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 MaseDouble Up [Clean] Release Date: 1999 06 15 Running Time: 64:14 Label: Bad Boy Entertainment Rating:  |
Shortly after he completed his second album, Double Up, Mase announced his retirement from hip-hop. He chose to follow the path of the Lord, which meant that he could no longer rap. It wasn't just that he couldn't rap -- he no longer had the desire to do so. Consequently, the release of Double Up was shrouded with melancholy and mystery: since this is the last Mase record, would it live up to expectations and, if it did, would that be too much to bear? Frustratingly, the album finds Mase continuing to improve, but falling short of delivering a stunning farewell that could stand as his last testament. As it turns out, Double Up pretty much recycles the same hooktastic pop-rap formulas as Harlem World, following Puff Daddy's design of borrowing the best, regardless of the source (in other words, Gary Numan provides the basis for one cut), and turning it into radio-ready party music. While this is pleasing to the ear, it tends to be a little monotonous and too predictable, especially when compared to Mase's raps. True, he still favors a flat, slow delivery but there's a growing undercurrent of distaste for hip-hop clichés -- a feeling which, ultimately, led to Mase throwing in the towel and turning to God. Certainly, this gives Double Up more lyrical drama than the average hip-hop album, and it's often enough to keep it compelling even when the music flat-lines. Still, there's still the sneaking suspicion that Double Up could have been more -- either an excellent pop-rap record with no flab, or a convincing statement of purpose, evidence of why Mase had to leave hip-hop behind. As it stands, it's simply a strong sequel to a promising debut. Which, of course, is all that it needed to be, but in light of Mase's retirement, it's hard not to want more. [Double Up was also released in a "clean" version, containing no profanity or vulgarity.] Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Tracks:
| Title | Composer | Time | |
| 1 | Intro | Betha, Winans | :59 |
| 2 | Stay out of My Way | Betha, Lawrence, Combs, Boxley | 3:49 |
| 3 | Get Ready | Heard, Sylvers, Betha, Meyers, Sylvers | 4:20 |
| 4 | Make Me Cry | Pierre, Foote, Betha, McVie | 4:14 |
| 5 | Awards Show (Interlude) | Betha | 1:48 |
| 6 | Same N#! *#! | Myrick, Betha, Hornsby | 5:19 |
| 7 | No Matter What | Venderpool, Numan, Combs, Betha | 3:57 |
| 8 | If You Want to Party | Jones, Betha, Vanderpool | 4:05 |
| 9 | Jail Visit (Interlude) | Betha | 2:03 |
| 10 | F#! * Me, F#! * You | Betha, Morricone, Simmons, Angelettie, Combs | 4:14 |
| 11 | Do It Again | Combs, Argabright, Betha | 3:21 |
| 12 | Another Story to Tell | Betha, Beatty, Best, Holland | 3:07 |
| 13 | Blood Is Thicker | Betha | 5:45 |
| 14 | You Ain't Smart | Myrick, Betha, Combs | 4:08 |
| 15 | All I Ever Wanted | Betha, Oskar, Oskar, Errico, Myrick | 4:02 |
| 16 | Mad Rapper (Interlude) | Angeletti | :35 |
| 17 | From Scratch | Barrows, Winans, Mysonne, Betha, Hawkins, Burns | 4:36 |
| 18 | Gettin' It | Kirkland, Betha, Barrows | 3:52 |
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