Early Life
Mase was born Mason Durell Betha in Jacksonville, Florida on August 27, 1977. At age 5, Betha moved with his family to Harlem, New York City however, he returned to Florida when he was 13 due to concerns he was associating himself with the wrong crowds. Betha returned to New York two years later where he began pursuing his rapping career. Betha was a point guard for the Manhattan Center High School basketball team and in 1993 he performed as "Murder Mase" in a rap group called Children of the Corn which also included successful solo artists Big L and Cam'ron (at the time known as Killa Cam). Of his ten childhood friends, eight were murdered and two went to prison. While attending SUNY Purchase, Mase met hip hop producer Country, was introduced to producer Sean Combs, and dropped out of college to pursue a rap career.
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