January 03, 2006 @ 1:33 pm
Mase - Minister or Gangsta?
It was about nine years ago that Mase shimmied his shiny suit on to the hip hop scene, rapping a limited yet infectious few bars on 112’s “Only You.” With his cute smile, his unique, slur-like rhyming style, and his signature one-two step, the pretty boy rapper had me, and millions of other hip hop fans, sold. It seemed as if he could just not be stopped.
He went on to release his debut album, Harlem World, selling 4 million copies and spawning classics that helped mark that era Bad Boy’s golden age. But, in 1999, claiming to be caught in between his limitless career and religious beliefs, and shortly before the release of his highly anticipated follow up album, Double UP, the much hyped about Bad Boy protégé was gone, just like that.
And then the rumors started to circulate. I remember the disappointment I felt. Was Mase really scared of Suge Knight? Was he really afraid he’d be next to “go” after Biggie? How was it that he was just able to walk out of his contract with P. Diddy? What really went down? It was later discovered that Mase had moved down south and had converted to Ministering. That’s when I convinced myself there would be no returning from his hip hop hiatus.
right But in 2004, 5 years since he first left the scene, we welcomed Mase back, with his unexpected yet appropriately titled release, Welcome Back, though I couldn’t help but wonder, how would the wonder boy manage to stay religious in the very unreligious world of hip hop? His plan was to release a feel good album, music that you could dance to - no cursing, no hoe references, no ‘N’ word, and I was all for it.
I blasted Welcome Back at home, in the car, at the office, and no one could tell me that the Harlem boy wasn’t back. Though it might’ve been missing some essential Mase-esque elements, his voice was the same, the dancing was the same, just that the ‘murder’ was out of the Mase, and though some people had a problem accepting an FCC approved version of him, I welcomed the idea of a revised Mase.
Welcome Back, unfortunately, didn’t do the numbers we hoped for, and Mase sort of fell back and analyzed the situation. He came back with a new agenda.
It was at the 2005 VMA’s that the world was reintroduced to Mase, except he was no longer dancing in bright colored attires, he was now back to being Murder Mase, and instead of dropping on Bad Boy records, he was signed to the drama-ridden power house G-Unit. I knew it wasn’t good business.
It was about three months ago that I heard the song that changed my entire perspective on the way I felt and thought about Mase. It wasn’t that “Check Cleared” wasn’t a production that I would have expected from his G-unit co harts, but as a ‘pastor,’ I believed that there was a line that needed to be drawn. The repetitive “niggas” were back in full force and the sexual notations were constant. “Minister Mase” even referred to his once alleged love interest, Brandy, as a hoe, and that’s not all. The worst of the worst was when I heard the end of the song, when his G-Unit family threaten to kill anyone, including children, that say anything about Mase.
The song had G-unit written all over it, but the question remained, was G-unit really to blame?Quite frankly, it just seemed as if the holiness was ripped out of Mason Betha, and the gangta was re-installed in Murder Mase. Made me feel as if the entire time, all the praying and the goodness he portrayed was just an act, and that his ministering wasn’t so much a calling, but a way to make some easy money. What a fake.
Is the dollar enough to erase your morality? Is it enough to forget a pledge that you gave to many of your followers? These are the questions that I’d ask Mase given the chance. Makes me wonder about the state of the hip hop and just how far some of our favorite artists go for that dollar. I guess Method Man said it best, cash really does rule everything around us, even our morals.
The views expressed by this writer do not represent beliefs held by VIBE.
Read more vibe.com online exclusives.
Article tags: Brandy, 112, Suge Knight, Biggie, Mase, G-Unit, P. Diddy, Bad Boy, 50 Cent, Check Cashed, Welcome Back, Minister Mase, Mason Betha
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Comments
1.
musiclover20 says:
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well, crictize Mase or not, but lets call a spade a spade a circle a cirlce. I am a mase fan, i loved the welcome back album though it did not do well commercially as expcted, but when i heard that he went to Gunit, come on, Pastor Mase, this is not about being judgemental, you could do better. Its his decision, but as a fan i was disappointed. He should not have come back in the first place.....MAAASEEE GGGGGGUNOOOOOTTTTT
October 18, 2008 at 11:21 am
2.
don1 says:
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Jesus christ is lord, crucified and risen by the power of God. Christ
January 22, 2008 at 1:58 pm
3.
don1 says:
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he that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches. LISTEN. before you ppl say my bible says not to add or take away anything from the word let me say, study to shew thyself approved unto God. a workman that worketh needeth not to be ashamed rightly deviding the word of truth. jesus is they way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the fathe rbut by Christ. "Jesus' he is the living word of God and all of it. it is written in my heart and nothing or noone can take it out. i have the key of david and i know it and what it is. Jesus.
January 22, 2008 at 1:55 pm
4.
don1 says:
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we dont worship mase he worships with us. from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. i have been christian befor ei was born in the flesh. the new album i no nothing about i just used to smoke blunts and chill when bad boy put mase on. the fact is biggie and mase made bad boy puff should have stayed behind the scenes. he is like me more original less flashy a how do you say "master mind" we are not made for bling we are here to make it happen and put ppl on. i like puff for who is ya know not what ppl see him as.i dunno everything but christ is showing me everyday if you ppl knew who i was you would trip. all of mtv, bet the world chico and everything in it is material i like the secrets and truth that the true masons cannot see visions that alot of christians cannot see. the visions are more real than what we see around us everyday i see them more clear than i see the world it is like God take sover and i am in his spirit and i am in the world that christ/we have come from. "the world to come." you know what i see that is funny all the ppl selling drugs the action the lifestyle that we live and the excitment that it gives but it is temporary and is comming to an end quicker than ppl think. " how is it that ye can discern the face of the sky and ye cannot discern the signs of times. we are from the world to come and we have been here before the foundation of this world. we are here to tell the ppl and they hear not and the see not. they do not repent because they do not hear they do not care. we war not against flesh and blood but against principalities but when ya flesh get in the way it becomes a principle. "and i will cast her and those who commit adultery into a bed of tribulation." "i gave them space to repent and they repented not so i will kill her and her children." revelations. REPENT.
January 22, 2008 at 1:49 pm
5.
don1 says:
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flowin and throwin on some shinny suits leads ppl to judge according to the apperance. however, only ppl who wish they could dress and flow like mase used to is worldly and to me a waste of time. shinnin and spittin lyrics with a tight beat is easy with the right equipment but my family who do it accepella is original and amazing this is where the roots are and if you diss it then you have no roots and are ready to be burned. i said. can you feel me?
January 22, 2008 at 1:33 pm
6.
don1 says:
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i see all yall trying to be smart for what it is pathetic just be yourself and grow to be what you want to be. this will make you original. all you have to do is try and beleive in christ.
January 22, 2008 at 1:29 pm
7.
don1 says:
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people have opinions but what i have said is spirit and truth it is all facts from the scripture and how i feel. the fact is noone can see/feel God in is glory so stop being a hypocrite/ without sincerity and repent and work out your own salvation and leave christians alone.
January 22, 2008 at 1:27 pm
8.
don1 says:
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wisdom is worth more than any amount of gold or silver. i like being poor it makes my soul richer to suffer more and more for the kingdom of God sake. money is only paper it is easy to be made and i love giving it away in spirit and and truth only in secret. mercy is what ppl need. try me
January 22, 2008 at 1:25 pm
9.
don1 says:
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blue you can never be behind the pulpit to early. thast is just the devil trying to defeat you. christ tought when he was little and he still does. we are dead and christ lives in us he is the one who exists who does all the work in his vessel. if we are children or grown christ still does the work through us we are all his children. everything God has showed me through christ in vision has either come to be or is coming to be even since i was a baby i remember what he ha sshowed me. God knew us before the foundation of the world and our names will never be taken out of the book of life we are Gods destiny in him we live he is our soul from eternity we are just manifest in the flesh. we all have sinned anyone who says different makes him a liar but infact you have become the lie. so to say someone else has messed up is judgemental and unrighetous and you will be judged with the same judgement. it is hypocritical. to say what someone does is UNACCEPTABLE is not your judgement becaus eyou were not their and you do not know why. let the first one without sin cast the first stone. REPENT for the kingdom of God is at hand.
January 22, 2008 at 1:22 pm
10.
don1 says:
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no bling, just reality.
January 22, 2008 at 1:11 pm
11.
don1 says:
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Feel this,
you people cuttin on mase because you have no real righetous judgement. jesus said judge not to the apperance but judge righetous judgement. we have trials and tribulations. all yall who keep disrespecting mase with your ignorence will be disrespected the same. the fact is all these ppl making these wack comments remind me of moses and the egyption. you disrespect me and my christian family i take it as a thret to the body of christ. Christ said we war not against flesh and blood but against principalities. the fact is i forgive you all. however, first cast out the log of your own eye. before you have no more room to repent and christ kills you and your children (Jezebel) remeber revelations. God is the same yesturday today and forever. murder is a sin. if you hate your brother without a cause then you are a muderer already and your heart will manifest your destiny. it is our choice to live righetously and pure. although when a murderer comes after me self deffense is required. in the shaddows nigga.
January 22, 2008 at 1:10 pm
12.
ANGEL MUNIZ says:
That sucks that mase had to go back. All I listen to is christian rap. Sorry mase but you messed up. I still bump the welcome back cd in my house and my car but that new cd you made was so wake. I hope you change mase! Stop being fake like all the other rappers out there like " krs-one "
November 10, 2007 at 10:54 am
13.
B.L.U.E says:
I believe MA$E was put behind the pulpit premature. I thnk he was still a babe in Christ while trying to pastor a church. It's foolish to just get saved and try to pastor a church, especially one as large as he pastored. I myself am rapper who walks the Christian faith, and what MA$E did is unacceptable. There are genuine Christian rap artist out there like myself (www.myspace.com/holysoulja), Saul Paul (SaulPaul.com), Peculiar Image, The Warriors, Cross Movement and Lecrae. I have a Holy Hip Hop Rdaio Show that plays nuthin but the real. Check us out every Friday night from 7pm-10pm cst on www.powerfmi.com. Holla at cha boi B.L.U.E
November 5, 2007 at 3:47 pm
14.
Mcnair says:
I love mase. But i dont think the hip hop world should blast him. We all make mistakes. Well whatever mistake or mistakes he have made, the Word of God tell us in a 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We just need to see him as human and just pray for him
October 11, 2007 at 5:26 am
15.
Rotimi Akinlade says:
i used to be a gangster,down with hiphop, played Mase, then i gave my life to Christ, genuine, no faking , partly because Mase gave his, Mase backsiding does not surprise God,God can handle his apotasy,God loves gansters, what he detest is gangsterism
October 3, 2007 at 5:02 am
16.
KARON FAIRLEY says:
IS MASE GOING COME OUT WITH A NEW CD .
September 5, 2007 at 2:06 pm
17.
Eraclio quintanilla says:
we often fall back into our sinful nature. and Mason Bertha is just like everyone else. Imperfect and fallible. but if he has been called then Gods hand is on him and will see him all they way to where God has purposed he be . He dont need to be criticized he needs prayer. Also keep in mind God knew when he called him what would take place. it is a part of the journey to get where God wants him.
August 25, 2007 at 7:11 pm
18.
Deon Hampton says:
I agree with some things that you say. Mase is my favorite rapper and I too wanted to throw on a shinny suit and dance to "feel so good." That wasn't just the Golden area of Bad Boy, but of Hip Hop. Puffy and Ma$e are the ones that took flossin to a whole new level! However, I wouldm't call Sinister Minister a fake or a fraud. He's human, much like anyone else, only when you're a pastor it's magnified. Anytime a minister does anything wrong, they're crucified. We aren't to judge anyone, let Ma$e backslid in public and let God handle the situation.
August 17, 2007 at 12:08 pm
19.
jp says:
It's all entertainment!!! You beleive WWF is real too?!
Mase is a legend!
August 9, 2007 at 3:46 pm
20.
bodgee says:
Im talking bout the news scandal flowing around .
Yo, if your are in this showbiz shit,and you dont know that the media can make you and break you at any time.So you should never be in luv with the media cos they are the first peeps to ring ur praises and the first people to robb off ur name with vinegar words.Believe it or not,they can be ur best friend and ur worst enemy. This whole story is bullshit,they are looking for words to sell their magazine through rubbish headlines. Yes, maybe he was a transexual zone,so what,he prolly took a turn to make a short cut to somewhere quickly and he got into an accidnet,then the media twists the whole shit.If you have seen the movie paparzzi then u dont have to say nuthing,WORD!!!! Harlem World to the deff
July 13, 2007 at 11:24 am
21.
JRG says:
WHAT'S UP WITH THE MINISTER NOW? CRUISING AROUND FOR TRANSVESTITE PROSTITUTES? HOW SHAMEFUL!!!
May 15, 2007 at 12:43 pm
22.
Mark says:
Mase is a joke. He pissed away what was once a sparkling, glittering career with Bad Boy. Now he's a has been. Interesting thoughts on the Death Row side of it all, but does it really hold weight or is it just more propoganda?
Diddy fell off, Bad Boy fell off, Mase knew it was a sinking ship, Hitmen fell off, Total fell off, 112 fell off, Faith Evans fell off, Diddy resorted to Broadway, Fragrances, Clothes, Shows... and Bad Boy is in the toilet right now? Long gone are the days off the hot beats, hot flows and hot artists.
Mario and Carl will be jumping ships soon I'm sure.
Mark
April 20, 2007 at 10:46 am
23.
rulio says:
gina i feel ya baby, cuz i dont believe gossip either till i kno da real deal, and i think he's still pastor and like Jai said, he's maybe got a hidden motive, maybe he's experimenting with hip hop and christianity and asking God to help him find out weather hatred in songs are wrong or rite, but i think before we choose to judge him and think bad of him, let's wait for his next album, then we'll know for sure, rite?
Anyways he's now signed to the unionparty, so just give time so that he can prove himself on his next album...
March 22, 2007 at 1:25 pm
24.
beanschops says:
The word says chose this day who you are going to serve man or God. Mason hasn't done this yet. God is not down with lukewarm people. If I went to the club dance and grind to some akron with you, would you listen to me talk about Jesus/
January 8, 2007 at 8:54 am
25.
Kalifornia Kake says:
hear iz tha troof BKoz eye Kno the reel deel... ma$e iz a east Koast Blood (not born in not jump'd in but bi afiliation) suge sent word that BKoz of this faKt he wanted ma$e to defeKt to death row. feeling a loyalty to puff ma$e said "no". suge sent word bakK telling ma$e he will follow "Biggie to the grave". that is when ma$e duk's out to the xhurxh down south. puff let him out of the deel... But hiz spirituallity iz reel... he'z a good guy, But trying to find a Balanxe Between the xhurxh and the streetz.
don't asK me how eye Kno...
January 4, 2007 at 11:18 am
26.
Jai says:
Honestly, I think people really rushed to assume things about Mason Betha. After hearing his entire G unit mixtape and reading a few of his interviews (both on bad boy and g unit), I have a VERY different view. I have no concrete evidence, but after looking at the numerous religious references and bible quotes that are cleverly mixed into his murderous mixtapes, I think he as a hidden motive. I think he is trying to show that you can be "Hard" and "gangsta" but still love the Lord. No one seemed to want to follow suit when he wore kakhis and polo shirts saying "God Is Good." I think that caused him to try a VERY interesting take on alternative ministry. Baggy jeans, hoodies, not "taking sh*t from anyone" and being tough while still having a higher calling...
Just a theory.
December 28, 2006 at 3:33 pm
27.
south african says:
no Gina,People are confused,Mase made an oath with god,he wanted to become a pastor and no one forced him.I have read his book and it really touched me and he said that he wanted to lead people to god{not hell}.Its so sad that he's gone back to his old ways,it doen't make sense,this man has a church to run(what happened to that)?Yes Mase is a good guy,but lets hope that he realises that what hes doing is wrong,you cannot play games with God.
December 28, 2006 at 4:03 am
28.
gina says:
load of rubbish Mase is a good guy, and the best rapper, cant people find anything better to do other then gossip and tell lies about people.
December 27, 2006 at 6:59 pm