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Is Mase Legit?He’s back! Murder Mase, Mr. Bad Boy himself, is dusting off his bling bling and returning to the hip-hop stage once again. But this time he’s playing the game a little differently than before. After a shocking 180 degree turnaround, Mase’s new lyrics are no longer tainted by profanity and sexual references. Instead you’ll discover multiple references to Jesus and a born-again salvation experience. But Mase’s friends and critics continue to watch closely, waiting to see if his new found faith is just a hip-hop, “Jesus sells” fad, or an authentic life-change. Mase, real name Mason Bertha, was 19 years old when he received an invitation into the big-time world of hip-hop. Sean “Puffy” Combs discovered Mase after hearing him rap at a radio convention. On the spot, Combs offered this young, potential-filled rapper a contract with Bad Boy records, and the world met “Murder Ma$e.” His first album in 1997, Harlem World, was a huge success. Debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, it quickly went quadruple platinum. In 1999, at the peak of his career and only a month before his second album (Double Up) was scheduled for release, Mase received a vision from God and saw himself leading others into hell. He heard God say, “You’re walking millions of My people to hell and every time you enter into another city and open your mouth, more people join in... What I want you to do is, go to Atlanta, learn about Me and I’m going to send you back to stop them before they reach the wrong destination. Then, you’re going to lead the flock back to Me!” Stunning his faithful fans, Mase immediately announced his retirement from the music business, calling it “incompatible with his new calling to ministry.” He refused to promote Double Up with any live performances, although he did still do interviews. After being mentored and educated, Mase soon became the pastor and founder of Saving a Nation Endangered Church International in Georgia, a culturally diverse, spirit-filled congregation that continues to grow and experience countless miracles. He’s not only a pastor; he’s also a dynamic evangelist, and has worked extensively with inner-city youth and published a memoir titled Revelations: There’s a Light After the Lime. Earlier this year, Mase made a comeback on the hip-hop scene after a five year sabbatical, but only for half the week. “Between Saturday and Tuesday, I don’t do anything other than [the ministry]. I go out between Wednesday and Friday and do all of the musical stuff. But I can’t compromise my faith,” said Mase. “The reason for me coming back is, now I can handle it,” he continued in an MTV interview. “It won’t control me; I control it. Before, I wasn’t ready. Even [after] three years away, I wasn’t ready to take this stand.” Mase’s return album, Welcome Back, doesn’t scream Jesus, but does contain plenty positive messages and no cursing. “There’s little preaching to be found on Welcome Back, but that may change in the future,” hints Mase. So as rap lovin’ Christian teens are bobbin’ their heads to Welcome Back’s fresh beat, one question lingers in everyone’s mind, “Is Mase legit?” Does this Bad Boy gone good have what it takes to stand strong in the midst of a perverse hip-hop empire? Only time will tell.
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