Harlem World

Background

After returning to Harlem, Mase and his childhood friend Cam'ron began rapping under the names Murda Mase and Killa Cam, forming the group Children of the Corn with local artists including Big L and Bloodshed. Managed briefly by Damon Dash, Mase was later introduced to Cudda Love, who took him to Atlanta, where he met Puff Daddy. After impressing him at a rap convention, Mase signed a $250,000 deal with Bad Boy Records. His stage name was shortened to Mase and he quickly gained exposure through features on 112's "Only You," Daddy’s "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" and "Been Around the World", and Notorious B.I.G.'s chart-topping "Mo Money Mo Problems." For Mase's debut album with Bad Boy, Puff Daddy enlisted producers including D-Dot, The Hitmen, Jermaine Dupri, The Neptunes, Dame Grease, and Mo-Suave-A.

Critical reception

Matt Diehl from Entertainment Weekly said of the album: "Known for his funkified cameos on hits by Mariah Carey, Notorious B.I.G., and mentor Puff Daddy, rap’s newest bad boy Mase more than holds his own on his solo debut Harlem World. Like Puff Daddy, he laces hardcore raps with pop hooks and drops Big Willie boasts on cuts like 'Do You Wanna Get $'; his distinctive marble-mouthed drawl, however, creates a regular-guy persona all too rare in hip-hop." AllMusic editor Leo Stanley wrote, "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 Combs and 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."

Los Angeles Times critic Cheo Hodari Coker wrote that on Harlem World "Mase is consistently mellow and confident, relying on simplicity but also displaying moments of stunning insight and poignancy [...] With Harlem World, which features production from a host of hot studio hands, Mase manages to display commercial sensibilities without selling out, and he’s also able to poke fun at his own image when the time is right. For Mase, mo money seems like no problem." Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork called the album "larger than life. Mase had a buttery touch when in his groove, as if having an out-of-body experience watching himself churn out hits. His flows were as silky, or as plush, or as golden as the material world furnishing his songs. He made the realm of luxury feel quaint." Robert Christgau called Harlem World a "hugely appealing, moderately disturbing piece of pop."

Commercial performance

Harlem World debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the week of November 15, 1997, selling nearly 273,000 copies in its first week. It was certified both Gold and Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 2, 1997.

Track listing

Sample credits

• "Puff's Intro" contains excerpts from "Joy", written and performed by Isaac Hayes.
• "Do You Wanna Get $" contains excerpts from "Do Ya Wanna Get Funky with Me", performed by Peter Brown.
• "Will They Die 4 U?" contains a sample from "Everything Good to You (Ain't Always Good for You)", performed by B. T. Express.
• "Love U So" contains excerpts from "Ooh Boy", written by Norman Whitfield, and a sample of "Square Biz", performed by Teena Marie.
• "Niggaz Wanna Act" contains elements from "Hostage", performed by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.
• "Feel So Good" contains a sample from "Hollywood Swinging", performed by Kool & The Gang, and embodies portions of "Bad Boy", performed by Miami Sound Machine.
• "What You Want" contains a sample from "Right on for the Darkness", written and recorded by Curtis Mayfield.
• "Cheat on You" contains a sample from "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", performed by Michael Jackson.
• "24 Hrs. to Live" contains excerpts from "Moses Theme", written by LeRoy Bell, Thom Bell, Jack Robinson, and Casey James. It also contains samples from "Magic Wanda", performed by Frankie Bleu.
• "I Need to Be" contains a sample from "Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)", performed by The Brothers Johnson.
• "Wanna Hurt Mase?" embodies portions of "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", written by Jon Moss, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, and George O'Dowd.
• "Jealous Guy" contains a sample from "Jealous Girl", written and performed by New Edition.

Personnel

• Prince Charles Alexander – mixing (5)
• Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie – mixing (16), associate executive producer
• Dave Aron – mixing (1)
• Carlos "Six July" Broady – piano (3)
• Sean "Puffy" Combs – mixing (5, 6, 9), executive producer
• Lane Craven – mixing (2, 8, 20)
• Mike Daddy – grooming
• Stephen Dent – engineer (2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19)
• Jermaine Dupri – mixing (15)
• Ben Garrison – engineer (20)
• DJ IROC – scratches (5, 13)
• J-Dub – additional programming (12, 16)
• Groovy Lew – stylist
• Tony Maserati – mixing (6, 9)
• Michael Patterson – engineer (2), mixing (3, 11, 12, 17, 19)
• Lisa Peardon – photography
• Herb Powers – mastering
• Kelly Price – additional vocals (12)
• Phil Tan – engineer and mixing (15)
• Rich Travail – mixing (13)
• Barry White – grooming
• Doug Wilson – engineer (1, 3, 11, 12, 17)
• Jimmy Wilson – engineer (9)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

References

1. Bleek, Don. (March 12, 2011). "Picture Me Dope: Harlem's Rap Group 'Children Of The Corn'".
2. "STREET STRUCK "THE BIG L" DOCUMENTARY IS COMING SOONER THAN YOU THINK".
3. Ro, Ronin. (2001). "Bad boy: the influence of Sean "Puffy" Combs on the music industry". [[Simon and Schuster]].
4. Stanley, Leo. "Harlem World – Mase". [[AllMusic]].
5. Christgau, Robert. (1997). "Consumer Guide Reviews".
6. Diehl, Matt. (November 21, 1997). "Harlem World".
7. Hodari Coker, Cheo. (November 9, 1997). "1/2 MASE "Harlem World" Bad Boy/Arista".
8. Pearce, Sheldon. (July 21, 2019). "Harlem World".
9. Jost, Matt. (December 5, 2006). "Mase: Harlem World".
10. (2004). "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide". Simon and Schuster.
11. Williamson, Nigel. (March 1998). "Mase: ''Harlem World''".
12. (November 6, 1997). "Mase's 'World' Makes Its Way Straight to Top". [[Los Angeles Times]].
13. Concepcion, Mariel. (January 7, 2009). "Mase Making Comeback, Inspired By Michael Jackson".
14. {{cite Ryan
15. (January 8, 1998). "Top 10 R&B Albums". [[The Gazette (Montreal).
16. (14 December 1998). "RPM's Top 100 CDs of '98".
17. "Billboard 200: Year End 1998".
18. "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1998". [[Billboard (magazine).