Welcome Back (Mase song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Welcome Back
| cover = Mase - Welcome Back single.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Mase
| album = Welcome Back
| B-side = Breathe, Stretch, Shake
| released =June 2004
| recorded = 2004
| studio =
| genre = Rap
| length = 4:22 (album version)
3:45 (radio edit)
| label = {{hlist|Bad Boy|Universal}}
| writer = John Sebastian
| producer = The Movement
| prev_title = I Really Like It
| prev_year = 1999
| next_title = Breathe, Stretch, Shake
| next_year = 2004
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|vNey0PR46F4|"Welcome Back"}}
}}
}}
"Welcome Back" is a song by American rapper Mase. It was released by Bad Boy Records and Universal Records as the first single off Mase's third album of the same name. This was the first single that Mase had released since 1999's "Get Ready", after he had taken a five-year hiatus from the music industry.
"Welcome Back" garnered positive reception from critics who praised its catchy sample taken from "Welcome Back", John Sebastian's theme to the 1970s television show Welcome Back, Kotter. Mase's song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart and number 32 on the Hot 100 chart. It also reached number 17 on both the Hot Rap Songs and Rhythmic charts respectively. The song has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over 500,000 units in America. "Welcome Back" also reached the top 40 in countries like New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The accompanying music video for the song, directed by Chris Robinson, parodies the opening to the children's show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
Critical reception
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."{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=mw0000159990|pure_url=yes}}|title=Welcome Back - Mase|last=Jeffries|first=David|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=August 31, 2016}} Jessica Koslow of HipHopDX put it alongside "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" as being "sure-fire radio/club joints."{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.465/title.mase-welcome-back|title=Mase - Welcome Back|last=Koslow|first=Jessica|work=HipHopDX|publisher=Cheri Media Group|date=September 14, 2004|access-date=August 31, 2016}} Rashaun Hall of Billboard said the production work by the Movement on the sample produced "infectious results."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bb/reviews/album_article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000624192|title=Welcome Back|last=Hall|first=Rashaun|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040904092844/http://www.billboard.com/bb/reviews/album_article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000624192|archive-date=September 4, 2004}} 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."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/mase-welcome-back|title=Mase - Welcome Back|author=Chadwicked|magazine=Tiny Mix Tapes|date=December 14, 2006|access-date=August 31, 2016}}
Chart performance
"Welcome Back" debuted at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of June 5, 2004.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2004-06-05|title=The Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=June 5, 2004|access-date=August 31, 2016}} It reached number 40 the week after and peaked at number 32 the week of June 19,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2004-06-19|title=The Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=June 19, 2004|access-date=August 31, 2016}} staying on the chart for eleven weeks.{{cite web|url=http://acharts.co/song/490|title=Welcome Back (song) by Mase|publisher=aCharts.co|access-date=August 31, 2016}} On the Hot Rap Songs chart, it debuted at number 13 for the week of June 5, 2004.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/2004-06-05|title=Hot Rap Songs|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=June 5, 2004|access-date=August 31, 2016}} Three weeks later, it peaked at number 8 the week of June 26.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/2004-06-26|title=Hot Rap Songs|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=June 26, 2004|access-date=August 31, 2016}} It debuted at number 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and then moved to number 23 for the week of June 5, 2004.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/2004-06-05|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=June 5, 2004|access-date=August 31, 2016}} Four weeks later, it reached its peak at number 17 for the week of July 3, 2004.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/2004-07-03|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=July 3, 2004|access-date=August 31, 2016}} It reached that same position on the Rhythmic chart for the week of July 10, 2004.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/rhythmic-40/2004-07-10|title=Rhythmic Songs|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=July 10, 2004|access-date=August 31, 2016}} The song also charted in New Zealand, debuting at number 4 and staying there for four weeks,{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2004-09-10|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=September 13, 2004|access-date=August 31, 2016}} remaining on the chart for seventeen weeks. In Switzerland, it debuted at number 25 and stayed there for eight weeks and reached number 51 in Germany, with chart progression lasting for seven weeks.
Music video
Directed by Chris Robinson,{{cite web|url=http://mvdbase.com/person.php?id=C88|title=Chris Robinson|publisher=mvdbase.com|access-date=August 31, 2016}} the video begins as a parody of the opening to the 1968–2001 television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, being known in the video as Mister Betha's Neighborhood. The video also features Wyclef Jean pulling up in his Pagani Zonda and also features cameos from Sean Puffy Combs, Styles P, Loon, Cardan, Amerie, Pee Wee Kirkland, Fatman Scoop, E. Ness and Babs Bunny.
Live performance
Remix
{{Infobox song
| name = It's Alright
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
| artist = Kanye West featuring Mase and John Legend
| album =
| released = March 22, 2005
| recorded = 2004
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 3:52
| label = {{hlist|Roc-A-Fella|Def Jam}}
| writer = {{hlist|Kanye West|Mason Betha|John Stephens}}
| producer = West
}}
The official remix to "Welcome Back" is titled "It's Alright", and it is by hip-hop artist Kanye West, with Mase being a featured artist along with singer John Legend. It was featured on the bonus CD of West's 2005 video album The College Dropout Video Anthology.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Kanye-West-The-College-Dropout-Video-Anthology/release/2189409|title=Kanye West - The College Dropout Video Anthology (DVD)|publisher=Discogs|access-date=August 31, 2016}}
Formats and track listing
- 1. "Welcome Back" (Radio Edit) – 3:45
- 2. "Welcome Back" (Main) – 4:23
;Europe CD (Promo){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Mase-Welcome-Back/release/4171629|title=Mase - Welcome Back (CD)|publisher=Discogs|access-date=September 18, 2014}}
- 1. "Welcome Back" (Radio Edit) – 3:45
- A1. "Welcome Back" – 4:22
- A2. "Welcome Back" (Instrumental) – 4:22
- B1. "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" (featuring P. Diddy) – 3:17
- B2. "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" (Instrumental) – 3:17
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2004) !Peak |
| align="left"|Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-06-18.pdf|title=R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1560|page=30|date=June 18, 2004|access-date=May 28, 2024}}
|align="center"|27 |
| {{Singlechart|Germany|51|artist=Ma$e|song=Welcome Back|songid=6266}} |
| {{Singlechart|New Zealand|4|artist=Ma$e|song=Welcome Back}} |
| {{Singlechart|Scotland|60|date=2004-11-20|accessdate=March 21, 2023|note=With "Breathe Stretch Shake"}} |
| {{Singlechart|Switzerland|25|artist=Ma$e|song=Welcome Back}} |
| {{Singlechart|UK|29|date=2004-11-20|accessdate=March 21, 2023|note=With "Breathe Stretch Shake"}} |
| {{Singlechart|UKrandb|12|date=2004-11-20|accessdate=March 21, 2023|note=With "Breathe Stretch Shake"}} |
| {{Singlechart|Billboardhot100|32|artist=Mase|song=Welcome Back|artistid={{BillboardID|Mase}}|access-date=September 18, 2014}} |
| {{Singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|17|artist=Mase|song=Welcome Back|artistid={{BillboardID|Mase}}|access-date=September 18, 2014}} |
| {{Singlechart|Billboardrapsongs|8|artist=Mase|song=Welcome Back|artistid={{BillboardID|Mase}}|access-date=September 18, 2014}} |
| {{Singlechart|Billboardrhythmic|17|artist=Mase|song=Welcome Back|artistid={{BillboardID|Mase}}|access-date=September 18, 2014}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|artist=Mase|title=Welcome Back|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=May 1, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Mase|title=Welcome Back|award=Gold|digital=true|certyear=2005|relyear=2004|access-date=May 1, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left"
! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| {{start date|2004|6|14}} | Rhythmic contemporary · urban contemporary radio | rowspan="2"| Bad Boy, Universal |{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-06-11.pdf |title=Going for Adds |magazine=Radio & Records |issue=1559 |page=26 |date=June 11, 2004 |access-date=July 3, 2022}} |
|---|
| {{start date|2004|6|28}}
|{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-06-25.pdf |title=Going for Adds |magazine=Radio & Records |issue=1561 |page=26 |date=June 25, 2004 |access-date=July 3, 2022}} |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Mase}}
{{Kanye West songs}}
{{John Legend}}
Category:Bad Boy Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Chris Robinson (director)
Category:Song recordings produced by the Movement (production team)
Category:Song recordings produced by Kanye West
Category:Songs written by John Sebastian
Category:Songs written by Mase