Pastor Ma$e Breaks Record Contract with Bad Boy, Contemplates Joining G.O.O.D. Music
After almost 20 years, Ma$e, the rapper also known as Pastor Mason Betha at his El Elyon International Church in Atlanta, is finally out of his recording contract with Diddy's Bad Boy Records.
The one-time platinum selling artist confirmed the news to Sway Calloway on MTV's RapFix Live this week.
"I've been in that contract for 16 years," said Ma$e to Sway. "Yeah, the other day he let me out of it, so big shout-outs to Diddy. I guess he woke up feeling good and he wanted to do something good."
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Sway asked Ma$e about his future plans and where he would find his new recording home. He answered by saying that he would only work under two people, Kanye West or Drake, but also stated that he's not trying to rush into another label situation.
Ma$e made his name alongside Diddy, known as Puff Daddy in the late 90s, releasing a slew of hit records including "Feel So Good," "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down," "Mo Money Mo Problems," and "Been Around the World."
In 1999, Ma$e decided to call it quits in the rap game and instead began pursuing a degree in Bible College, eventually becoming the pastor of his own church in Atlanta.
He made a few brief comebacks to hip-hop including the release of his 2004 album "Welcome Back."
Ma$e appears to be taking his recent comeback a bit more seriously and addressed some of his Christian critics who feel that his return to rap will lead him away from his faith in an interview with TBN.
"Why is it Christians are more confident in the Devil taking me more than Christ keeping me?," said Ma$e. "What I have inside me is more powerful than anything the world could ever offer me."
And even though Ma$e heads a successful church as Pastor Betha, the transition from rapper to church leader was too drastic and fast for him.
"I didn't give myself any room to grow, I went from one extreme to another extreme, I was just so gung ho about what I was learning, that's all I wanted," said Ma$e.
