Mase Murder Is Back

Well, it's official, Pastor Mase has joined G-Unit.

According to MTV:

Mase still has them talking with his G-Unit freestyles. If you haven't heard, he has a joint that dropped a couple of weeks ago called "Check Cleared" on which he's throwing a light jab at Diddy and calling Brandy a hoe (to her on again-off again boyfriend New York Knick Quentin Richardson no less). People have been calling in to New York radio stations, calling Pastor Murda a hypocrite. The G-Unit's "Energy God," Tony Yayo, says let Mase do his thing."I feel like he felt like he was in a situation and had to get things off his chest," Yayo explained of Mase's recent hardcore freestyles. "He's around 50 and us, he's feeling good, he's in a good situation. It's just a mixtape rap."I think he wanted to see if he still had 'Murda' in him, and he did," Yayo added. "On them tracks he's spitting fire. When everybody around you is spitting like that, maybe it tempted him to spit like that a couple of times. 'Let me see if I can go toe-to-toe with some of the best artists that's out right now.' "

I have to admit that not only did I read Mase's book, but I fell for the sentiments in it hook, line and sinker. Mase, who I'd met and interviewed a few years earlier, really came off as sincere, apologetic and inspiring in his rants against the evils of Hip-Hop and how he'd turned his life around for God. He seemed content with his life and a deep understanding of what he'd been through. He seemed fulfilled in finding his purpose by becoming a minister. Granted, you just knew that part of the reason Mase left Hip-Hop was because of what happened to his former labelmate Biggie, but Mase had me convinced especially when I read how much of a prominent pastor he'd become and how he'd even opened up his own ministry down in Atlanta.

Yet, after 3 long years and to the surprise of everyone, there he was back with another album titled "Welcome Back". He said that his style hadn't changed, that he wouldn't be rhyming about women and sex, and that the chicks in his videos would actually be required to wear clothes. Ok, tho' I had every reason to be skeptical, he still had me convinced, I even thought that the "new" Mase might actually work out. In fact, I hoped he would, esp after he went on MTV and said:

"We're gonna teach the ladies that they can still respect themselves and still be beautiful. That's what's up."

Well, needless to say the album tanked, Mase left Bad Boy and now he's a part of the almighty G-Unit. All I have to say is, he better watch the company he keeps.