Ja Rule

20 years ago Ja Rule had a Top 20 hit with "Caught Up". It was the follow up to his chart topper "Wonderful" and 2nd single from his "RULE" album. It was an album I'd frequently listen to on the way to work when I first bought it. After a while I stopped and more or less forgot about him. It would seem the record buying public also did as he's not had a Top 40 hit since.

Around the turn of the century we saw the rise of what is now known as "Pop Rap". Some successful rappers were given the "Pop" label but I don't ever recall the term "Pop Rap" being used. Ja Rule was one of these rappers. 

It was "Between Me And You", his lead single from his 2nd album "Rule 3:36" that made the world notice. For me though it wasn't until he did "Always On Time" that I really considered buying his music. There was something about that record. I initially bought the single but ended up buying both the "Pain Is Love" and "Rule 3:36" albums.

He was ridiculed by many for his rap/R&B crossover formula but there were some dark records on those albums too. At the same time I didn't see the commercial edge of some of the tracks as a bad thing. The line in "Always On Time" about keeping his ho's drugged up on ecstacy isn't exactly what I'd call radio friendly after all.

I listened to the "Pain Is Love" album a lot and was a big fan of "So Much Pain" in particular. He quickly followed up with "The Last Temptation" which I also bought. It marked the comeback of Bobby Brown on lead single "Thug Lovin" which showed that Bobby Brown couldn't really sing anymore, but that's what made it good. Then we had "Mesmerize" which say him reunite with Ashanti on what was more an R&B track with rapping on it, but still good.

Then came the beef with 50 Cent. Given I was never overly keen on anything I heard by 50 Cent and the impact Ja Rule had on me I was very much team Ja Rule. Then came his "Blood In My Eye" album. It was a flop but it was very much a rap album and not very radio friendly.

When he came back he topped the charts with "Wonderful" which showed he was here to stay. Except he more or less disappeared after that.

I never made a conscious decision to stop listening to him. Times were changing for me and I stopped following new music as closely as I once did. A few years later I remembered how much I liked his music and thought I'd catch up on his newer material. Except there wasn't any.

At the time of writing he's released just 1 album in the last 20 years and it doesn't look like it had much impact. He also had a reality TV show and judging by his house I don't think his lack of activity in the last 20 years has affected his financial situation.

Looking back though it would seem his biggest strength were those around him. As mentioned I was a big fan of "So Much Pain". It was a remake of a 2Pac record and what really does it for me is when 2Pac himself does the 3rd verse. On the "Blood In My Eye" album I liked "Things Gon Change" but it steps up a gear when the Black Child verse comes in.

Simply put, he had his limitations as a rapper but managed to make some great music and has made a success out of it.