Ma$e has a few words to add to the conversation surrounding Kanye West and his “God-given” pursuit to “change the music industry for good.”
In a post on Friday (September 18), the former Bad Boy star called Kanye out for being a hypocrite. Comparing Ye’s fight to his the same one he’s been fighting for years, Ma$e referenced Kanye’s line on the 2010 song “Devil In A New Dress” where he made a shot at him for leaving the industry at the height of his popularity.
“#kanyewest much of what you are feeling has been expressed before,” he began. “But when I was saying it, the same system and mindset that you are fighting against today, used you to shame me for leaving the very same system! #Remember, your famous line “Don’t leave when you hot [that’s how Mase screwed up]”? I know today you may see it very differently so… You owe me (and my family) a public #apology and then some, if anyone owes you one. For alluding to the fact that me following God at the height of my career was a bad decision.”
View this post on Instagram#kanyewest much of what you are feeling has been expressed before. But when I was saying it, the same system and mindset that you are fighting against today, used you to shame me for leaving the very same system! #Remember, your famous line “Don’t leave when you hot”? I know today you may see it very differently so… You owe me (and my family) a public #apology and then some, if anyone owes you one. For alluding to the fact that me following God at the height of my career was a bad decision.
Earlier this year, Ma$e was speaking out on the same issues Kanye is currently fighting for, calling Diddy out over the bad deal he gave him over two decades prior and accusing him of continuing his shady business practices while preaching he wants artists to have better contracts.
“@diddy I heard your #Grammy speech about how u are now for the artist and about how the artist must take back control,” he began. “So I will be the first to take that initiative. Also, before we ask of other ethnicities to do us right we should do us as black people better. Especially the creators. I heard u loud and clear when u said that u are now for the artist and to that my response is if u want to see change you can make a change today by starting with yourself.
“Your past business practices knowingly has continued purposely starved your artist and been extremely unfair to the very same artist that helped u obtain that Icon Award on the iconic Badboy label. For example, u still got my publishing from 24 years ago in which u gave me $20k. Which makes me never want to work w/ u as any artist wouldn’t after u know someone is robbing you & tarnishing your name when u don’t want to comply w/ his horrendous business model.”
Kanye has named Ma$e as one of his favorite rappers on multiple occasions, including his 2002 “Bonnie & Clyde” freestyle. He also named Tupac, Nas, Biggie and JAY-Z.
In the meantime, revisit Ye’s “Bonnie & Clyde” freestyle below.