and even UK-based rapper Myran for stealing his style of rapping to make commercial success of their own albums. Since his return, the rappers have respond with their own songs critical of Mase and G-Unit. DISCOGRAPHY Albums
Mixtapes
Singles
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