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Mase
Welcome Back
label: Bad Boy Records
released: 08.24.04
our score: 3.5 out of 5.0
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The first
thing I noticed about Mase's second album was the lack of an "Explicit
Lyrics" warning label. While Mase has publicly proclaimed
his new Christian self for several years now, I was a little skeptical
about his return to hip-hop and his maintaining that image. It
wouldn't be the first time an artist was hypocritical to make
a buck...espcially in the rap genre. However, much to my delight,
Mase has succeeded in demonstrating a clean product can still
be succesfull in this market, a case to demonstrate sometimes
the good guy does win.
The first
track, the title track, also happens to be the first single on
Welcome Back. It has quickly become the feel-good song
of the summer, utilizing a sample and hook over the theme from
Welcome Back Cotter. It's a very fitting start, seeing
as Mase has been quiet for about five years. "Breathe, Stretch,
Shake" will probably see some club rotation.
"Keep
It On" is the first true evidence of Mase's positive image.
It makes a valid argument about just chillin', not neccessarily
getting nekid, freaky, or whatever. He also points out that just
because a dude might drive a fancy whip (car) or have cash doesn't
make him the best guy, or even a good one (although Mase does
plenty of bragging about his goods - more on that in a bit).
On "I
Owe" Mase recognizes he owes God for what he has. He sends
a message against drugs, sex, and morally wrong actions. "They
Love You Need" will be familiar to those that have had someone
leave them for what they perceived as greener grass, and how you're
left thinking how you put them on a pedestal and will always love
them, and that they won't find anything better.
While chock
full of bragging about bling, it is still bling-free. This means
that it's ok to have money...but Mase controls the money, the
money doesn't control him. And while Mase gives God his dues,
this is by no means a Christian rap album.
Overall Welcome
Back still feels like a late 90's P Diddy album. But whatever
he's been doing since then has always worked, and so it does it
here, but that's the same thing that doesn't make this a stellar
album. It's been done. What helps this album is Mase, and what
he brings to the table with his messages and his image. It's refreshing
for once.
02-Sep-2004
11:07 PM
If you
liked Welcome Back...
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Tracklist:
1. Welcome Back
2. Breath Stretch Shake (Ft P Diddy)
3. Keep It Down
4. My Harlen Lullaby
5. I Owe
6. Wasting My Time
7. Gotta Survive
8. Love You Need (Ft Rashad)
9. Money Comes & Goes
10. I Wanna Go
11. Into What You Say
12. Do You Remember (Ft Cardan)
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