Platinum selling rap artist Mason Betha returns from the sermon to the stage after a five-year absence and drops the LP Welcome Back. Remember he left the game in 1999 to get his life together and even started a ministry and wrote a book.   Now he's back trying to have a good time and still make a strong point.   Let us quickly get into Ma$e's new LP and give it a GeoClan.com Globe rating.

"Welcome Back" is the first song and the album's namesake.   Ma$e flows over a sample of "Welcome Back Kotter" and talks about the reception he gets now that he's back in the rap game and also how he began a lot of today's rappers styles.  

The jiggy Ma$e shows his face quickly with his partner P. Diddy in "Breathe, Stretch, Shake", the second single.   The cut is meant for your Harlem Shake and all the other popping movements.   He does what made him famous mainly talking about his status in the streets and with the women.   The beat, done by Rick Rock, is fast paced and hot.

Ma$e talks about chilling with that special lady without doing things too fast in the cut "Keep It On".   The track is mellow with vocals by Chantell who sings parts of "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off".

The third single will probably be the Madonna inspired "My Harlem Lullaby". The track uses interpolations from "La Isle Bonita" and Ma$e gives props to the people who stood behind him when he was down.   The track produced by The Movement has a island feel and will be sure to catch the ears of the people.

"I Owe" talks about not succumbing to drugs, women and staying focused.   On the Rick Rock beat Ma$e talks about teaching, preaching and the fact that this is about God and his debt to him and him only.  

Ma$e speaks for the manhood in "Wasting My Time", a song that puts stalking women on the bulletin board.   The song talks about wanting all or nothing in a female and if you can't deal with that he wants to leave him alone.   He also talks about Love: what it is and how powerful it is.      

"Gotta Survive" is the serious track on the LP and Ma$e talks about doing what it takes to survive and have a good life.   He talks about his early beginnings in the streets and the rap game and how he made that come up from the neighborhood.   With conviction Ma$e states his love for God and how he's never willingly going down the same path again.

Fo' Reel Entertainment's Rashad sings the hook on "The Love You Need".   The track is laced with plenty of guitar strings on it and Ma$e talks about the women who look for something more and for no reason because they aren't going to find a better love anywhere.   This song his a chance to be a nice video because of the imagery of the words and of course because it talks to the ladies.   The horns sound reminds you of Biggie's "F***in You Tonight" featuring R. Kelly.   Rashad's voice is a nice addition to the track as her brings more emotion to the track.

Ma$e has grown up significantly since the last LP but you will recognize the sound on "Money Comes & Goes" a song in which Ma$e talks about spending cash and all that comes with it.   I will say he also talks about the fact that money isn't the root of evil people's greed are!

"I Wanna Go" talks about being tired of doing the same hood stuff and that's it's time to move on to something different whether in reality or in abstract.   Using interpolations from "Do You Know Where You're Going To" Ma$e spills about his wife and being in love.   My have thing changed but for him that seems happy.

"Into What You Say" is another track for your car or the club.   Ma$e tells the ladies he's into anything that she's into.   He talks about being confident and having a good time in whatever you do.  

"Do You Remember" features fellow Harlem World emcee Cardan over a bouncy track.   Ma$e talks about the changes personally and worldwide from his entrance into the game till his return.   He also talks about revisiting the good times we had with him when things we less about bulletproof and more about shiny suits.   He even says funny things like: "I mike a mil in a month like "Pumps N' A Bump".

Overall this album was nice.   It wasn't Ma$e preaching to you but it also wasn't Ma$e of 1997 either (sorry no Murda Mase either).   He used a lot of past experiences to satisfy the street people that like to hear about the women and drug talk but more in a been there done that type of talk.  

He didn't use one curse and made several references to his beliefs and what things like being a friend or lover mean.   He shows no lost of skills and it's nice to see someone show that they can do this without talking about what they do now (you're a recording artist, many people would kill to be in your position and your shooting people!).  

Mason Betha says he will continue to preach and will do the rap thing to show people his positive ways.   That he says: "is the best example".   While no classic this album is a return to what Ma$e made millions of fans off of: having a good time and talking about himself and what he can do.   After five years he hasn't lost his confidence and that has already helped his return into the game.  

"Gotta Survive" and "The Love You Need" are my picks for top songs on the album and the beats all suit his style.

Make sure you check out his appearances on the Terror Squad's "Lean Back Remix" and Kanye West's "Jesus Walks Remix".   Ma$e strong point has always been his personality and smile and that will help him sell records and get his message out there.  

Any questions, comments, suggestions email Clayton Ruley at clayton@geoclan.com.