Mase s most successful album - I remember this album when I was 5th grade. I played this album out. This album offered us listeners a chance to fully experience his life and growth. This album is also infectious, often humorous, intricately-woven continuation of Bad Boy s way of moving a crowd(in 1997). He forged his own musical path and created his signature sound. This album has been certified 4x Platinum. Remember, this was 1997.
Harlem on the rise! - Diddy used to love himself some Mase. When Mase first joined the Bad Boy label, Diddy made it his business to give him a heap amount of exposure so that the public would receive him positively, and we did. The public loved Mase because his style of rapping was different (he rapped in a slow monotone) and the ladies loved him because he was stubby but very handsome, particularly because of his dimples. Then, he transcended. He went from being Mase to Reverend Mason Betha, the Bible toting author who I knew was a hypocrite all along. So, how did he prove me right? Well, first he professed to be a changed man, he said that the days of cursing, rapping and living the fast life were a thing of the past and he was a man of God. Ha! How long did that last? Well, put it this way, the last I heard from him, he was rapping, using profanity, and calling Brandy an unmentionable name. But, I must give credit where it is due and Harlem World is a very solid album. I enjoyed most of the tracks here. I was not only entertained by Mase, but his label mates Diddy, Lil Kim, Total and 112 all drop by and help make this album the classic that it is. Many of the songs on Harlem World were released to radio like Lookin at Me, Feels So Good, What You Want, and 24 Hours to Live. Sometimes, Mase s slow rapping can serve as an irritant or become boring, but, he s a fantastic lyricist and he should be recognized for that. This album features some memorable one-liners and great versus. For some reason, Mase and Diddy try their hand at singing on the album s final track, Jealous Guys. Neither of the men can sing, 112 puts them to shame as they do a great job on the chorus. Sections of the song sound like something New Edition would do, but maybe that was the intention for this ballad. Take What s Yours is a decent offering. Mase does a nice job and DMX lends his talents and also does a nice job. The Player Way features Mase in rare form because he gives a very energetic performance alongside 8Ball and MJG. This is easily on of the best songs on this album because of the good beat and above average lyrics. Feels So Good is another memorable moment on this album, after all, Mase is alongside his main man Diddy. They do a really nice job with this track. Music lovers, you would be doing your music collection a disservice if you did not add this album to your pile. This is not only rap, this is music, too. I hope Mase truly finds where his heart lies so that he can concentrate on whichever craft he chooses to attempt to perfect. 4 stars. Mikeisha s Top 51. 24 Hours to Live2. Feels So Good3. Take What s Yours4. Looking at Me5. Cheat on You
Dont take us there - I see people are still suffering from nostalgia. Mase was dope prior to this album when he rapped with the late Big L. When he got signed he got extremely lazy and it shows on this album. Take What s Yours feat DMX, Will They Die 4 You feat Lil Kim and Puff Daddy, 24 Hours To Live feat Black Rob and The Lox and The Player Way feat Eightball & MJG are the best songs on the album. Lookin At Me was overrated but still passable and that is about all the positives I can think of with this album. The rest of this album fits into two categories: Boring and awful. Tracks like Do You Wanna Get $?, Love U So feat Billy Lawrence and What You Want feat Total go into the former category. Tracks like Feels So Good, I Need To Be feat Monifah and Jealous Guy feat 112(where MASE TRIES TO SING!!) go into the latter category. Even when Mase tries the thug role he falls flat as evidenced in Wanna Hurt Mase and N****z Wanna Act feat Busta Rhymes. Another thing that brings that album down is the stupid skits including the Mad Rapper skit which should have been didposed of a long time ago. In closing Harlem World should only be recommeded to the diehard Bad Boy fans. Anybody else would do well to stay away unless you have a taste for pop rap. If this is what Harlem World is like then I dont want to go there. Standouts: TAKE WHAT S YOURS, WILL THEY DIE 4 YOU, 24 HOURS TO LIVE and THE PLAYER WAY.
Classic - Grade A album...First Rap Superstar to bring pop culture into the hip hop...in his prime, mase was a grade A MC...
Harlem World - This is one of the 1st rap albums that I bought, and I still toss it into the CD player every once in a while when I want a laugh or two. Honestly, I don t think that there was a lot of talent used in the creation of this album.