With the release of his sophomore album, Double Up, Mase finds himself on top of the world once again. Following the multi-platinum success of his 1997 #1 debut album Harlem World, Double Up confirms that Mase will once again reign supreme at the top of the charts. Sleek, slick, sometimes witty, sometimes deadly serious, Mase's range on Double Up covers the whole spectrum, from the menacing, hard-core reality of "F--- Me, No F--- U" to the uplifting hip-hop dance track of "Get Ready," the debut single produced by new-jack beat master Frantic and sampled from Shalamar's "A Night To Remember." Says the rapper, "I tried to make a more powerful record that would reveal different sides of myself. Harlem World was just a first impression, but on Double Up, you really get to know me and see the artist's world for what it is. Basically, the title refers to the fact that now I'm telling my side of the stories."

In the world of Mase, those stories won't soon be forgotten. Riding a spooky electric beat, the sinister "Same Niggaz" recounts how fickle life-in-the-fast-lane can be, while the silky "Oh Daddy" turns out to be one of the rapper's personal favorites. Other tracks, like "Stay Out of My Way" and "No Matter What," show that Mase can easily maneuver between old school and neo-funk styles. In every case, his music and lyrics prove he is wise beyond his years, talented beyond his peers.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Mason Betha moved to Harlem when he was five years old. There, he and his five siblings learned the street life while remaining good students and churchgoers. During his teenage years, Mase became a little too fascinated with the streets, and his parents packed him off to Florida for a couple of years. Upon his return, a sudden obsession with music led Mase to test his skills in the rap game. He was backed by some of the best in the business, including Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes and Redman. But Mase's big break came when he befriended Bad Boy CEO Sean "Puffy" Combs, who instantly knew his easy, down-tempo flow would be an asset to the Bad Boy family. Mase debuted on the remix of 112's "Only You," and was later featured on songs by Notorious B.I.G., Brandy, Mariah Carey and Brian Mcknight. Finally, in late 1997, Harlem World took an unprepared music scene by storm.

Tracks like "Feel So Good" and "What You Want" propelled the album to debut at #1 on the Billboard charts. After going quadruple platinum, Harlem World became one of the most successful debut albums in hip-hop history, and made Mase a cultural icon.

Now, Mase is ready for a new phase of his life. In April he announced that he was retiring from music to follow the path of God. "I'm grateful for all the blessings bestowed on me that were a result of my music career. Now it's time for me to serve God in His way. The Lord sends you messages when He's ready and not necessarily when we are." But Mase's connection with Puff Daddy remains strong to this day. "I'm thankful to God first for my success," he says, "but I'm also thankful for Puff, because he believed in me."

Whether that path leads him to work with inner-city youth, to travel, to preach, only time will tell. But for now, Double Up is the single most impressive work from the brilliant force of nature known as Mase.