Mason Betha was born on August 27, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida, and is best known by stage name Mase (often typset as Ma$e). He is primarily known as a rapper and songwriter, but is known in Christian circles as a pastor, having converted in 1999, and is in demand as an inspirational speaker. In 1999, at the peak of his career, he bewildered many of his fans when he walked away from that career to join a Christian ministry after experiencing an epiphany. He returned to the music world briefly in 2004, trying to "clean up" the music he performed but left shortly after that, explaining that it had been a mistake.