There has been a recent development in the ongoing dispute between Ma$e and Diddy over the hip-hop artist’s publishing rights.
On Aug. 30, Ma$e reclaimed his publishing rights from Diddy, according to Dipset rapper Cam’ron, who took to Instagram to celebrate over his fellow Harlem rapper’s good news.
Cam’ron expressed his satisfaction with the progress, stating that the necessary paperwork was finalized earlier in the week. It was also announced that efforts are underway to reorganize Ma$e’s music catalog.
Why the Battle Over Music Catalogs
The value of a musician’s catalog, which includes the rights to use and reproduce their songs, depends on several factors, such as the artist’s income generated by album sales and concert tickets. Some artists have opted to sell their rights in one major deal due to the high value of their music catalog.
Ma$e’s debut studio album, “Harlem World,” made an impressive debut by reaching the top spot on the Billboard Pop and R&B LP charts. During the first week of its release, it sold over 270,000 copies in the U.S. and has since achieved Platinum status three times in the country, meaning it sold more than 3 million copies, according to Soundbounce.
As Finurah previously reported, Ma$e, who has a net worth of $8 million, co-owns a sports podcast with Cam’ron called “It Is What It Is.” The show recently partnered with Underdog Fantasy, a prominent sports betting network, for a substantial $30 million deal, it was reported last week. Ma$e also hosts a show called “Fix My Situation,” a spiritual advice program where he leverages his former pastor status to guide the audience.
Cam’ron’s Instagram post was more than just an announcement; it also served as a platform to promote his upcoming mixtape, “The Lost Files,” scheduled for release on Sept. 8.
Notably absent from this project are any Ma$e features. Cam’ron’s caption humorously references Ma$e’s absence from the mixtape, “My n-gga murder had to sit this one out. He just got his publishing back from Puff. Just finished the paper work for that yesterday.”
Inside Ma$e’s Fight With Diddy
Ma$e’s history of disagreements with Diddy traces back to their time at Bad Boy Records during the late ’90s and early 2000s. However, their dispute regarding publishing rights took a pivotal turn in 2020 when Ma$e openly criticized Diddy on social media. In a scathing Instagram post, Ma$e accused Diddy of taking advantage of him by offering a mere $20,000 for his publishing rights upon joining Bad Boy. Ma$e disclosed that he later offered Diddy $2 million to repurchase his catalog but was met with a refusal.
Ma$e’s outburst followed Diddy’s impassioned speech at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala, where he criticized the Recording Academy for mistreating Black hip-hop and R&B artists.
Ma$e’s response was candid and direct, “I heard u loud and clear when u said that u are now for the artist and to that my response is if u want to see change you can make a change today by starting with yourself.”
He further highlighted Diddy’s past business practices, alleging that they unfairly disadvantaged artists who had contributed to Diddy’s success.
Despite these confrontations, a lighter tone was struck earlier this year when Cam’ron hinted at the prospect of collaboration between Diddy and Ma$e for their show, “It Is What It Is.”
Ma$e humorously commented on Instagram, “God pls tell @diddy bring the briefcase [briefcase emoji] cause I can’t swap this out for publishing @mr_camron [crying face emojis] [fire emoji] #ThrowInTheTowel #NoLol,” showcasing the complexity and dynamics of their ongoing relationship.
