Mase Returns to the Pulpit, Named Pastor of Atlanta Church

The Gathering Oasis church announced Mase as its new pastor during an interview.

After notoriously leaving the rap game to step into the pulpit in 1999, Mase has flirted with hip-hop as recently as 2017. On Monday, however, Mase was announced as the new pastor of Atlanta's Gathering Oasis church. Stream the official announcement below.

"I really see this generation being turned back to God's hands," Mase said during the conversation. "I think there's been a major challenge with the city like being able to direct people back to God and I really welcome the challenge."

Mase shocked the rap world with his stunning departure in 1999. Under the management of Magic Johnson, he began taking classes at Clark Atlanta University and also looked to take his talents to the silver screen. At the time, during the press run from his album Double Up, Johnson claimed there were multiple projects on the table. The album went Gold, but the projects never materialized.

He returned to rap in 2004, briefly reuniting with Diddy on "Welcome Back." The track debuted at number four on the charts. The subsequent album was RIAA-certified Gold, peaking at number three on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number four on the US Billboard 200. He recorded a verse for Fat Joe's "Lean Back" remix, recorded the Cruficied 4 the Hood: 10 Years of Hate tape with DJ Whoo Kid for the G-Unit Radio series, infamously appeared in 50 Cent's "Window Shopper" video, and more. In 2017, he temporarily lost his religion--so to speak, engaging in beef with Cam'Ron and even dropping "The Oracle," a diss track aimed at his former friend.

"It's just amazing how the whole thing came to pass," Mase said of his new role. "It's just amazing to see how God just has a plan and we're all in his plan."