Mase has started a new initiative on Instagram called “22 Days of Speaking My Mind” where he speaks about different topics each day. On Wednesday (May 5), the former Bad Boy emcee talked about why he believes joining a gang is the “weakest” thing a Black man can do.

“I know what I’m about to say is unpopular, but it still needs to be said,” he captioned an image of himself. “The weakest thing a Black man can do today is join a street gang. The person who you’re riding for today ends up getting a bag to kill you or sending you to jail.”

“Think about it, what type of person would ask you to hurt your own people and take an oath to be there for your gang only to end up not being there for your children and family?” he added. “I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT. Maybe that’s why I NEVER THOUGHT PEOPLE IN GANGS WERE TOUGH! If you’re thinking about becoming one — don’t! I RESPECT A MAN THAT CAN STAND ON HIS OWN. #Day3 of #22days of speaking my mind.”

Mase’s post, which has been liked almost 14,000 times, was met with a lot of support from fans in the comment section. Instagram user @d.w._joe wrote, “This is Real Rap Bro!! It’s not [an] unpopular opinion at all… Folks are just scared to say it!! It been wack. Especially now.”

“I wish these ‘street’ gangs would go after the real enemies of our people, instead of each other,” wrote @akadontplay.

Social media user @theonlydjblue wrote, “I thought like this too until I got hip to certain areas and cultures..a lot of gangs are families and being born into them and that environment you never really have the option to join or not to join.”

Check out Mase’s Instagram post below.