Veteran rapper Ma$e has started a new Instagram initiative he’s dubbed “22 Days of Speaking My Mind.” On Wednesday (May 6), the former Bad Boy Records artist addressed his issues with Black men joining street gangs.
“I know what I’m about to say is unpopular but it still needs to be said,” he began in the caption. “The weakest thing a black man can do today is join a street gang. The person who you’re riding for today ends up getting a bag to kill you or sending you to jail. Think about it what type of person would ask you to hurt your own people and take an oath to be there for your gang only to end up not being there for your children and family. I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT.
“Maybe that’s why I NEVER THOUGHT PEOPLE IN GANGS WERE TOUGH! If you’re thinking about becoming one don’t! I RESPECT A MAN THAT CAN STAND ON HIS OWN. #Day3 of #22days of speaking my mind. #mase.”
Ma$e’s post comes as 2021 rap murders continue to pile up. On Monday (May 3), the body of popular Pittsburgh rapper Flatline Nizzy was discovered in the McKnees Rock area with a bullet wound to his head. His death follows the recent murders of San Diego rapper OG YD, Sacremento’s Hot Boy Ju and Memphis rapper Mendenhall 2x.
The frequency of each murder has come at an alarming rate and is reminiscent of late 2020 when the rap community suffered the losses of King Von and BadAzz Music Syndicate rapper Mo3 just days apart.
Pittsburgh Rapper Flatline Nizzy Shot In The Head
While gun violence has plagued the culture since inception — 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. murders being two of the most high profile in Hip Hop history — it seems to have ramped up in recent years. Blossoming rap superstar Pop Smoke was killed during a Hollywood Hills home invasion in February 2020 while Von and Mo3 were both fatally shot nine months later.
Chucky Trill, 18VENO, FBG Duck and his affiliate BCR Meezle are just a handful of other shooting deaths over the last couple of years (although they weren’t all necessarily gang-related).
Ma$e’s comments elicited plenty of supportive responses — from “I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE” and “This is Real Rap Bro!! Its not unpopular opinion at all.. Folks are just scared to say it!! It been wack. Especially now” to “Nothing but facts.”
All respect to Mase for speaking up. This is an issue that doesn’t addressed often enough.
But he and most Bad Boy Artist let themselves get gangr@p3d by Diddy tho. Kinda hypocritical tho since he didn’t speak out about that until after the pain started setting in.
You must be gay.
How tf were they a gang? He literally wrote songs for Diddy and made hits? Bad boy never really had a that image. Maybe you could make an argument the 90’s death row records but not Bad Boy
Its well documented Diddly paid crips 4 protection. So its not ok 2 join gangs only 2 hire them? What in the actual fuck is Mase carrying on about. If he had a problem he should have brought it up 2 diddly back in the day smdh
ex bad boy artists they would join a gang after diddy screws them?
there will be some fuck-ass brova pointing out that these ‘thugz’ (aka lazy–ass-mericon-muthafukers) are just victims of their circumstance. so it’s not the thugz fault according to him. it’s a fact, you don’t want to get bullied in the hood because you’re scuuuuured therefore you join. it’s the highest level of cowardice
Only weak insecure men join street gangs. Too weak to make their own decisions
Gangs are a pyramid scheme. You gotta pay dues to get in and continue to pay. All that to hang with some dudes thats gone either kill you or tell on you in court. Dumb……..
He needs to tell that to gang memebers to they face if he really mean it. Not doing it on social media 4 da clout w his irrelevant ass smdh