Mase

Posted on 03.19.1999

11 comment(s)

Mase
Real name : Mason Durrell Betha
Birthday : August 27, 1978
Hometown : Jacksonville, Florida

Mase is an American rapper, best known as a successful 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 Records.

It’s been five years since twenty-six year old Mason "Mase" Betha gracefully bowed off the hip-hop stage to pursue a higher calling and now, Harlem’s famed "Prince Charming" has returned with twelve new jams of fire to, once again ignite the radio, tear up the club and bounce the heads of listeners everywhere. And although he still heeds the beckon of that higher calling (pay close attention to the lyrics), he hasn’t missed a step or skipped a beat, no cobwebs here, just the words and renewed energy of one of hip-hop’s most beloved artists.

Born in Jacksonville and raised in Harlem, Mason Betha was banished back to Florida by his parents at the age of 13 in order to remove him from the less constructive influences of New York City life. Betha returned two years later to pursue a career in basketball, excelling enough in the sport to earn himself a scholarship to the State University of New York ; eventually, however, the young man’s interest in hip-hop won out over his basketball ambitions, and he dropped out to establish himself in the music industry. Adopting the name ’Mase Murder’, he joined the rap crew Children of the Corn, only to have the group disintegrate soon afterwards in the wake of the death of one of his bandmates. Mase subsequently made the decision to continue as a solo performer, and began working to establish himself on the New York club circuit.

While in the proto-supergroup "Children of the Corn", he called himself Murder Mase, rapping alongside Big L, Cam’ron, 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, Ma$e caught one of his first breaks when Puffy decided to put Mase into 112’s Only You Remix which instantly showcased the young rappers talent. In 1997 he 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.

Pastor Mason BethaDuring the promotional period for his second album, Double Up, and its single "Get Ready" (featuring Blackstreet), Ma$e 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. It is rumoured that Ma$e retired due to the murder of two of his friends over an extortion deal involving Ma$e in Harlem.

Mase Beef :

Ma$e has had many disputes over his rap style, claiming that performers such as Myran, Fabolous and Loon sound similar to him. All three Myran, Fabolous and Loon have hit back at Mase with their own diss songs, Myran raps "whose Mason Betha ? wernt he the one kissing Diddy’s ass for more chedder Betha can preach to my bretta this is what they call a rap vendetta", Loon raps saying " how you go from general to number 1 soldier" While Fabolous calls Mase "confused". On the song, "I Don’t Know Officer", from the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ soundtrack, he accuses Loon and Fabulous of stealing his style, saying, "I don’t know why Loon and Fabby won’t just say I’m their daddy."

Ma$e released a mixtape in January 2006, titled Crucified 4 Da Hood : 10 Years of Hate. On the mixtape, he addresses those who still hate on the rapper and also shows his old self, rapping about cash, violence and women. In songs like "They Don’t Bother Me", featuring 50 Cent, Young Buck and Spider Loc, Murda Mase attacks several rappers, including the entire Dip Set.

Mase Discography :

Mase Album :
2004 : Welcome Back
1999 : Double Up
1997 : Harlem World

Mase singles :
2004 "Breathe, Stretch, Shake"
2004 "Welcome Back"
1999 "Get Ready" (featuring BLACKstreet)
1998 "Horse & Carriage" Cam’ron featuring Ma$e
1998 "Top of the World" (Brandy featuring Ma$e)
1997 "Been Around the World" Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy and Ma$e
1997 "Can’t Hld Me Down" Puff Daddy and Ma$e
1997 "Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems" Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy and Ma$e
1997 "What You Want" (featuring Total)
1997 "Lookin’ at Me" (featuring Puff Daddy)
1997 "Feel So Good"

more infos, see Ma$e official site : www.welcomebackmase.com

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Mase, by Jeda of Wildfire [2007-08-08 13:11:38]

Aiyo Mase still got it lyrically/ Gansta or spiritually/ Don’t let the critics fool you/ You’ll get it g/ Serving ass whipping pie/ Ya’ll dudes wanna piece

Mase, by sponge bob’s [2007-04-20 15:11:29]

hey mase your music is of the chain people keep saying your if u are wack why u macking money and they not ok than any way’s i holla at u later k ???

Mase, by THE KING [2007-02-08 23:27:17]

hell nah bitches what the fuck yall talkin about mase is the shit, hes the best rapper out there

Mase, by DON KAVORK [2007-01-24 06:09:57]

MUDERMA$E,PREACHING MA$E, TO THE MAN THAT INVENTED THE SLOW FLOW,GOODLUCK ON WHAT EVER YOU DECIDED TO DO,I CANT JUDGE YOU.NEVER WAS A HUGE FAN BUT GOODLUCK,SOMELUCK,WHATEVER !!!WHEN THE ALBUM DROP WILL IT BE GOSPEL OR GANSTA,I MEAN HELP THESE 8 COMMENTS OUT.

Mase, by noughskrilla [2006-12-04 12:11:09]

Ya’ll should seek some mercy from Nas(God Son)

> Mase, by MINISTER [2006-07-05 00:43:02]

i heard it was a christain artist in nashville tenn. by the name of minister. hes the rapper who made a song about jay z called J A YOU ZLEEPIN(HE THINK HE JEHOVAH GOD) I HEARD FROM A LOCAL RECORD STORE CALLED PLATINUM RECORDS,JEFFERSON ST.,NASH TN. MASE DIDNT WANT SIGN AN ARTIST RAPPING ABOUT A RAPPER INMATATING AND CALLING HIMSELF GOD(JEHOVAH) ;JAYZ. YET MASE WILL RAP WITH AND FOR 50 CENT WHO TALKS ABOUT SHOOTING SOMEONE HEAD OFF(MURDER) AND ROBBING(STEALING) ; BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY CALLS HIMSELF A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. CHRIST DID NOT PARTY WITH PEOPLE WHO TALKED ABOUT MURDERING OR HAVING SEX WITH 3 GIRLS AT ONE TIME. SO NIETHER SHALL MASE. MASE MUST PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACHES(615)9448452

> Mase da bytch, by MIZZ NV [2006-06-08 18:55:49]

yo ma man make up yo damn mind... what in the world you tryin to do ? U will neva make it big again..eva...i use to like you back in the 90’s now you came back and you mad corny...go somewhere.. either preach or do sumthin else...cuz the rap game aint for you nomo...SORRI

> Mase, by Cash2much2005 [2006-06-06 02:29:54]

So Mase I gotta question I mean come on U went 4rom P.Diddy’s sidekick to a please turn 2 chapter and verse 2 50’s drummer in g-unit tell me Mase wathca wanna be next year ? a clown maybe ?