Vincent Mason

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Vincent Mason (born March 27, 1970), is a rapper, producer, DJ, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop trio, De La Soul. He is also known as Mase.

Posdnuos, and Dave had already began a friendship when Mase joined the pair to form De La Soul in the mid 80s. Through Mase's connections, the group met Prince Paul, who at the time was still a member of Stetsasonic. Paul then took the newcomers under his wing, producing their first single, "Plug Tunin'", in 1988 and helping to create the classic 3 Feet High and Rising.

Mase's roll in the group is primarily that of a DJ, although it is believed that he has as much of a say in the direction of the group as the other two members. On a few occasions, such as Jungle Brothers' "Doin' Our Own Dang", he's stepped to the mic, and showed himself to be a capable, if lighthearted, rapper.

On June 4, 2006 Mase was sent to the hospital for liver problems.

Mase is a member of the Spitkicker collective.

[edit] Aliases

All three members of De La Soul have a variety of known aliases and nicknames used throughout the group's career. The following are the most significant:

  • P.A. Pasemaster Mase - The first alias used by Mason, "Pasemaster" (or "P.A.") was used as an alternative to "DJ". Though "Mase" is simply a nickname for Mason, Mason noted in an early interview that the name can be an acronym for "Making A Soul Effort". Later, with the release of Buhloone Mindstate, the nickname "Maseo" became widely used.
  • Plug Three - An early concept for 3 Feet High and Rising involved music being transmitted from Mars by three microphone plugs (each one representing a member of the group). Though this idea was abandoned, the titles "Plug One", "Plug Two" and "Plug Three" still became relevant on the album.
De La Soul
Posdnuos | Dave | Maseo
Studio albums
3 Feet High and Rising (1989) | De La Soul Is Dead (1991) | Buhloone Mindstate (1993) | Clear Lake Audiotorium (EP) (1994) | Stakes Is High (1996) | Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000) | AOI: Bionix (2001) | Live at Tramps, NYC, 1996 (2004) | The Grind Date (2004) | The Impossible: Mission TV Series - Pt. 1 (2006) 
Singles
Potholes in My Lawn| Plug Tunin'| Buddy| Eye Know| Me Myself And I| Say No Go| The Magic Number| Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)| A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"| Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa / Keepin' The Faith| Breakadawn| Ego Trippin' (Part Two)| Fallin'| Stakes Is High| Itzsoweezee (HOT)| 4 More| Oooh.| All Good?| Thru Ya City| Baby Phat| Shoomp| Shopping Bags (She Got From You)| Rock Co.Kane Flow|Feel Good Inc.
Related articles
Native Tongues | Prince Paul | Spitkicker