After more than two decades, Ma$e is making a highly anticipated return to music—timing his comeback to coincide with the opening day of his former mentor Diddy’s sex trafficking trial. The Harlem rapper and ex-Bad Boy star made the announcement on his sports talk show It Is What It Is, revealing that his new album is set to arrive on May 25.
Ma$e’s Bold Announcement
During the show, Ma$e, wearing headphones, teased his upcoming music:
“I’m listening to the songs that [Cam’ron] picked out of the stuff I made … It’s gonna be crazy. We had to pick the right records. I let him pick the right records.”
When guest co-host Maurice Clarett asked when fans can expect the project to drop, Ma$e smirked and replied:
“May 25th. The first day of the Diddy trial. We’re dropping. You like that? You made me put it out there.”
He went on to reveal that the album will be a triple-disc effort, adding cryptically:
“Now we even.”
Though Ma$e claims his album will drop on the first day of Diddy’s trial, legal records show the trial is actually set to begin on May 5, raising questions about whether he will adjust the release date to match.
Ma$e’s First Album Since 2004
While Ma$e has remained active in the media space, his return to music has been long overdue. His last studio album, Welcome Back, dropped in 2004, marking a short-lived comeback following his initial retirement from rap in 1999. Since then, his most notable musical contributions include a feature on the Cruel Summer compilation album in 2012 and a handful of singles and mixtapes, such as 2009’s I Do The Impossible.
In 2022, Ma$e even hinted at a new chapter in his career, stating that he was signing with Death Row Records following Snoop Dogg’s acquisition of the label. However, no official deal was ever confirmed.
A Strategic and Petty Release Date?
Ma$e and Diddy’s strained relationship has been well-documented, and the decision to drop an album on the day of Diddy’s high-profile trial appears to be another chapter in their long-standing feud.
When federal agents raided Diddy’s homes in 2024, leading to his indictment on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, Ma$e was quick to react, joking on his show:
“Reparations is getting closer and closer!”
His co-host, Cam’ron, also pointed out the eerie timing of the raid, which took place on the 27th anniversary of Biggie’s Life After Death album. Ma$e responded:
“It’s amazing that all of this would transpire on that day. That’s eerie, man! That’s crazy.”
Beyond public jabs, Ma$e has also hinted that he has much more to say about his former label boss. He previously stated that he has remained relatively quiet about Diddy’s legal troubles because he’s “saving [his] takes for the documentary.”
“If y’all wondering how I feel, it’s coming soon—pause.”
What to Expect From Ma$e’s Album
Although Ma$e has yet to reveal the title of his upcoming album, the fact that it’s a triple-disc project suggests he has a lot to say. Given his history with Bad Boy and his recent resurgence in the media space, fans are speculating that some of the material may directly address Diddy, his past industry struggles, and his return to the spotlight.
Whether the timing of the album’s release is meant as a power move, an act of revenge, or just pure coincidence, one thing is certain—Ma$e is stepping back into the rap game with a lot to prove.
