On Oct. 28, 1997, Mase dropped his debut album with Bad Boy Records, Harlem World.

The album came at an important time for the label, as the world was still reeling from the untimely death of the Notorious B.I.G. just months prior. Set on establishing Bad Boy as a musical dynasty, Diddy dropped Biggie's posthumous double album, Life After Death as well as Puff Daddy & the Family’s No Way Out, which arrived that summer. By the time fall came around, Mase was set up as the charming prince of Bad Boy, and Harlem World put a stamp on the stardom that'd been awaiting him since his days as a member of Children of the Corn alongside the late Big L and Cam'ron.

The project featured a number of hit singles that charted in the top 10, including "Feel So Good," What You Want," and "Lookin' at Me." It also included appearances from Jay-Z, DMX, Kelly Price, 112, Total, The Lox, Lil Kim, and 8Ball & MJG on the quiet standout "The Player Way."

The album went on to sell over four million copies and was nominated for a Grammy, punching Mase's place in the Hip-Hop landscape.