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".[3] It was Future's highest-charting single as a lead artist, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, until "Life is Good" debuted and peaked at number two in 2020.

"Mask Off"
Single by Future
from the album Future
Released	April 18, 2017[1]
Genre	Hip hop trap
Length	3:23 (album version) 4:21 (remix featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Label	A1 Freebandz Epic
Songwriter(s)	Nayvadius Wilburn Leland Wayne [2]
Producer(s)	Metro Boomin
Future singles chronology
"No Pressure" (2017) "Mask Off" (2017) "Rollin" (2017)
Music video
"Mask Off" on YouTube

Composition

Composed in E flat minor, the song samples "Prison Song" by Tommy Butler, released in 1976 as part of his musical Selma. It also bears similarities to "Topp Doggz" by Swedish hip hop band Looptroop Rockers with Petter, which also samples "Prison Song".[4] In this track, Future shares openly about his drug use and addiction (Percocets / Molly Percocets). It also tells a story that explores the surface of Future's past, from trapping to living a life of luxury.[5]

Chart performance

"Mask Off" peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of May 6, 2017, becoming Future's highest-charting overall single on the chart, before being surpassed by "Life is Good", which peaked at number two on the Hot 100 in 2020.[6] 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 was certified seven times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and streaming equivalent units of over four million units.

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 American rapper Kendrick Lamar and was mixed by engineer Alex Tumay, released on May 23, 2017.[7] Its release follows the performance of "Mask Off" by Future alongside Kendrick Lamar at the 2017 Coachella Festival.[8] Lamar has performed live covers of "Mask Off" at every show on the Damn Tour since the release of the remix.[9]

Fellow rapper Joyner Lucas has released his own remix onto SoundCloud and YouTube. On the remix, he sent shots at rappers Logic and Lil Yachty.

On June 16, 2017, a remix produced by Marshmello was released.[10] Marshmello's fans have deemed the remix ironic as the DJ is known for masking his identity behind a marshmallow-inspired helmet.[11]

Track listing

Digital download

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mask Off"	3:23

Digital download – Remix[12]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mask Off" (Remix) (featuring Kendrick Lamar)	4:17

Digital download – Marshmello Remix[13]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mask Off" (Marshmello Remix)	3:00

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] 13 Australia Urban (ARIA)[15] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 20 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 33 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 47 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 5 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[20] 27 Denmark (Tracklisten)[21] 11 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[22] 7 France (SNEP)[23] 2 Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 12 Hungary (Single Top 40)[25] 37 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[26] 15 Ireland (IRMA)[27] 22 Italy (FIMI)[28] 52 Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[29] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 6 Norway (VG-lista)[33] 10 Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)[34] 44 Portugal (AFP)[35] 10 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[36] 52 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[37] 27 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[38] 74 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 9 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 22 UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[42] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[43] 5 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[44] 3 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[45] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position Australia (ARIA)[46] 64 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[47] 78 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[48] 15 Denmark (Tracklisten)[49] 40 Germany (Official German Charts)[50] 53 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[51] 58 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[52] 49 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[53] 38 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[54] 34 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[55] 34 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[56] 43 US Billboard Hot 100[57] 14 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[58] 7 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[59] 19

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[60]	2× Platinum	140,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[61]	Gold	15,000^*
Belgium (BEA)[62]	Platinum	30,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[63]	5× Platinum	400,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[64]	Platinum	90,000^*
France (SNEP)[65]	Diamond	250,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[66]	Platinum	400,000^*
Italy (FIMI)[67]	Platinum	50,000^*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[68]	Platinum+Gold	90,000^*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69]	Platinum	30,000^*
Poland (ZPAV)[70]	2× Platinum	40,000^*
Sweden (GLF)[71]	3× Platinum	120,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[72]	Gold	10,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[73]	Platinum	600,000^*
United States (RIAA)[74]	7× Platinum	7,000,000^*
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
United States	April 18, 2017	Contemporary hit radio	Original	A1 Freebandz Epic	[1]
	May 23, 2017	Digital download	Remix		[12]
	June 16, 2017		Marshmello Remix		[13]

In popular culture

• The song was used on the Rick and Morty episode Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim's Morty.

• The song was used in the Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode Return to Skyfire.

See also

• List of number-one urban singles of 2017 (Australia)
• List of Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles in 2017
• List of Canadian Hot 100 top 10 singles in 2017

Notes

References

1. "Top 40/Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
2. "Mask Off - Future - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
3. Chandler, D.L. (April 8, 2017). "Future's "Mask Off" Single Goes Gold Amid #MaskOffChallenge Spree". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
4. "A Brief History of That Kickass Flute Sample on Future's "Mask Off"". 2017-02-24.
5. "Mask Off Lyrics". Genius. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019.
6. "Future Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
7. "Preview Kendrick Lamar's Verse on Future's "Mask Off" Remix". XXL. May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
8. "Coachella 2017: Watch Kendrick Lamar Bring Out Future, Travis Scott, Schoolboy Q". Pitchfork. April 17, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
9. 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.
10. "Mask Off (Marshmello Remix)". Retrieved 2017-06-17.
11. Lucas (2017-06-16). "Marshmello Ironically Remixes "Mask Off" By Future". Your EDM. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
12. 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).
    • "Mask Off (Remix) [feat. Kendrick Lamar] - Single (Explicit) by Future on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US).
13. 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).
    • "Mask Off (Marshmello Remix) - Single (Explicit) by Future on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US).
14. "Australian-charts.com – Future – Mask Off". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
15. "ARIA Urban Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
16. "Austriancharts.at – Future – Mask Off" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
17. "Ultratop.be – Future – Mask Off" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
18. "Ultratop.be – Future – Mask Off" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
19. "Future Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
20. "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.
21. "Danishcharts.com – Future – Mask Off". Tracklisten. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
22. "Future: Mask Off" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
23. "Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming) - SNEP" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
24. "Offiziellecharts.de – Future – Mask Off". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
25. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
26. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Future". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
28. "Classifica settimanale WK 18" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
29. "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. April 30, 2017. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
30. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 2017" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved May 12, 2017.
31. "Dutchcharts.nl – Future – Mask Off" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
32. "Charts.nz – Future – Mask Off". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
33. "Norwegiancharts.com – Future – Mask Off". VG-lista. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
34. "BillboardPH Hot 100". Billboard Philippines. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
35. "Portuguesecharts.com – Future – Mask Off". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
36. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
37. "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.
38. "Top 100 Canciones — Semana 21: del 19.05.2017 al 25.05.2017" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
39. "Swedishcharts.com – Future – Mask Off". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
40. "Swisscharts.com – Future – Mask Off". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
41. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
42. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
43. "Future Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
44. "Future Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
45. "Future Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
46. "ARIA End of Year Singles 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
47. "Jaaroverzichten 2017". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
48. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
49. "Track Top-100 2017". Hitlisten. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
50. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
51. "Stream Top 100 - 2017". Mahasz. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
52. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2017". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
53. "Top Selling Singles of 2017". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
54. "Årslista Singlar – År 2017" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
55. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
56. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
57. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
58. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
59. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
60. "ARIA Chart Watch #433". auspOp. August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
61. "Austrian single certifications – Future – Mask Off" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
62. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2017". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
63. "Canadian single certifications – Future – Mask Off". Music Canada. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
64. "Danish single certifications – Future – Mask Off". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved December 12, 2017. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2017 to obtain certification.
65. "French single certifications – Future – Mask Off" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
66. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Future; 'Mask Off')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
67. "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 online" under "Sezione".
68. "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 TÍTULO
69. "New Zealand single certifications – Future – Mask Off". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
70. "Polish single certifications – Future – Mask Off" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
71. "Sverige Topplistan: Search for song". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
72. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Future; 'Mask Off')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
73. "British single certifications – Future – Mask Off". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 20, 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Mask Off in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
74. "American single certifications – Future – Mask Off". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 29, 2017. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.