Seventeen years ago this week, Bad Boy Records released “Feels So Good,” the Kool & The Gang-sampling lead single from Harlem World which was a critical break for Ma$e. In Complex’s “Magnum Opus” series, Ma$e is joined by the song’s producers, Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs and Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie, in addition to then label-mate Jadakiss, and Children Of The Corn band-mate Cam’ron to examine the song’s origins.

The would-be #1 Rap charts single followed the Harlem native’s appearances on high-profile records by 112, Puff Daddy & The Family, and of course, The Notorious B.I.G. Ma$e chronicles how he entered the Bad Boy fold, thanks to Biggie’s road manager at the time (whose job/image was on the line if Ma$e proved to be a bust). He explains how he began as a battle MC, running with Big L, Cam, Bloodshed, Digga, and Herb McGruff in C.O.T.C. Puff allegedly offered to sign Ma$e as a street artist, but promised the high-school drop-out living with his sister a much more sustainable career if he took aim at the clubs and mainstream.

Jadakiss’ recollections of young Mason Betha are especially funny, as The LOX MC recalls sandals, and a bummier rapper that was simply out to sever heads, lyrically.

Moving into the video, Ma$e points out that actor Chris Tucker is the third, oft-overlooked person in the famous Bad Boy-era “shiny suit” (the song was also featured on the Money Talks soundtrack).

This is a cool moment in time, worth reliving at a time when all parties, besides Diddy, are no longer rolling with Bad Boy…

Related: Puff Daddy & Ma$e Detail the Making of Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down (Video)