Welcome Back (Mase album)

Last updated
Welcome Back
Mase wb.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 24, 2004 (US)
Recorded2003–2004
Genre Hip hop
Length49:30
Label
Producer The Movement, Rick Rock, Tyrice Jones, Chad Hamilton, Brass 'n Blues
Mase chronology
Double Up
(1999)
Welcome Back
(2004)
Singles from Welcome Back
  1. "Welcome Back"
    Released: May 25, 2004
  2. "Breathe, Stretch, Shake"
    Released: September 14, 2004
  3. "Keep It On"
    Released: 2004

Welcome Back is the third studio album by American rapper Mase. It was released on August 24, 2004, by Bad Boy Records and Universal Records. The album debuted at No. 4 on the charts, selling 188,000 copies in the first week. The album received gold certification by the RIAA, signifying sales of 559,000 copies in the United States.

Contents

This was Mase's first album to not have a Parental Advisory warning, and his first official studio release since 1999's Double Up . "Welcome Back" samples the Welcome Back, Kotter theme song.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 57/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Entertainment Weekly B− [3]
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Music Critic [5]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1] [6]
RapReviews5.5/10 [7]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Tiny Mix Tapes Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Welcome Back received mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic's David Jeffries said, "Welcome Back runs out of steam toward the end, and spreading out some of the "don't sleep on this" material from the beginning would've worked wonders. It makes this the least necessary Mase album, but half the tracks point to a future that is brighter than ever." [2] Jon Caramanica, writing for Rolling Stone , found Mase's delivery lacking in quality after years away from the rap game and focusing on religion. [8] Kelefa Sanneh from The New York Times said that despite the production in "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" and "Do You Remember" giving him support to lace his flow on the beat, he felt Mase's religious outlook held him back when delivering "lousy similes" about the Bible and brushing women and former friends aside without a response, calling Welcome Back "a surprisingly tepid collection that might have benefited from a bit more preaching, or at least a bit more passion." [11]

Track listing

#TitleProducer(s)Featured guest(s)Time
1"Welcome Back" The Movement John Sebastian 4:22
2"Breathe, Stretch, Shake" Rick Rock Diddy 3:17
3"Keep It On"Tyrese JonesChantelle3:34
4"My Harlem Lullaby"The Movement3:54
5"I Owe" Rick Rock 3:49
6"Wasting My Time"S.Gerongco, R.Gerongco, Kuya Productions4:01
7"Gotta Survive"The Movement4:42
8"The Love You Need" Park Jin-Young Rashad4:06
9"Money Comes and Goes"Chad Hamilton, Ryan Presson4:16
10"I Wanna Go"Tyrese JonesChantelle3:52
11"Into What You Say" Rick Rock 4:04
12"Do You Remember"The MovementCardan5:01

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [12] 68
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [13] 10
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [14] 12
French Albums (SNEP) [15] 165
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [16] 71
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [17] 29
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [18] 65
UK Albums (OCC) [19] 68
UK R&B Albums (OCC) [20] 10
US Billboard 200 [21] 4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [22] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2004)Position
US Billboard 200 [23] 152
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [24] 73

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [25] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>The New Danger</i> 2004 studio album by Mos Def

The New Danger is the second studio album by American rapper Mos Def, released on October 12, 2004, by Rawkus and Geffen Records. It is the follow-up to his breakthrough solo effort Black on Both Sides (1999), after which he devoted more time into his film and stage career.

<i>Chapter II</i> (Ashanti album) 2003 studio album by Ashanti

Chapter II is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Ashanti. It was released by Murder Inc. and Island Def Jam on July 1, 2003 in the United States. Ashanti reteamed with Murder Inc. head Irv Gotti and producer Chink Santana to work on the album. Chapter II features a guest appearance by rapper Ja Rule, Chink Santana, and Gunnz. Critical reception towards the album was generally mixed, with critics commending the album's autobiographical lyrics, and its fun yet light nature, while other critics felt Chapter II lacked creativity and personality and relied too heavily on the formula of her debut album (2002).

<i>Straight Outta Cashville</i> 2004 studio album by Young Buck

Straight Outta Cashville is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Young Buck. It was released on August 24, 2004 via G-Unit/Interscope Records. The album's title alludes to the N.W.A's 1988 album Straight Outta Compton and is a neologism for the artist's hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

<i>Powerballin</i> 2004 studio album by Chingy

Powerballin' is the second studio album by the rapper Chingy, released on November 16, 2004, through Capitol Records and Chingy's Slot-A-Lot label. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 172 with first week sales of 7,000 copies in the US, but then climbed to number 10 with another 120,000 copies sold in the following week. It has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipping over a million copies in the US. The song "I Do" was used in the video game Need for Speed: Underground 2.

<i>Suit</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Nelly

Suit is the fourth studio album by American rapper Nelly. It was intended to be released on August 17, 2004, before being delayed and released on September 13, 2004, by Universal Records. Production for the album was handled by several producers, including the Neptunes, Jazze Pha, Doe, AHM, Jayson "Koko" Bridges, Kuya Productions, Soulshock and Karlin, Ryan Bowser, Big Boi and Beat Bullies. Released in conjunction with Sweat, Nelly intended to release a single album before conceptualizing and releasing two albums simultaneously, both of which would contrast each other's themes. Nelly characterized Sweat as "more up-tempo" and "energetic" while describing Suit as more of "a grown-up and sexy vibe [...] it's more melodic".

<i>Kevin Lyttle</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Kevin Lyttle

Kevin Lyttle is the debut studio album by Vincentian singer Kevin Lyttle. The album was released in 2004 and included the hit "Turn Me On", which went to top 5 in many countries worldwide.

<i>Chocolate Factory</i> 2003 studio album by R. Kelly

Chocolate Factory is the fifth studio album by American recording artist R. Kelly, released on February 18, 2003, by Jive Records. Recording sessions took place mainly at Rockland Studios and Chicago Recording Company in Chicago, Illinois, and the album was primarily written, arranged, and produced by R. Kelly. Originally titled Loveland, Chocolate Factory was conceived by Kelly amid controversy over his sex scandal at the time.

<i>TP-2.com</i> 2000 studio album by R. Kelly

TP-2.com is the fourth solo album by American R&B recording artist R. Kelly, released on November 7, 2000, by Jive Records.

<i>The Day After</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Twista

The Day After is the fifth studio album by American rapper Twista. It was released on October 4, 2005 via Atlantic Records. The follow-up to his 2004 breakthrough album Kamikaze, the album marked Twista's first project without contribution from longtime collaborator The Legendary Traxster. Instead, he worked with a variety of new collaborators on the album, including Bigg D, Mr. Collipark, Cuxo, Bryan-Michael Cox, Rodney Jerkins, Jim Jonsin, R. Kelly, The Neptunes, Scott Storch, and Toxic.

<i>The W</i> 2000 studio album by Wu-Tang Clan

The W is the third studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. It was released on November 21, 2000, by Loud Records. After their 1997 album Wu-Tang Forever, several of the group's members released solo projects before The W, which has a more rugged, less polished sound than that of most Wu-Tang related albums from that era. The album also features guest appearances from Isaac Hayes, Redman, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg and Junior Reid. It is the group's last album to feature Ol' Dirty Bastard before his death in 2004, as he was absent from their next album, Iron Flag (2001).

American rapper Mase has released three studio albums and twenty-two singles, including ten as a featured artist.

<i>Because of You</i> (Ne-Yo album) 2007 studio album by Ne-Yo

Because of You is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Ne-Yo. It was released by Compound Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings on April 25, 2007 in the United States. Ne-Yo reteamed with many previous collaborators to work on the follow-up to his debut album In My Own Words (2006), involving Ron "Neff-U" Feemster, StarGate, and Shea Taylor, as well as new and upcoming musicians such as The Heavyweights, Eric Hudson, Timothy Bloom, Knobody, and Syience. Next to them, Because of You features guest vocal contributions from rapper Jay-Z on "Crazy" and fellow R&B singer Jennifer Hudson on "Leaving Tonight".

<i>Double Up</i> (Mase album) 1999 studio album by Mase

Double Up is the second studio album by American rapper Mase. It was released on June 15, 1999, by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. The album sold 350,000 copies in its first week, debuting at #11 and was certified gold by the RIAA exactly one month after its release on July 15, 1999. Two months before the release, Mase announced his retirement from rapping to become a Christian pastor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Combs discography</span>

The discography of American rapper Sean Combs consists of five studio albums, two collaborative albums, one remix album and seventy-two singles – including thirty-three as a lead artist and thirty-nine as a featured artist.

<i>Curtis</i> (50 Cent album) 2007 studio album by 50 Cent

Curtis is the third studio album by American rapper 50 Cent. It was released September 11, 2007, by Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records, Interscope Records, and Universal Music Group. The album features production from Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Timbaland, among others. Music writers have noted that 50 Cent divides between "hard" and "soft" songs on the album. The album went through many changes in the lead up to its release and was heavily anticipated after the success of 50 Cent's two prior albums, Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005).

<i>Dedication 2</i> 2006 mixtape by Lil Wayne

Dedication 2 is the sixth mixtape by Lil Wayne, hosted by DJ Drama. It is a sequel to Lil Wayne's previous mixtape, The Dedication, and is second in DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz series with Lil Wayne. It is one of the few mixtapes in the hip hop genre to be both financially successful and critically acclaimed. Despite its illegal use of unlicensed instrumentals and samples, it was sold through iTunes and retail stores such as Best Buy and FYE, was widely reviewed in the mainstream media, and peaked at #69 on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart. The cover shows Lil Wayne with "Fear God" tattooed on his eyelids. Much of the mixtape showcases Lil Wayne's free associating rhymes and "liquid non-sequiturs."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mannie Fresh</span> American music producer and rapper

Byron Otto Thomas, better known by his stage name Mannie Fresh, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known for his production work for Cash Money Records releases, as well being half of the hip hop duo Big Tymers with the label's co-founder, Birdman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welcome Back (Mase song)</span>

"Welcome Back" is a song by American rapper Mase. It was released through Sean "Puffy" Combs' Bad Boy Entertainment as the first single off his third studio album. It marked the first single that Mase had released since 1999's "Get Ready", after he had taken a 5-year hiatus from the music industry.

<i>Cruel Summer</i> (GOOD Music album) 2012 compilation album by GOOD Music

Kanye West Presents: GOOD Music – Cruel Summer, commonly referred to simply as Cruel Summer, is a compilation album by recording artists of American record label GOOD Music, released on September 14, 2012, by the label itself and its parent company, Def Jam Recordings. GOOD Music's founder, American rapper Kanye West, first revealed plans for the label's collaborative album in October 2011. It was preceded by four singles—"Mercy", "Cold", "New God Flow", and "Clique"—that saw mixed success on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album features West himself, alongside the label's then-signees Pusha T, Big Sean, Teyana Taylor, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Common, D'banj and Malik Yusef, as well as affiliates Jay-Z, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, and Cyhi the Prynce, among others. Production of Cruel Summer was primarily handled by members of GOOD Music's production wing, Very GOOD Beats, which included West, Hit-Boy, Hudson Mohawke, Travis Scott and Lifted, among others.

<i>The Search</i> (NF album) 2019 studio album by NF

The Search is the fourth studio album by American rapper NF. It was released on July 26, 2019, through NF Real Music and Caroline, and was preceded by the singles "Why", "The Search", "When I Grow Up" and "Time". It features a sole collaboration with Sasha Sloan. NF embarked on a North American tour in September and October 2019 in support of the album. Despite receiving mixed reviews from music critics, the album debuted atop the Billboard 200, becoming NF's second US No. 1 album. It serves as a follow-up to his 2017 album Perception (2017).

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Critic Reviews for Welcome Back by Mase". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Welcome Back - Mase". AllMusic . Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  3. Fiore, Raymond (August 20, 2004). "Welcome Back". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  4. Koslow, Jessica (September 14, 2004). "Mase - Welcome Back". HipHopDX . Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
  5. Music Critic review
  6. Ozga, Matthew (November 22, 2004). "Mase: Welcome Back". PopMatters . Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  7. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (August 24, 2004). "Ma$e :: Welcome Back :: Bad Boy Records/Universal". RapReviews. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Caramanica, Jon (September 30, 2004). "Mase: Welcome Back". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  9. Chadwicked (December 14, 2006). "Mase - Welcome Back". Tiny Mix Tapes . Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  10. Jones, Steve (August 23, 2004). "Welcome prodigal son Mase; Steve Earle's 'Revolution'". USA Today . Gannett . Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  11. Sanneh, Kelefa (August 30, 2004). "Critic's Choice/New CD's; Rap Beats: Preachy, Snarly or Sweet" . The New York Times . Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  12. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 178.
  13. "Mase Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  14. "R&B : Top 50". Jam! . October 7, 2004. Archived from the original on October 10, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  15. "Lescharts.com – Ma$e – Welcome Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ma$e – Welcome Back" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  17. "Charts.nz – Ma$e – Welcome Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  18. "Swisscharts.com – Ma$e – Welcome Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  19. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  20. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  21. "Mase Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  22. "Mase Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  23. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  24. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  25. "American album certifications – Mase – Welcome Back". Recording Industry Association of America.