Spearheaded by New York multi-instrumentalist Vaughan Mason of Vaughan Mason and Crew, Raze was formed in 1986 as a studio/concept group where the idea was to have a different lead singer on each song. Mason hooked up with soul singer Keith Thompson in the studio for Break 4 Love, considered by many to be one of the best house songs ever recorded. It was the group’s only song that made it to urban radio, debuting on October 22, 1988 at #24 for 16 weeks.

Other collaborators that Vaughan worked with as Raze include Ben Epps of Vaughan Mason and Crew, Doug Lazy, Erique Dial, and Eric Scott.

Mason would move to D.C., setting up his Grove Street Records studio which is now located in Baltimore.