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Harlem World

 
Album Review: Harlem World

  • Artist: Mase
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: October 28, 1997
  • Total Time: 65:54
  • Type: Contains explicit content, Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rap

Review

It's a little ironic that Mase, who made his reputation as a guest rapper on records by Puff Daddy and the Notorious B.I.G., almost seems like a guest himself on his debut album, Harlem World. Like many big-budget hip-hop records, Harlem World is nearly a various-artists collection, featuring an array of different producers and guest rappers that often obscure Mase himself. Still, all that talent guarantees that the record will be well crafted, and that certainly is true. With Sean "Puffy" Combs and Jermaine Dupri behind the decks for much of the album, Harlem World has a dense, funky sound that is up-tempo party rap at its best. Like any late-'90s hip-hop record, it's a little too long for its own good, but the singles, such as the bouncy "Feel So Good," make it worthwhile. It still would have been nice to hear more of Mase on his own album, though. ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Puff's Intro (Lyrics) Mase (1:40)
Do You Wanna Get $? Sean "Puffy" Combs, Ron Lawrence, Robert Rans, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, P. Brown, Mason Betha Diddy, Mase (3:49)
Take What's Yours Sean "Puffy" Combs, Nasheim Myrick, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Mason Betha DMX, Mase (3:45)
Mad Rapper (Interlude) Mase (1:13)
Will They Die 4 You? Sean "Puffy" Combs, K. Jones, Ron Lawrence, Mason Betha Lil' Kim, Diddy, Mase (4:04)
Lookin' at Me Sean "Puffy" Combs, Cliff Hugo, P. Williams, Mason Betha Diddy, Mase (4:15)
White Girl (Interlude) Mase (:52)
Love U So Sean "Puffy" Combs, S. Jordan, Allen McGrier, Mason Betha Billy Lawrence, Mase (3:12)
The Player Way Sean "Puffy" Combs, P. Smith, Mason Betha, T. Jones 8Ball & MJG, Mase (4:13)
Hater (Interlude) Mase (1:00)
Niggaz Wanna Act Sean "Puffy" Combs, Mason Betha Busta Rhymes, Mase (4:09)
Feel So Good (Lyrics) Ronald Bell, Lawrence Dermer, Joe Galdo, Robert "Spike" Mickens, D. Thomas, Rafael Vigil, Richard Westfield, C. Smith, G. Brown Mase (3:24)
What You Want (Lyrics) Sean "Puffy" Combs, Nasheim Myrick, Keisha Spivey, Mason Betha Total, Mase (4:02)
Phone Conversation (Interlude) Mase (1:49)
Cheat on You Sean Carter, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Michael James Jackson, Mason Betha Jay-Z, Mase, Lil' Cease (3:15)
24 Hrs. to Live Stephen Jacobs, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Nasheim Myrick, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Mason Betha DMX, Mase, The LOX, Black Rob (4:16)
I Need to Be Sean "Puffy" Combs, Gary "Gazza" Johnson, L. Johnson, C. Thompson, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Mason Betha, S. Garrett Monifah, Mase (5:12)
Watch Your Back (Interlude) Mase (:56)
Wanna Hurt Mase? Sean "Puffy" Combs, Roy Hay, Ron Lawrence, Mason Betha, J. Moss Mase (4:23)
Jealous Guy L. Johnson, M. Johnson 112, Mase (6:25)

Credits

Barry White (Grooming), 8Ball & MJG (Performer), Billy Lawrence (Performer), Busta Rhymes (Performer), Sean "Puffy" Combs (Producer), Sean "Puffy" Combs (Mixing), DMX (Performer), Jermaine Dupri (Producer), Jermaine Dupri (Mixing), Ben Garrison (Engineer), Tony Maserati (Mixing), Michael Patterson (Engineer), Michael Patterson (Mixing), Herb Powers (Mastering), Phil Tan (Engineer), Phil Tan (Mixing), Doug Wilson (Engineer), Total (Performer), Nasheim Myrick (Producer), Monifah (Performer), 112 (Performer), Jay-Z (Performer), Lil' Kim (Performer), Diddy (Performer), Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie (Producer), Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie (Associate Executive Producer), MJG (Performer), Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander (Mixing), Carlos "6 July" Broady (Piano), Carlos "6 July" Broady (Producer), Lisa Peardon (Photography), Kelly Price (Vocals), Lane Craven (Mixing), Groovy Lew (Stylist), Mase (Rap), Mase (Main Performer), The LOX (Performer), Pharrell Williams (Producer), Stephen Dent (Engineer), Jimmie Wilson (Engineer), Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence (Producer), J-Dub (Programming), Chad Hugo (Producer), Dame Grease (Producer), DJ Iroc (Scratching), Richard "Younglord" Frierson (Producer), Lil' Cease (Performer), Black Rob (Performer)
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Artist: Harlem World
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See Harlem World Lyrics
  • Genres: Rap

Biography

His moment in the spotlight may have been brief, but Mase certainly scored a number of hits during the late '90s alongside his mentor, Puff Daddy, and attempted to capitalize on that success with Harlem World, his spin-off group. On paper, the group seemed incredibly promising: Mase had first scaled the charts with his debut album of the same name, Harlem World (1997); he then remained omnipresent throughout the two years leading up to the debut of his group; and most importantly, he had two leading pop-rap producers, Puff Daddy and Jermaine Dupri, supporting him. However, this didn't translate into the sales Dupri had surely hoped for when he signed Harlem World to his So So Def label, as the Kelly Price-featuring lead single, "I Really Like It," didn't cross over as much as expected and the album itself, Movement (1999), tanked quickly. This disappointment proved to be a fatal omen when Mase's long-awaited second album, Double Up, also tanked and signaled the end of the rapper's brief moment atop the often whimsical rap game. In retrospect, Movement remains somewhat noteworthy for its Neptunes productions, "One Big Fiesta" and "Not the Kids," which preceded the duo's remarkable rise to prominance, which came shortly thereafter. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
Wikipedia: Harlem World
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Harlem World
Studio album by Mase
Released October 28, 1997 (US)
Recorded 1996-1997
Genre Hip hop
Length 66:04
Label Bad Boy Records
Producer Sean "Puffy" Combs (Exec.), The Hitmen (Including Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Steven "Stevie J" Jordan, & Nashiem Myrick), Jermaine Dupri, The Neptunes, Dame Grease, Mo-Suave-A
Professional reviews
Mase chronology
Harlem World
(1997)
Double Up
(1999)

Harlem World is the critically acclaimed multi-platinum debut album by rapper Mase, released October 28, 1997. Seen as Puff Daddy's new protege since the passing of The Notorious B.I.G., Mase rose to fame after being a member of Children of the Corn with fellow Harlem rappers Big L and Cam'ron. After the death of Bloodshed and the subsequent disbanding of the group, Mase was signed to Bad Boy, catching the public eye when appearing on the track "Mo Money, Mo Problems" from Biggie's 1997 album Life After Death. Puff Daddy began to promote Mase as the new premier act of Bad Boy and within a year had released "Harlem World", a highly successful album spawning hits such as "Feel So Good" (U.S. #5), "What You Want" (U.S. #6), and "Lookin' at Me" (U.S. #8).

Mase released his first solo LP, Harlem World, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Pop and R&B LP charts selling over 270,000 copies in the U.S. its first week of release; it has since gone on to sell 3.3 million copies in the United States (a rare occurrence for rap albums of the time). Joining Mase on his solo LP was a long list of rap elite including Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, The Lox, Lil' Kim, Total, and his close friend DMX. The album featured production by Combs, Jermaine Dupri, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Steven "Stevie J" Jordan and (then unknowns) The Neptunes. Mase told MTV about his first solo effort: "Well, basically what I'm trying to establish is a strong identity and foundation for Mase so a lot of people could know that Mase is his own person and Mase can do other things besides rap and music and things in that nature." Entertainment Weekly said of the album: "...creatively refreshing, well-crafted lyrics... rap's newest bad boy more than holds his own on his solo debut... his distinctive marble-mouthed drawl... creates a regular-guy persona all too rare in hip-hop."

In 2008, the single "Feel So Good" was ranked number 67 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.


Contents

Track listing

# Name Producer(s) Featured Guest(s) Time
1 "The Life In New York (Intro)" Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen 1:40
2 "Do You Wanna Get $?" Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie for The Hitmen 3:49
3 "Take What's Yours" Nashiem Myrick for The Hitmen DMX 3:45
4 "Mad Interview (Interlude)" The Madd Rapper 1:13
5 "Will They Die 4 U?" Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen Puff Daddy, Lil' Kim 4:04
6 "Lookin' at Me" The Neptunes Puff Daddy 4:15
7 "Caller ID Phone Call (Interlude)" 0:52
8 "Love U So" Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen Billy Lawrence 3:12
9 "The Player Way" Mo-Suave-A 8Ball & MJG 4:13
10 "In The Train (Interlude)" 1:00
11 "Niggaz Wanna Act" Dame Grease Busta Rhymes 4:09
12 "Feel So Good" Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen Kelly Price 3:24
13 "What You Want" Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen/Dj Iroc Scratches Total 4:02
14 "Mobile Cell Phone Call (Interlude)" 1:49
15 "Cheat on You" Jermaine Dupri Lil' Cease & Jay-Z & 112 3:15
16 "24 Hrs. to Live" Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie for The Hitmen Black Rob, DMX & The LOX 4:16
17 "I Need to Be" Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie for The Hitmen Monifah 5:12
18 "Other Mobile Cell Phone Call (Interlude)" 0:56
19 "Wanna Hurt Mase?" Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen 4:23
20 "Jealous Guy" Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen 112 6:25

Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1997 The Billboard 200 1

Singles

Single Information
"Feel So Good"
  • Released: 8/05/1997
  • Billboard Hot 100: #5
  • Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks: #5
  • Hot Rap Singles: #1
"What You Want"
  • Released: 2/17/1998
  • Billboard Hot 100: #6
  • Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks: #3
  • Hot Rap Singles: #3
"Lookin' at Me"
  • Released: 4/07/1998
  • Billboard Hot 100: #8
  • Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks: #8
  • Hot Rap Singles: #1

Personnel

  • Barry White - Grooming
  • Eightball & MJG - Performer
  • Billy Lawrence - Performer
  • Busta Rhymes - Performer
  • Sean "Puffy" Combs - Producer, Mixing
  • DMX - Performer
  • Jermaine Dupri - Producer, Mixing
  • Ben Garrison - Engineer
  • Tony Maserati - Mixing
  • Michael Patterson - Engineer, Mixing
  • Herb Powers - Mastering
  • Phil Tan - Engineer, Mixing
  • Doug Wilson - Engineer
  • Total - Performer
  • Nasheim Myrick - Producer
  • Monifah - Performer
  • 112 - Performer
  • Jay-Z - Performer
  • Lil' Kim - Performer
  • Puff Daddy/P. Diddy - Performer
  • Deric Angelettie - Producer, Associate Executive Producer
  • MJG - Performer
  • Prince Charles Alexander - Mixing
  • Carlos "6 July" Broady - Piano, Producer
  • Lisa Peardon - Photography
  • Kelly Price - Vocals
  • Lane Craven - Mixing
  • Groovy Lew - Stylist
  • Marcus Logan - Marketing
  • Mase - Rap
  • LOX - Performer
  • Pharrell Williams - Producer
  • Stephen Dent - Engineer
  • Jimmie Wilson - Engineer
  • Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence - Producer
  • J-Dub - Programming
  • Chad Hugo - Producer
  • Dame Grease - Producer
  • DJ Iroc - Scratching
  • Richard "Younglord" Frierson - Producer
  • Lil' Cease - Performer
  • Black Rob - Performer

Trivia

A video game called Harlem World that stars Mase is frequently featured on College University.

The title of this album was also the name of a collaborative group formed by Mase that included: Baby Stase (Mase's Sister), Blinky Blink, Cardan (rapper), Loon (rapper) & Meeno. They had a hit single with "I Like It".

A heavy metal remix of "Will They Die 4 You?" was made with rock band System of a Down. It appears on Chef Aid: The South Park Album.


Preceded by
The Album by The Firm
Billboard 200 number-one album
November 15 - November 28, 1997
Succeeded by
Higher Ground by Barbra Streisand



 
 
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Harlem World [Clean] (1997 Album by Mase)
Movement (1999 Album by Harlem World)
Movement [Clean] (1999 Album by Harlem World)

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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