Throwback: Happy 55th Birthday, Pasemaster Mase!

2025 is rushing by. It’s March. And March is a very busy month in music history. 

• The Who frontman  Roger Daltrey celebrated his 81st birthday on March 1
• Karen Carpenter was born 75 years on March 2
• Lou Reed one of the most influential figures of the past 75 years or so, was born 83 years ago on March 2
•  Method Man celebrated his 54th birthday on March 2
• Tone Lōc celebrated his 59th birthday on March 3
• The legendary soul artist Bobby Womack was born on this day 81 years ago
• Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted celebrated his 62nd birthday on March 4
• Pink Floyd‘s David Gilmour celebrated his 79th birthday on March 6
• The Monkees‘ Mickey Dolenz celebrated his 80th — yes, 80th! — birthday on March 8
• The pioneering Ornette Coleman was born 95 years ago on March 9
• U2‘s Adam Clayton celebrates his 65th — yes, 65th! — birthday on March 13
• Roy Haynes was born 100 years ago on March 13
• The legendary Lightnin’ Hopkins was born 113 years ago on March 15
• Sly and the Family Stone frontman Sly Stone celebrated his 82nd birthday on March 15
• Public Enemy‘s Flavor Flav celebrated his 66th birthday on March 16
• Smashing Pumpkins founder and frontman Billy Corgan celebrated his 58th on March 17
• The legendary Wilson Pickett, one of the major figures in the development and popularization of soul music was born on this day 84 years ago on March 18
• The wildly talented and breathtakingly beautiful Vanessa Williams celebrated her 62nd birthday on March 18
• Queen Latifah, one of the most regal, powerful and defiantly feminist artists in hip-hop history celebrated her 55th — yes, 55th! — birthday on March 18
• The legendary Lee “Scratch” Perry was born 89 years ago on March 20 
• The legendary bluesman Edward James “Son” House was born 122 years ago on March 21
• DJ Premier, one of hip-hop’s greatest and most beloved producers celebrated his 59th birthday on March 21 
• George Benson, arguably one of the greatest vocalists and guitarists to ever live, celebrated his 82nd birthday on March 22
• The Cars‘ founder, primary vocalist, songwriter and rhythm guitar player, Ric Ocasek was born 81 years ago on March 23
• Blur frontman and Gorillaz creative mastermind Damon Albarn celebrated his 57th birthday on March 23
• Chaka Khan celebrated her 72nd birthday on March 23

De La Soul‘s Pasemaster Mase, a.k.a. Maseo, a.k.a. a.k.a. Plug Three a.k.a. Vincent Mason celebrates his 55th — yes, y’all, 55th! — birthday today. De La Soul’s music was everything for a very nerdy Black boy from Queens, who was obsessed with music as far as he could remember. Happy birthday, fellow Aries. And thank you so much for being part of music that’s been such a major part of my life.

The Native Tongues have officially been reinstated y’all — and for perpetuity. Dave forever! Plug One forever! Plug Two forever! Plug Three forever! De La Soul forever!