P. Diddy To Mase: 'I Only Want You To Come Back If You're Ready'

by Jennifer Vineyard

First Justin Timberlake, now P. Diddy — the rapper pretended to be a reporter on Thursday, so that he could officially announce that Mase is back.

In a cameo role in Mase's upcoming video, "Welcome Back," the Bad Boy CEO plays the part of a

television correspondent answering to Walter Lee Younger, the name of the character he plays in the Broadway production of "A Raisin in the Sun." Taking over a small section of New York's Times Square on Thursday, Diddy commandeered a "Making the Video" crew that shot his stand-ups as if he were doing live TV on the fictitious channel "Bad Boy TV."

Diddy's character acts distracted at first, drinking coffee from an "I Love NY" mug and swearing as he's shooting the breeze with the crew as if he doesn't realize he's already on the air. Then, once he sees they're live, he abruptly announces that he's interrupting regularly scheduled programming to announce the breaking news that Mase is back (see "Mase: The Story Behind The Comeback").

"I got a call from Nelly, and Nelly told me he wanted clearance on Mase, and I was like, 'To use some old vocals?' " Diddy said as he recalled the moment when he realized the former Bad Boy-turned-minister was returning to hip-hop. "And he said, 'No.' He was playing basketball with Mase and Mase jumped in the studio and they did a song together. I heard the song, and then Mase called and said it was official, he wanted to come back. I said, 'I only want you to come back if you're ready to come back.' "

Mase was in fact ready — so long as he could inject his music with a message (see "Mase Is Officially Back; Bad Boy Family Feels New Energy").

"He said he thought it would be something positive," Diddy said, "reach out to millions of kids with a message: Have fun and listen to hip-hop and still have God in your life, without being overbearing, without being preachy on them. I told him I loved the idea."

Diddy also said the rapper was "definitely missed" during his time away from the rap game.

"It's good to have one of our franchise players come on back and take us to the championship," Diddy said. "You know I'm excited. I'm looking forward to the day we step onstage together and have our little reunion. I'm just real happy about it."

Diddy isn't the only one making a cameo in the clip — to see who else turns up, check out "Making the Video: Mase," premiering June 27 at 3 p.m. on MTV2.


This report is provided by MTV News

Mase had a fantastic flow in his rhymes.
Thought he was a preacher or something.

when you sample the theme from welcome back kotter..you're better off not coming back anyway. that song sucks

yo I feel you...that is the most corniest piece of gawbage on the radio currently....and i'm more then ceratin the 106 & park crowd will blow that bullshit up.....

Who?

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

i like the song it's cute. And at least it aint about shakin dat ass, and makin dat money and all that played out bullshit.

i have not heard the song yet..but i have lost all respect 4 mase...I read he autobiography and I thought the man really was true in his walk...

mase who?

THAT SONG SUCKS ASS!

I GUESS YOU CAN TELL THAT I'M NOT A MASE FAN. MY PROBLEM WITH HIM IS THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE HE HAS A MOUTH FULL OF SPIT, OR HIS TONGUE IS TOO THICK.

I think someone ran out of money!

That Welcome Back song is hot garbage. Shame on Mase for coming back like that. And no, I didn't miss him but I didn't dislike him. I thought it was cool that he left rap for ministry but hey, doing rap is between him and God.

I never understood why rappers always announce their "retirement" anyway.We all know they're gonna come back,as soon as the money runs out...lol...and does anybody truly believe that Jay-Z will never make another CD?? Please!

I'm always puzzled by all these rappers that talk about how great Mase was.
To me, he always sounds like he's on the verge of falling asleep in the middle of delivering his raps.

uummmmm.....NO!!!!!

who?...no really who?oh him...anyway

I'll tag along with everyone else who said NO, NO, NO and NO!!

It's cool 2 see Ma$e back!, 'Feel So Good' & 'Get Ready' with Blackstreet r cool songs IMO!

:

My thoughts exactly. When I heard it I was like "R U frickin kidding me???"
It's a hot mess, and it sucks. But ya know hey, it takes all kinds....
[This message was edited Sun Jun 27 12:58:39 2004 by purpluv7]

all right, all I have to say to all u idiots dissing mase is F-U-C-K Y-O-U Mase truly has what it takes to be a legend, and in many ways already is. His whole new act, doing something different with the rap game should be something everyone should appreciate. He's not rapping about 'hoes and money' he's rapping about REAL things that happen in life. And its not like just because he quit before to turn into a pastor that he's trying to preach the word. Many other rap artists apreciate god. I mean look at my other boy, 2pac, he has songs like Pray For Me, he also rapped about REAL life things, the only difference is Mase has decided not to swear. Kanye West has the song Jesus Walks. And the song Welcome Back has a good beat and we all know everybody loves Mase so get over yourselves and realize how great of a song it is. And that's pretty cool that he's redoing a song that we all know, its happy and upbeat-something that you usually do NOT find in rap. Accept the fact that hes doing something different and appreciate it.

debbiedean2 said:

he talks with a slur.

Ummm no....A legend? GET THE FUCK outta here....Melle Mel & Chuck D are legends...MA$E is a simp ass wannabe that only blew up because Biggie was dead.

I too was shocked when I heard Mase was coming back.

I read his book and was inspired by it and thought he would never go back to rap.

I realize now what he wants to do, be a postive force in Hip-Hop. See Mase is a preacher, a man of God. He's not leaving God. He has the confidence to rap about things that no one else will. Plus I think that a Hip-Hop album with no swearing would be a breath of fresh air.

meltwithu said:

I agree with you completely. He should've stayed in church. The new song sucks as does the video. Mase should be ashamed for putting out shit like that and P. Diddy should stay the fuck out of videos. We're sick of his ass!