Mase Welcome Back 2004 Zip
Melva Simons
AllMusic's David Jeffries praised the track for being reminiscent of early Mase, saying that it's "lyric-filled, driven but effortless, and has a crafty interpolation of a pop tune, this time the Welcome Back, Kotter theme song."[1] Jessica Koslow of HipHopDX put it alongside "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" as being "sure-fire radio/club joints."[2] Rashaun Hall of Billboard said the production work by The Movement on the sample produced "infectious results."[3] Chadwicked of Tiny Mix Tapes praised Mase for maintaining his rap flow while under a different image, saying that "It proves that a man such as Mase can rhyme over a sample from Welcome Back, Kotter; dress up like Mister Rogers in the video and have an 80-year old female back-up dancer, and still be taken seriously and appreciated."[4]
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]
After retiring from the game some years back and following the sudden call of the Lord, like many artists throughout history have, Mase has decided to return and remind these young whippersnappers who the forefather of fun-loving, street-credible, slightly-comic hip-hop is. Mase's first single, "Welcome Back," basically says it all. It proves that a man such as Mase can rhyme over a sample from Welcome Back Kotter, dress up like Mister Rogers in the video, and have an 80-year old female back-up dancer, and still be taken seriously and appreciated.
Welcome back, welcome back Welcome back Welcome back (Oh! Oh!) Yeah man, how you doin' (Come on, come on, come on) You good? I know you like that (Yeah you good, you doin' good) I know you like that (Oh!) How long you been back man? Welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome back I see the girls in the club, they gettin' wild for me And all the pretty chicks all want to smile at me These rap cats man they all got they style from me And if I ever seen them then they probably bow to me And when this beat - drop I know they gon' lean World debut, I know they gon' fiend Everything, Mississippi to the Palm Springs Girls from brunettes down to blonde queens These young boys don't know what a don mean I'm just a bad boy gone clean I'm the diamond chain choker, always remain sober Don't drink liquor and all the games over Need a plane, I explain it to my broker Three bots in the hood top down, it ain't nova (My homie) You know there's more man where that come from Me and Kunta Love rollin' back to back in one See the names have all changed since I been around But the game ain't the same since I left out Ooh you know we need ya, ooh you know we need ya Right here's where we need ya, right here's where we need ya Welcome back Welcome back, welcome back, that thug's back (You know you like that) Welcome back, welcome back, Harlem's back (You know you like that) You know you like that Welcome back, welcome back, that thug's back (You know you like that) You know you like that Welcome back, welcome back, Harlem's back (You know you like that) See I rep the most high, still I'm the most fly I win so much, they want to know who I'm coached by Everyday approached by chicks when I was on top want to give me sosa, but I'm like don't try I see the hisses and the disses when I go by But see the misses on my wristses when I float by Self control, and I can't tell you no lie Tryin' to find a soulmate, you end up being so tired I make my money man without the coca Livin' the vida without the loca I'm down south so they show me country love And I ain't even country thug The people give me daps and hugs, so it must be love And I love the country grub It feel good to hear people singing welcome back And I ain't even sellin' the track, cause I'm that Harlem cat See the names have all changed since I been around But the game ain't the same since I left out Ooh you know we need ya, ooh you know we need ya Right here's where we need ya, right here's where we need ya Welcome back.. Welcome back, welcome back, that thug's back (You know you like that) Welcome back, welcome back, Harlem's back (You know you like that) You know you like that Welcome back, welcome back, that thug's back (You know you like that) You know you like that Welcome back, welcome back, Harlem's back (You know you like that) See the names have all changed since I been around But the game ain't the same since I left out Ooh you know we need ya, ooh you know we need ya Right here's where we need ya, right here's where we need ya Welcome back.. Welcome back, welcome back, that thug's back (You know you like that) Welcome back, welcome back, Harlem's back (You know you like that) You know you like that Welcome back, welcome back, that thug's back (You know you like that) You know you like that Welcome back, welcome back, Harlem's back (You know you like that)
If you have ever moved into a dorm room, played spikeball with new friends in the Yard, or said hi to old ones at the Indy office, you know one thing is key: a soundtrack to play behind it all. As we all begin to settle into the new year, some of us saying hello to Harvard for the first time, and some for the last, the Independent has you set with a playlist for all your back-to-school needs. Here are the songs to listen to as you get back into gear.
Dick's Sporting Goods welcomes the students of 2021 back to school with the song "Welcome Back" by Mase, as well as with an extensive lineup of sweatshirts, sneakers, joggers and more from big brands like Nike, Jordan and adidas.
DAVE: ...LL Cool Js and KRS-Ones. And, you know, none of these groups sound anything alike. You know, everyone was doing their own thing. So to step into the game or even try to introduce our game - ourselves to the game was, like, OK, well, we're bringing our own thing to light also. And there was an innocence there that, you know, paid no attention to fads, what was in, you know, what was selling and what was not and what wasn't. It was just, you know, a couple of kids just getting together and having a good time and giving a product to a company that had bigger plans for it, you know? And that's where it was with us. So, I mean, to sit back and really analyze the situation and say, wow, are we going to make it? Is this going to be accepted or what have you? That was no concern of ours.
DAVE: It was settled out of court. Unfortunately, what happened was the record "3 Feet High And Rising" was - there was a demand for it, and the rush was there to get it in stores. And, you know, we turned in all sample information and what we sampled and what we needed cleared. And unfortunately, the record label just didn't take its time out to - you know, to hash out all business prior to putting the record out. So the sample clearance thing never happened. And the record obviously took off. And rightfully, you know, The Turtles came back and, you know, sued us for, you know, not clearing the samples. That's fine. That was cool. But we did settle it out of court, and all is well.
GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. Let's get back to the interview I recorded in 2000 with two members of De La Soul - Dave, who died earlier this year, and Mase. Here's another track from "3 Feet High And Rising," their first album, which was released in 1989.
DE LA SOUL: (Rapping) Greetings, girl, and welcome to my world of phrase. I'm right up to bat. It's a D.A.I.S.Y. age, and you're about to walk top stage. So wipe your Lottos on the map. Hip-hop love this is, and don't mind when I quiz your involvements before the sun. But clear your court 'cause this a one-man sport. And who's better for this than Plug One? Now you don't have to worry about me squashing other deals 'cause they've already been squished. Freeze a frame about moods the same which we can continue right behind the bush. You'll stay with me. I know this but not because of all my Earthly treasures or regardless to the fact that I'm Posdnuos but because I know I love you better.
DAVE: Yeah, it's not that much different. But, you know, whether you're dealing with, you know, the next person on top of you in projects and, you know, it's overcrowded or what have you, you know, we - you know, you had a single-family home, your own bedroom, a big backyard to play in. And, you know, you did things like went to Tanner Park and went fishing. Or, you know, you...
DAVE: I think we grew up with parents who just, you know, had, you know, moral backbone. It was like, you know, I'm not sending my kid out in the street looking any old way. I'm not going to send my kid out in the streets or into school, you know, not knowing how to speak. You know, my parents were very strict. And, you know, if we got out of line, you know, we got dealt with also. And I - you know, it doesn't necessarily take, you know, mom and dad in the household. Perfect example is Mase. And it's like, you know, seeing how his mom was - and Ms. Mason raised us, myself, Pos, you know? It's like, you know, when you - when we weren't at home with our parents, she was there making sure that we were in order, you know? So I could imagine how it went down in his house.
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