Creative loafing By B. Knight
Mason “Mase” Betha may be the first artist to survive Diddy’s Bad Boy label curse. What curse, might you ask? Have you ever noticed that Bad Boy acts usually get shelved after their first CD? Or something happens and a second or a third album is never released? Think about it: Biggie, Junior M.A.F.I.A, Craig Mack, Black Rob, Shyne, Total, Dream, Carl Thomas, Mario Winans, Loon, The LOX, Danity Kane, just to name a few.
During Diddy’s recent visit to V-103’s Ryan Cameron show to promote his new Dirty Money albumLast Train to Paris, Mase surprisingly showed up and got Diddy to sign what appeared to be a contract releasing him from Bad Boy after a 10 year delay. It turns out, according to Miss Info, that the paper signed was only an appearance release form which allows Mase to appear on other artists’ songs but doesn’t release him from his Bad Boy contract.
Still, there may be hope for the slow motion lyricist and part-time Atlanta pastor to resurrect his music career. It’s comical, to say the least, because in the video aired by Shuddup.com, Diddy looks a tad bit bewildered by the whole thing, as if it was a surprise that Mase was showing up. Diddy played it cool, though, and signed the paper while Mase’s “Feel So Good” ironically played on-air. Over the years, Diddy has been vocal about refusing to let any of his artists out of contracts. Mase must’ve had his whole church intercede on his behalf and worn his extra big diamond encrusted cross that day, because it could have only been an act of God that got Diddy to sign those “freedom papers,” as Mase referred to them.
Several years have passed since Diddy defused the hype surrounding Mase’s possible signing to 50 Cent’s G-Unit label by refusing to free Mase from his contract — even after the MC left the rap game to pursue his calling as a pastor. It brought a whole new meaning to the catch phrase “Bad Boy for Life.” According to 50, Diddy refused to accept anything less than $2 million to buy out Mase’s contract. Uncertain that Mase’s album would sell well enough to make up for that type of investment, 50 dropped it and that was the end of that buzz.
Mase ends the video by saying he’s “not used to Diddy doing nice stuff.” Before he gets all verklempt, I suggest he reads the fine print.
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