Howard Mason

Howard "Pappy" Mason (born September 8, 1959) is an American drug trafficker and organized crime figure. Mason ran a drug smuggling gang called the Bebos in the Jamaica, Queens neighborhood of New York City with his partner Lorenzo "Fat Cat" Nichols. The gang sold drugs and netted as much as $200,000 per week in profit.

Murder of Edward Byrne

From behind bars on gun charges, Mason ordered the murder of police officer Eddie Byrne which led to increased law enforcement attention and his eventual arrest and conviction on various charges. A month after the killing of officer Byrne, Mason was sentenced to seven years in prison on gun charges. The federal government continued to investigate Mason for the Byrne killing. On December 11, 1989 Mason was convicted on federal charges including the murder of officer Byrne . After four years of legal wrangling, including questions of Mason's mental competency he was given a life sentence in 1994. In 1990 his mother was given a ten year prison term for drug trafficking. She was released in 1998. Mason is serving his life sentence at the ADX Florence supermax prison in Florence, Colorado.

Popular culture

Mason was referenced by rapper Nas in his 1994 debut album Illmatic. In the single "The World Is Yours" he rhymes "The mind activation, react like I'm facing time like 'Pappy' Mason with pens I'm embracing."

As well as in his 2002 album God's Son : In the single "Get Down" he rhymes "New York streets where killers'll walk like Pistol Pete And 'Pappy' Mason, gave the young boys admiration."

He is also mentioned in Nas's 2004 album Street's Disciple on the single Just A Moment.

He is also mentioned in 50 cent's "I Don't Need Em" off his highly successful album called The Massacre.

He is referenced directly along with Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff in 50 Cent's Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me): "I used to idolize (fat) cat Lorenzo "Fat Cat" Nichols, Hurt me in my heart to hear that nigga snitched on Pap (Howard "Pappy" Mason), how he go out like that?"

He is also referenced in Jay-Z & R.Kelly - Best of Both Worlds Album- track 1 - " The combination of Pappy Mason and Larry Davis, Martin and Malcolm this is bigger than the Album."

He is also mentioned in song "Bomba" (translated on English "Bomb") from Serbian rapper called Struka,in song he rhymes : "If hip-hop was horror movie i would be Jason,legend in hood like in Queens Pappy Mason" (translated to English) "Da je hip-hop horor film,ja bih bio Dzejson,legenda u kraju ko u Kvinsu Pepi Mejson" (original)

References

• Buder, Leonard (1989-12-12). "Dealer Guilty Of Ordering Officer Killed". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DF173BF931A25751C1A96F948260. Retrieved 2007-12-16. 
• Fried, Joseph P. (1994-01-09). "Drug Dealer Is Sentenced to Life For Ordering Killing of Officer". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE1DF1431F93AA35752C0A962958260. Retrieved 2007-12-16.