It has been two decades since Ma$e dropped an album, but the Harlem rapper ensures that his return is in the most headline-grabbing way possible. With a smirk audible through the airwaves, Ma$e confirmed on the March 7 episode of "It Is What It Is" that he has a long-awaited project officially on the way. But it's not only the music raising eyebrows but the timing.
"When's it coming out?" former N.F.L. player and co-host Maurice Clarett questioned.
"May 25. The first day of the Diddy trial," Ma$e replied. "Now we even."
The declaration, both casual and calculated, shook the hip-hop world. Ma$e and his former Bad Boy Records boss, Diddy, have never had the smoothest relationship. There's certainly no love lost with their split, which has been filled with financial disputes, tussles over who said what when, and many callouts in front of a public audience. The two have gone back and forth over the years, with Ma$e claiming that Diddy withheld royalties and blocked him from buying back his publishing rights even after he offered millions. While Diddy eventually returned to Ma$e's publishing in 2023, Discord never died.
That album, Ma$e's first in nearly 20 years since 2004's Welcome Back, seems to be Ma$e's way of having the last word, taking advantage of a time when his former mentor and onscreen antagonist is enjoying one of the most high-profile battles of his life. Once the prince of Bad Boy Entertainment, now Diddy is the kingpin behind bars while he awaits trial on severe charges like racketeering and sex trafficking. His descent has been quick and brutal, with federal raids and a cascade of lawsuits revealing a complicated portrait of the once-lauded mogul.
A triple-disc project on the literal first day of Diddy's trial feels like poetic justice. The Harlem native has spent years trying to take back what he felt was his, and now, in a twist of fate, he gets to start his comeback as his former label boss fights his way out of prison.
Though details of the album are scarce, Ma$e also teased that Cam'ron, his "It Is What It Is" co-host and longtime collaborator, helped to finalize the tracks. "I'm listening to the songs that Killa picked," Ma$e said. "It's gonna be crazy. We had to choose the right records."
Of course, if Ma$e wants to time his album with Diddy's trial, he'll have to move fast. The trial isn't scheduled for May 25; it's May 5. We may never know whether that was an intentional misdirection or an honest mistake, but one thing is sure: Ma$e is ready to make a statement.
The industry was a different place back when Welcome Back was fresh. Streaming reigns supreme now, and hip-hop's terrain has shifted extensively, but Ma$e's talent for good timing and controversy is undiminished. And whether or not this album solidifies his return to form or adds to the ongoing narrative surrounding them, it will be all eyes on May.
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