Mase

Ma$e (born Mason Durrell Betha on August 27, 1978 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American rapper, best known as a successful artist on Sean Combs' (Diddy) hip hop label Bad Boy Records during the late 1990s. He is currently signed to G-Unit Records which is headed by 50 Cent .

Biography

Raised in Harlem, New York, Mason Betha began his music career as a hardcore gangsta rapper named Murder Mase, a member of Big L's hip-hop group "Children of the Corn". Murder Mase was signed to P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records in 1996, and P. Diddy set about developing a marketable pop rapper out of an artist formerly known for violent imagery in his lyrics.

Related Topics:
Harlem, New York - Gangsta rapper - Big L - Bad Boy Records - 1996

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In 1997, the newly pop-friendly rapper, now known as "Ma$e" recorded and released his first album, Harlem World, which became a multiplatinum success, and featured the hit single "Feel So Good", which included a prominet sample of Kool & the Gang's "Hollywood Swinging" and the chorus from Miami Sound Machine's "Bad Boys". 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.

Related Topics:
1997 - Kool & the Gang - Miami Sound Machine - Total - The Neptunes - The Lox - Black Rob - DMX

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