Mask Off
"Mask Off" is a song by American rapper Future for his eponymous fifth studio album Future (2017). The track was later released as the second single after initially charting as an album track and receiving more popularity than the lead single "Draco".[2] It was Future's highest-charting single, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, until the releases of "Life Is Good" (2020), "Way 2 Sexy" (2021), and "Wait For U" (2022), with the former peaking at number two, and the latter two peaking at number one. The song was also his highest charting solo song until "Puffin On Zootiez" (2022) peaked at number four.
"Mask Off" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Future | ||||
from the album Future | ||||
Released | April 18, 2017[1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | ||||
Future singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Mask Off" on YouTube | ||||
Audio sample | ||||
Future - Mask Off
|
Composition
Composed in D minor, the song samples "Prison Song" by Carlton Williams, released in 1978 as part of his musical Selma. In this track, Future opens up about drug use and addiction problems (Percocets, Molly Percocets). It also tells a story that explores the surface of Future's past, from trapping to living a life of luxury.[3]
Chart performance
"Mask Off" peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of May 6, 2017, becoming his first top-five charting single on that chart.[4] It also peaked in the top 10 in New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Canada, and France, where it charted the highest at number two. It has since been certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and streaming equivalent units of over nine million units in the United States.
Music video
The music video for "Mask Off" was released on May 5, 2017. It was directed by Colin Tilley. It features appearances from Amber Rose and DJ Esco.
Live performances and remixes
The official remix features a guest appearance from fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar and was mixed by engineer Alex Tumay, released on May 23, 2017.[5] Its release follows the performance of "Mask Off" by Future alongside Kendrick Lamar at the 2017 Coachella Festival.[6] Lamar performed live covers of "Mask Off" at every show on the Damn Tour since the release of the remix.[7]
On May 28, 2017, Joyner Lucas has released his own remix onto SoundCloud and YouTube entitled "Mask On" On the remix, he sent shots at Logic and Lil Yachty.
On June 16, 2017, a remix produced by Marshmello was released, which was deemed ironic by some as the DJ is known for masking his identity behind his namesake marshmallow-inspired helmet.[8][9]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Mask Off" | 3:23 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Mask Off" (Remix) (featuring Kendrick Lamar) | 4:17 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Mask Off" (Marshmello Remix) | 3:00 |
Charts
Weekly charts |
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[58] | 3× Platinum | 210,000‡ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[59] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
Belgium (BEA)[60] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[61] | 5× Platinum | 400,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[62] | 2× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
France (SNEP)[63] | Diamond | 233,333‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[64] | 2× Platinum | 800,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[65] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[66] | Platinum+Gold | 90,000‡ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[67] | 2× Platinum | 80,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[68] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV)[69] | 3× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP)[70] | Platinum | 10,000‡ |
Sweden (GLF)[71] | 3× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[72] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[73] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[74] | 9× Platinum | 9,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States | April 18, 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | [1] | |
May 23, 2017 | Digital download | Remix | [10] | ||
June 16, 2017 | Marshmello Remix | [11] |
Legacy
- The song was used in the Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode Return to Skyfire.
- The song was used in the Rick and Morty episode Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim's Morty.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the song experienced a resurgence, especially due to the lyrics in the chorus, "Mask on, fuck it, mask off."[75] Future and the FreeWishes Foundation announced the "Mask On" campaign and provided more than 100,000 masks during the pandemic.[76][77]
- The city of Inglewood created a COVID-19 "Mask On" PSA in 2020 to encourage people to wear protective masks during the coronavirus pandemic.[78]
See also
References
- "Top 40/Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- Chandler, D.L. (April 8, 2017). "Future's "Mask Off" Single Goes Gold Amid #MaskOffChallenge Spree". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- "Mask Off Lyrics". Genius. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019.
- "Future Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
- "Preview Kendrick Lamar's Verse on Future's "Mask Off" Remix". XXL. May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- "Coachella 2017: Watch Kendrick Lamar Bring Out Future, Travis Scott, Schoolboy Q". Pitchfork. April 17, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- Masley, Ed (July 13, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar launches DAMN. Tour in Glendale with triumphant one-man show of force". AZ Central. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- "Mask Off (Marshmello Remix)". Retrieved 2017-06-17.
- Lucas (2017-06-16). "Marshmello Ironically Remixes "Mask Off" By Future". Your EDM. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
- Remix version of Mask Off, featuring Kendrick Lamar, both non-explicit and explicit versions was released on May 23, 2017, on Apple Music.
- "Mask Off (Remix) [feat. Kendrick Lamar] - Single by Future on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). 23 May 2017.
- "Mask Off (Remix) [feat. Kendrick Lamar] - Single (Explicit) by Future on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). 23 May 2017.
- Marshmello's remix version of Mask Off, both non-explicit and explicit versions was released on June 16, 2017, on Apple Music.
- "Mask Off (Marshmello Remix) - Single by Future on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). 16 June 2017.
- "Mask Off (Marshmello Remix) - Single (Explicit) by Future on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). 16 June 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
- "ARIA Urban Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- "Future Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201716 into search. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off". Tracklisten. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- "Future: Mask Off" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- "Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming) - SNEP" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Future". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
- "Classifica settimanale WK 18" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. April 30, 2017. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 2017" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off". VG-lista. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
- "BillboardPH Hot 100". Billboard Philippines. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201714 into search. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- "Future – Mask Off". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- "Future Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- "Future Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- "Future Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- "ARIA End of Year Singles 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- "Jaaroverzichten 2017". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
- "Track Top-100 2017". Hitlisten. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- "Top de l'année Top Singles 2017" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- "Stream Top 100 - 2017". Mahasz. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2017". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- "Top Selling Singles of 2017". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- "Årslista Singlar – År 2017" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
- "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
- "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2017 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- "Austrian single certifications – Future – Mask Off" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2017". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
- "Canadian single certifications – Future – Mask Off". Music Canada. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- "Danish single certifications – Future – Mask Off". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- "French single certifications – Future – Mask Off" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Future; 'Mask Off')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- "Italian single certifications – Future – Mask Off" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 23, 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Mask Off" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved May 23, 2020. Type Future in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Mask Off in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
- "Dutch single certifications – Future – Mask Off" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved October 14, 2021. Enter Mask Off in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2017 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- "New Zealand single certifications – Future – Mask Off". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
- "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 23, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Mask Off in the search box.
- "Portuguese single certifications – Future – Mask Off" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- "Sverigetopplistan – Future" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
- "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Future; 'Mask Off')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- "British single certifications – Future – Mask Off". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- "American single certifications – Future – Mask Off". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- "Future's 'Mask Off' Trends After CDC Reveals New Guidelines". HipHopDX. 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- "How Future's 'Mask On' COVID-19 Campaign Has Helped Hundreds of Thousands". Complex. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- Alston, Trey. "Future's 'Mask Off' Has 'Easily' Provided More Than 100,000 Masks During The Coronavirus Pandemic". MTV News. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- Johnson, Cherise (2020-09-20). "City of Inglewood creates COVID-19 "Mask On" PSA inspired by Future". REVOLT. Retrieved 2021-08-08.