To the casual rap fan, the peak of Ma$e's career is defined by being #2. He was the Robin to Puffy's Shiny Suit Caped Crusader before fleeing the game for the pulpit and later struggling to make a comeback stick, but real heads know that while he's one of hip-hop's most storied sidekicks, he's also a legend in his own right. Just last year, high-profile verses from Jay Z, Drake, Pusha T and other rappers interpolated either Ma$e's trademark laissez-fare flow or full-on classic bars from his epic run of late '90s guest and solo verses. Murda Pastor Mason Betha's influence on the game is a lasting one, both from the bars to the steez. Because really—you can't prop Puffy without giving the guy who rocked those glittering suits and custom leather getups right next to him just as fearlessly. Today on the Harlem spitter's 37th birthday, we salute him with Ma$e's Most Stylish Moments.
Bubbling Up with Biggie
Repping Antonio Ansaldi's Squad
Flexing In This Harlem World Promo
Stunting In the Custom Leather Bad Boy Jersey In "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down"
Year: 1997
This Puffy classic is iconic in its own right, but that legacy was cemented tenfold when he and Murda made history with custom Bad Boy leather baseball jerseys. Just another trend that's since circled back around that we owe to this dynamic, trend-setting duo. (Nevermind that he basically sonned himself with that #2, OK?)
Magnum Opus: The Making of Puff Daddy's "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" f/ Ma$e
Puffy, Ma$e, and crew share the story behind this 1997 classic.
Classing It Up In "Been Around the World"
Year: 1997
Despite having three insanely steezy set-pieces, it's not hard to pick the strongest look in this video. While Puff woos a beautiful princess (played by J.Lo, natch) a gold tin foil suit, Ma$e competes on his level through a next-level accessories flourish. Those shades, but more importantly that charm? You really couldn't see this duo for a very solid run in the hip-hop books. The rest of the video is just as typically amazing as you'd expect from these two, starting with a Face/Off send-up where they present a flawless riff on the Troy brothers (Castor is one of the most stylish villains of all time, after all) that's equal parts endearing to their own brotherhood IRL and hilariously goofy.
Going for the Gold In "Honey"
Year: 1997
It's a family affair in the official Bad Boy remix to Mariah's jam, but Mason gets his own spotlight (amidst Sean and the clearly uncomfortable LOX) to play pinch hitter in the team's 14k shiny suit uniforms. None of the gang stunted quite as naturally as he did during their ostentatious run.
Straight Killing It In Every Second of "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems"
Year: 1997
When the history tablets document the Shiny Suit Era (word to June Ambrose), this video is pretty much the book of Genesis. Puff and Ma$e are literally floating on everyone in the outlandish color-coordinated alphets —the blue joints might even be metallic denim—as they floss/do it one time for the dearly departed B.I.G. These were more than just attention-grabbing pieces; they defined a period of rap entering the mainstream.
Reaching the Shiny Suit Apex In "Feel So Good"
Year: 1997
As the proven heir to the Bad Boy Records throne making the transition from Puff's protege to steez master in his own right, this video was young Murda Ma$e's coming out party. Which explains why this is perhaps the shiniest video in the Bad Boy vault. Betha came through in everything from multiple colors of jerseys bearing his own name to the craziest suit not worn by a Vegas game show host, one of his first dolo alphets that didn't come in senior-junior packaging with Diddy. He even has the LOX shining all over this video, which almost qualifies as an act of charity.
The Early Days of Sean John
Flexing with the Rugrats in "Take Me There"
Year: 1998
Ma$e is competing with a lot in this video, mainly Blackstreet's coordinated outfits. How many of your other favorite rappers could keep it G and fresh while pushing the Reptar wagon? Go ahead, we'll wait. The red and black ensemble remains just as fresh today, though we wish we could say the same for Blinky Blink's career. Unfortunately, that peaked.
Embracing All-Over Prints In "Lookin at Me"
Year: 1998
It's a shame we never really get to see this full profile during the video because, based off of the head-and-shoulders shot, it's a doozy. The kid is draped in a print shirt looking like a can of Surge with one shirt and a can of Sunkist with the other. He's just flagrantly throwing next-level Ankh-inspired prints in your face and daring you to critique. This was probably the most winning style risk of '98.
Wilding Out On MTV Rapfix
Rocking the Baroque Boy Look at OVO Fest
Keeping the All-Leather Look Alive While Reuniting With Puffy
Year: 2013
Arguably the biggest and best surprise of Drake's blockbuster 2013 OVO Fest was the reunion of one of '90s hip-hop's best bromances, and Betha didn't understate the swag for his big moment. Your boy came through with a reptile-skin snapback and an all leather alphet complete with optional-zip off sleeves. That one-of-a-kind Bad Boy swag is very much alive. Puff came correct in some Givenchy, but this moment showed that the student had truly become the master, steez-wise.
Embracing His Inner Hypebeast in "Nothing"
Year: 2014
Former Pastor Betha is an old head now, so you've got to pardon him for the type of stunting we'd usually kill hypebeasts for. What's the point of being a veteran of hip-hop fashion if you can't ball out of bounds a little? Besides, when he's busting 1997 Ma$e moves in the music video for his 2014 single (which is pretty decent, btw), how can you even find it in your heart to hate?
