Harlem World

Harlem World
Studio album by Mase
Released	October 28, 1997
Recorded	1996 - 1997
Studio	Daddy's House Recording Studio (New York City)
Genre(s)	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Length	66:04
Label	Bad Boy Records, Arista
Producer(s)	Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Sean "Puffy" Combs (also exec.), Dame Grease, Jermaine Dupri, Steven "Stevie J" Jordan, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Mo-Suave-A, Nashiem Myrick, The Neptunes, T-Mix, Carl "Chucky" Thompson

Mase chronology
Next	Double Up (1999)

Harlem World is the debut studio album by American rapper Mase, released in 1997 on Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. Following the passing of labelmate The Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy founder Sean Combs began marketing Mase as the new premier act of the label. The album features guest appearances from a star list of artists including Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Busta Rhymes, The LOX, DMX and Total. Harlem World was primarily produced by Bad Boy's inhouse production team The Hitmen, with additional production by Jermaine Dupri and The Neptunes.

The album debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200, selling over 175,000 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. The album's three singles ("Feel So Good", "What You Want" and "Lookin' at Me") all charted within the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Harlem World was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

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."

Reception

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."Muzik (4/9, p.84) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...Harlem on the rise? Most definitely." Rap Pages (1/98, p.105) - Solid Material - "...Creatively refreshing, well-crafted lyrics and a high-energy track over a hyped beat easily make this..."

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

Track listing

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Producer(s)	Time
1.	"Puff's Intro"	-	Sean "Puffy" Combs	1:40
2.	"Do You Wanna Get $?"	Mase, Kelis	Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie	3:49
3.	"Take What's Yours"	Mase, DMX	Nashiem Myrick, Carlos "6 July" Broady	3:45
4.	"Mad Rapper (Interlude)"	-	-	1:13
5.	"Will They Die 4 U?"	Mase, Puff Daddy, Lil' Kim	Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Sean "Puffy" Combs	4:04
6.	"Lookin' at Me"	Mase, Puff Daddy	The Neptunes	4:15
7.	"White Girl (Interlude)"	-	-	0:52
8.	"Love U So"	Mase, Billy Lawrence	Steven "Stevie J" Jordan	3:12
9.	"The Player Way"	Mase, 8Ball & MJG	Mo-Suave-A, T-Mix	4:13
10.	"Hater (Interlude)"	-	-	1:00
11.	"N%@!#z Wanna Act"	Mase, Busta Rhymes	Dame Grease	4:09
12.	"Feel So Good"	Mase, Kelly Price	Sean "Puffy" Combs	3:24
13.	"What You Want"	Mase, Total	Nashiem Myrick	4:02
14.	"Phone Conversation (Interlude)"	-	-	1:49
15.	"Cheat on You"	Mase, Lil' Cease, Jay-Z, 112	Jermaine Dupri	3:15
16.	"24 Hrs. to Live"	Mase, The LOX, Black Rob, DMX	Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Nashiem Myrick, Carlos "6 July" Broady	4:16
17.	"I Need to Be"	Mase, Monifah	Carl "Chucky" Thompson	5:12
18.	"Watch Your Back (Interlude)"	-	-	0:56
19.	"Wanna Hurt Mase?"	Mase	Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Sean "Puffy" Combs	4:23
20.	"Jealous Guy"	Mase, 112, Puff Daddy	Sean "Puffy" Combs	6:25

Samples

Puff's Intro

• "Joy" by Isaac Hayes

Take What's Yours

• "Sucker M.C's (Krush Groove 1)" by Run-D.M.C.

Do You Wanna Get $

• "Do Ya Wanna Get Funky with Me?" by Peter Brown

Will They Die 4 U?

• "Everything Good to You (Ain't Always Good for You)" by B.T. Express

Lookin' at Me

• "Illegal Search" by LL Cool J

Love U So

• "Square Biz" by Teena Marie
• "Ooh Boy" by Rose Royce

N!@#*s Wanna Act

• "Hostage Part 1 & 2" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Feel So Good

• "Hollywood Swinging" by Kool & The Gang
• "Bad Boy" by Miami Sound Machine

What You Want

• "Right on For the Darkness" by Curtis Mayfield

Cheat on You

• "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson

24 Hrs. to Live

• "Moses Theme" by Frankie Bleu

I Need to Be

• "Tomorrow" by The Brothers Johnson
• "Summer Breeze" by The Isley Brothers

Wanna Hurt Mase?

• "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" by Culture Club

Jealous Guy

• "Jealous Girl" by New Edition

Chart positions

Chart	Position
U.S. Billboard 200	1
U.S. Top Rap Albums	1
Canadian Album chart	55

Singles

Single Information
"Feel So Good" Released: October 14, 1997 Billboard Hot 100: #5 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks: #5 Hot Rap Singles: #1
"What You Want" Released: January 13, 1998 Billboard Hot 100: #6 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks: #3 Hot Rap Singles: #3
"Lookin' at Me" Released: July 7, 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 "Diddy" Combs - Producer, Mixing, Performer, Executive Producer
• DMX - Performer
• Jermaine Dupri - Producer, Mixing
• Kelis - Performer
• 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
• 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 DeVonte Luv - Scratching
• Richard "Younglord" Frierson - Producer
• Lil' Cease - Performer
• Black Rob - Performer
• Cudda Love- Manager
• Kelly Mack- Road Manager
• Supa Sam- Road DJ