Harlem World

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title: "Harlem World" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1997-debut-albums", "albums-produced-by-sean-combs", "albums-produced-by-dame-grease", "albums-produced-by-jermaine-dupri", "albums-produced-by-the-neptunes", "bad-boy-records-albums", "mase-albums"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_World" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

FieldValue
nameHarlem World
typestudio
artistMase
coverHarlemWorld.jpg
altA photo of the artist kneeling and flashing a peace sign.
releasedOctober 28, 1997
studioDaddy's House Recording Studio (New York)
genreEast Coast hip-hop
length66:04
label
producer* Carlos Broady
next_titleDouble Up
next_year1999
misc{{Singles
nameHarlem World
typestudio
single1Feel So Good
single1dateOctober 14, 1997
single2What You Want
single2dateDecember 3, 1997
single3Lookin' at Me
single3dateJuly 7, 1998
single424 Hrs. to Live
single4dateFebruary 20, 1998}}
::

| name = Harlem World | type = studio | artist = Mase | cover = HarlemWorld.jpg | alt = A photo of the artist kneeling and flashing a peace sign. | released = October 28, 1997 | recorded = | studio = Daddy's House Recording Studio (New York) | genre = East Coast hip-hop | length = 66:04 | label = | producer = * Carlos Broady

The album was released to favorable reviews and commercial success. It was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards and debuted at number one on both the Canadian Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. It sold 3.3 million copies domestically and has been certified quadruple platinum in the United States. With "Feel So Good", "What You Want" and "Lookin' at Me", Harlem World produced three consecutive top ten hits on the US Billboard Hot 100.

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

| rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = | rev2 = Robert Christgau | rev2Score = A− | rev3 = Entertainment Weekly | rev3Score = B+ | rev4 = Los Angeles Times | rev4Score = | rev5 = Pitchfork | rev5Score = 8.1/10 | rev6 = RapReviews | rev6Score = 7/10 | rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide | rev8Score = | rev9 = Uncut | rev9Score = 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

| headline = Harlem World track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 66:04

| title1 = Puff's Intro | extra1 = Sean "Puffy" Combs | length1 = 1:40

| title2 = Do You Wanna Get $? | note2 = featuring Puff Daddy | writer2 = | extra2 = | length2 = 3:49

| title3 = Take What's Yours | note3 = featuring DMX | writer3 = | extra3 = | length3 = 3:45

| title4 = Mad Rapper (Interlude) | extra4 = | length4 = 1:13

| title5 = Will They Die 4 U? | note5 = featuring Puff Daddy and Lil' Kim | writer5 = | extra5 = | length5 = 4:04

| title6 = Lookin' at Me | note6 = featuring Puff Daddy | writer6 = | extra6 = The Neptunes | length6 = 4:15

| title7 = White Girl (Interlude) | extra7 = | length7 = 0:52

| title8 = Love U So | note8 = featuring Billy Lawrence | writer8 = | extra8 = Stevie J. | length8 = 3:12

| title9 = The Player Way | note9 = featuring Eightball & MJG | writer9 = | extra9 = Mo-Suave-A Productions | length9 = 4:13

| title10 = Hater (Interlude) | extra10 = | length10 = 1:00

| title11 = Niggaz Wanna Act | note11 = featuring Busta Rhymes | writer11 = | extra11 = | length11 = 4:09

| title12 = Feel So Good | note12 = featuring Kelly Price | writer12 = | extra12 = | length12 = 3:24

| title13 = What You Want | note13 = featuring Total | writer13 = | extra13 = | length13 = 4:02

| title14 = Phone Conversation (Interlude) | extra14 = | length14 = 1:49

| title15 = Cheat on You | note15 = featuring Lil' Cease and Jay-Z | writer15 = | extra15 = Jermaine Dupri | length15 = 3:15

| title16 = 24 Hrs. to Live | note16 = featuring The LOX, Black Rob, and DMX | writer16 = | extra16 = | length16 = 4:16

| title17 = I Need to Be | note17 = featuring Monifah | writer17 = | extra17 = | length17 = 5:12

| title18 = Watch Your Back (Interlude) | extra18 = | length18 = 0:56

| title19 = Wanna Hurt Mase? | writer19 = | extra19 = | length19 = 4:23

| title20 = Jealous Guy | note20 = featuring 112 | writer20 = | extra20 = | length20 = 6:25

Sample credits

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

::data[format=table title="Weekly chart performance for ''Harlem World''"] | Chart (1997–1998) | Peak position | Australian Albums (ARIA) | Canadian R&B Albums (SoundScan) | |---|---|---|---| | 91 | | | | | 1 | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table title="Year-end chart performance for ''Harlem World''"]

Chart (1998)PositionCanadian Albums (RPM)US Billboard 200US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
44
20
13
::

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).

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1997-debut-albumsalbums-produced-by-sean-combsalbums-produced-by-dame-greasealbums-produced-by-jermaine-duprialbums-produced-by-the-neptunesbad-boy-records-albumsmase-albums