Published in: ESSENCE, 7/8/2019
Believe it or not, there was a time in Hip-Hop when things where truly fun and care-free. After the untimely deaths of the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, the genre seemed to be in a state of confusion and uncertainty. One of the artists that emerged when the smoke cleared was Bad Boy Records’ own, Ma$e.
Got to see Mase hit the stage at @essencefest last night. He performed my life anthem "Been Around the World." @Essence #ESSENCEFEST pic.twitter.com/73Kvubx3Mz
— Nigel D. (@NigelDPresents) July 8, 2019
The Harlem-bred lyricist was only 21 years old when he became a household name in the rap community. His hit single, “Feel So Good,” had a positive vibe that was desperately needed during the late-90s.
On the evening of July 5th, 2019, Ma$e took fans back to a time when he had when the world at his fingertips.
With a standout performance at the 2019 ESSENCE Music Festival in the Golden Era SuperLounge, Ma$e had the entire crowd singing along as he ran through over 20 years of hits. The high-energy set proved the ultimate dose of nostalgia to kick off the first night in the Golden Era superlounge.
Reminding us all how Bad Boy Records was the standard in Hip-Hop culture, Ma$e had an effect on the audience that was truly magical as he took the audience through his signature verses on classics like Biggie’s “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” and “Been Around The World” featuring Sean “Diddy” Combs. Whether rocking the crowd to the tune of his collaborative chart-toppers with or his solo favorites like “Feels So Good,” “Tell Me What You Want” and “Lookin At Me,” he had both men and women, young and old reciting lyrics word for word.
The back and forth banter between Ma$e and his longtime DJ throughout the performance was both comical and refreshing, adding to the authentic feel of the show and perfectly complimenting an excellent set list.
Ma$e brought Harlem World right into the Crescent City for the 25th Anniversary of ESSENCE Festival, and his was a performance for the ages.