Customer Reviews

Welcome Back

5 star:		(86)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

For all you haters that's dissing Mase just because he ain't trying to be a pimp or a gangsta need to shut up. I don't like pop rap, but somehow I really dig Mase. He rhymes so lazily that it's irrisistable at time. I first noticed this when I heard "Feel So Good" from his debut album. "Welcome Back" isn't a classic, but it is one of the highlights of this year along with a few others.

1)Welcome Back- Even though it's getting a little boring from being overplayed, this is still a great song. I heard this song on a local rap channel and immedietely digged it.
2)Breathe, Stretch, Shake- The club banger on the album. I have a feeling Mase wanted to do at least one banger to get more people to buy the album. This is a great song but why does it say it features P. Diddy. All he does is yell a little bit every once in awhile.
3)Keep It On- The chorus sounds a little off-beat but it still works because of Mase's style. He basically tells women to keep their clothes on and that there's more ways of having fun besides sex.
4)My Harlem Lullaby- I really like this song. The chorus is pretty good. The song basically is Mase thanking everyone who supported him throughout his life.
5)I Owe- The chorus doesn't sound like something Mase would do, but the song's still good. It has a strange feel to it and is basically Mase telling everyone he owes them the truth.
6)Wasting My Time- In this song, Mase tells all the obsessive girls that they're wasting his time because he's married now.
7)Gotta Survive- The deepest song on the album and might just be the best song. Mase discusses his life, his retirement from rap to become a minister, and his return to serve God.
8)The Love You Need- Sounds like the R&B songs on the radio now and days. I like the beat and the song is pretty good. Mase basically says that he's a good and loving person to be with.
9)Money Comes and Goes- Ooh this song is catchy. The song sounds like a part 2 to "Mo Money, Mo Problems". We are given an R&B chorus and Mase talks about how money isn't worth everything and that it really does come and go.
10)I Wanna Go- A good love song. Mase says that "he's in love with a girl named Twyla" at the end of the song and that's his wife. The song is very important to listen to because it describes what good relationships are.
11)Into What You Say- The beat sounds like a Lil' Jon beat and it's very much like one. This is another club song I guess, though it isn't as good as the first one.
12)Do You Remember- A very slow song with a sort of Carribean beat. The one and only other guest rapper on the CD, Cardan, is on this. He has a kind of Nelly style but he's tight. The song is basically Mase asking if you remember how the old days were.

Basically, this album is a must have for those who want decent, non-obsene rap, but not corny stuff like Will Smith. MA$E IS BACK!

When i first heard mase was coming back i was thinking "no explicit lyrics and married now i though it was going to suck". I want out to buy the album because i'm a big fan of mase. When i heard the whole album i was like whooe this is a great albut. What the hell was i thinking. I give mase mad props and wish him luck.

Best songs on the album:
1. My harlem lullaby(my favorite song on the album)5/5
2. Wasting my time 4/5
3. Welcome back 4/5
4. Into what you say4.5/5
5. Breth, strech, shake
6. Money comes and goes 5/5

I'm sure everyone knows Mase's history, but you have to admit that it was surprising to see him return to the rap scene. It's obvious that he isn't trying to give up on his faith, as Welcome Back doesn't contain any profanity, but it doesn't contain much quality either. Yeah, it's better than Double Up, but is that really saying much?

Now, Mase was never really the dopest rapper in the world, and on this album, things haven't changed much. To be honest, calling the album average is kind of pushing it. Since this is a Bad Boy record, some of the things on here are formulaic; above all else being obvious samples. The title track, for instance, is based on John Sebastian's theme song of the same name. And then there are times where Mase actually samples his OWN songs, like "The Love You Need", which contains elements of "What You Want".

The bad attempts at interpolating lyrics into tracks don't stop there, either. "My Harlem Lullaby" finds Mase singing the tune to Madonna's "La Isle Bonita", and "Keep It On" is based on Jermaine Stewart's "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off". Speaking of that, for some strange reason the liner notes state that the sample comes from "We Don't Have to Keep Our Clothes On" (read that aloud: does that even make sense?). It looks like producer Tyrice Jones didn't do his research. By the way, Mase's song takes the original song completely out of context, because Jermaine's version was an anti-sex song, while Mase's version is about keeping his music playing.

Another problem on this album is that Mase relies too hard on weak braggadocios to get his point across, like "In my former life I did more Cris than Aguilera" (from "Into What You Say"). And other times he uses similes that don't even make sense, like on "Money Comes and Goes" when he says: "Money stack in the back like Barnes & Noble."

At first I was going to give this album three stars, but I had to knock it down to 2-1/2 because the songs were getting weaker and weaker as the album went on. This is evident in songs like "I Owe"; and "Wasting My Time" will have you saying just that. And I challenge ANYone to find a song lazier than "Do You Remember". Also, well-produced songs are ruined by lame lyrics, like "Into What You Say" and "Breathe, Stretch, Shake".

If you weren't really impressed by Mase in the past, then you sure won't be impressed by him NOW. It's fine that he made a comeback, but it doesn't change the fact that Welcome Back isn't really welcome in your collection.

Anthony Rupert

P.S. On a recent mixtape single called "Father Forgive Us", the Diplomats diss Mase by saying: "Everybody welcoming this, welcoming that/He wasn't welcomed in the first place; how we welcome him back?" Who are the Diplomats to diss anyone?

I bought this CD because I loved Mase back in the day. I'm so glad to see he doesn't do what every other rapper is doing today. He is giving us what we have been missing for so long, (LL did hold it down while he was gone) a different sound and a voice that is unique. My favorite song quickly became "In to what you say". He has good beats that leave you dancing in your seat.

Thanks Mase for being brave enough to do something different.

Mase is doing something in Rap right now, which is going cause alot of negative energy among hardcore Hip-Hop heads. He is coming back to Hip-Hop, same as before - minus all the sex, drugs, violence and cursing he previously threw at the listener effortlessly. One might then wonder: when stripped of all that defined him as a Bad Boy labelmate, how can he be the same Mason Betha that we all loved back in 1996? Simple: He still has that effortless lazy flow, he still knows how to ride a beat better than 90% of todays MC's and most importantly he still has that teenage charm (Even though he is now into his 20's). The album opens with the late Summer anthem "Welcome Back" in which a quick paced party beat is torn to shreds by Mase's hungry flow. As soon as this ends, "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" (which is the albums only real club track) destroys any skepticism that Mase can't hold it down for feel good music anymore. "My Harlem Lullaby" is by far the best track on the album. This song is dedicated to the fans and people in Mr. Betha's life that didn't abandon him when he abandoned Rap. His singing has improved, the melody is spectacular and the beat is one of the best to be released in a long time. "Gotta Survive" is a slightly hardcore song, lyrically focused, in which he delves into the hate that plagued him while he was gone, and still follows him now that he's returned. The final track, "Do You Remember" featuring Cardan is reminiscent of his 96 days where Mase softly sings along "Do you remember the way I used to be, back in 96 when I made you move your feet" - If you don't remember, you'll definitely be reminded. The only setbacks that keep this from being a five star album, is the abundance of love songs. Mind you, they are mostly good songs save for one of them (Number six on the albums track listing). But hey, Mase is a lover not a fighter. In a world of subpar Hip-Hop, Mase's "Welcome Back" is a must have and I recommend it to any pre-96 Hip-Hop veteran.

I gave Mase a four star rating for giving hip-hop listeners a different messege, but this album should really only be a three. This Album should be considered alternative hip-hop in the realm of Talib Kweli and Common (Yes, I know, it's crazy for me to put Mase in the same category as those MCs but Mase's messege is that different.) Mase balances commercial hip-hop beats with a totally different messege that isn't too preachy. Now here's the best part...Diddy isnt in the album that much. That alone is deserving of an extra star rating. Now if you want great beats with a positive messege, then cop this album.

I'm Out!

I could honestly say that this is a cd with all songs actually worth hearing .Every song has a hot beat ,and mase every beat hot .Harlem Lullaby is crazy ,probelely hottet song on the cd ,and Do You Remeber is hot to .Get this cd ,its not often when you get a cd where every song is hot .

First of all, if people don't know, Mase is a rapper who became a preacher and now it seems he is back on the rap scene. I will admit that it isn't easy making a rap cd with no swearing, so for that he deserves some respect. That aside, his motives in my personal opinion are pretty simple. Money. Need proof? Simple, just listen to the cd. For someone who has been off the rap scene for so long, he could have had more than 11 tracks that sum upto 49 minutes. He is out to preach the gospel but says Oh my G... (you know what I'm saying). He talks about Ferarri's, money, him flying everywhere, clothes, spending cash and living in luxury. BUt wait? Isn't he a preacher. Not to get too religious, but the love of money and faith are polar opposites. He has talent, but rarely uses it. Not hatin' on him, but let's all be honest with ourselves

Alright, I have to say that this is the best Rap Cd I have heard in a long, long time. I have over 700 Rap albums that I have bought at home right now. I was getting sick with all the rapping about bling, bling and the hoes and killing and swearing. I wasn't even a big Mase fan at first but he grew on me. I knew he left and I was so happy that he left for a good cause and to do some soul searching. Now he wants to come back and show people that their is a better life out there and more to life. I am sick of people hateing on him because he dosn't swear and he isn't like he used to be. Positive Changes are always good, but people seem to hate Change, or at least positive changes. I know allot of people who Love Mase, but the ones that don't are usually just running away from certain problems and they don't want to accept the good things in life.

This album is just a complete banger and I am so haapy with it. I can play it anywhere, and even around my family who hates rap. No swearing AT ALL, no talking about sex, and hoes, and killing.

Mase really did it with this one! All the tracks are hot and all in all it's a very calm CD which is so nice for a change. Remember I have over 700 Albums so I need to hear a change.
Mase you have all of my Love and more. God Bless you for everything you have done and continue to make more awesome music. I have heard that your next album is going to have Lil Jon doing some of the tracks, now that sounds hot.

GOD BLESS YOU MASE and to everyone else

GO BUY THIS CD RIGHT NOW, heck even buy 3 or 4 or 50!!!!

This is a great album......... Any Mase fan should love this album..... Even though it's his first album in years and he kinda changes up his flow a bit....the album is still real solid. I admire the way he doesn't even curse ONCE on this album.....and also another good thing is that it's not like his songs r all religious and stuff....but it sends a good message at the same time. It's amazing how he changed up his flow in such a way to make music for everybody....tho some may not like.... its appreciated by most. Most of the tracks r really good..... " My Harlem Lullaby ", "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" and " I Wanna Go" r some of the pretty cool tracks. But in my opinion the best is "Love You Need." Tho it only has 12 tracks.... i recommend u get this album cause it's real good...