"Mesmerize" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on December 16,2002,as the second single from his fourth studio,album The Last Temptation (2002). Containing a sample from the 1974 song "Stop,Look,Listen " by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye,the song was produced by Irv Gotti and features R&B artist Ashanti. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2003,making it Ashanti's and Ja Rule's fourth top-10 hit as a duet.
"Hope" is a song by American rapper Twista from the soundtrack of the 2005 movie Coach Carter. Featuring singer Faith Evans who performs the chorus,the song mainly focuses on Twista's view on the War on Terrorism. The version featuring Faith Evans can also be found on her album The First Lady. The song was released to US rhythmic and urban radio on November 22,2004. The original version of the song appears on Twista's Kamikaze album and features CeeLo Green instead of Faith Evans.
"Over and Over" is a song by American rapper Nelly featuring American country music singer Tim McGraw. The lyrics were written by Nelly while the music was written and produced by James D. "Sted-Fast" Hargrove II and Jayson "KoKo" Bridges. Other musicians who contributed to the recording include Bryan Loss (drums) and Matthew Brauss. The lyrics of the song focus on regret. It was released on September 12,2004,as the second single from Nelly's fourth album,Suit (2004).
"My Place" is a song by American rapper Nelly featuring R&B singer Jaheim. It is the lead single from Nelly's fourth studio album,Suit (2004). The song is about Nelly inviting a girl over to his house,and the female backing vocals are provided by Kim Johnson. The track samples three songs:Labelle's "Isn't It a Shame",DeBarge's "I Like It",and Teddy Pendergrass's "Come Go with Me",so the respective songwriters are given credits.
"Foolish" is a song by American singer Ashanti. It served as her debut single,the first from her self-titled debut album (2002) and was released by Def Jam Recordings,AJM,and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. It was written by Ashanti,Etterlene Jordan,Mark DeBarge and Irv Gotti,while production was overseen by Gotti. The song heavily samples DeBarge's "Stay with Me". Due to the inclusion of the sample,Mark DeBarge and Etterlene Jordan are also credited as songwriters. A promotional version of the single called "Unfoolish" features a verse from The Notorious B.I.G. from his song "F--king You Tonight".
"Always on Time" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule from his third studio album,Pain Is Love (2001). Produced by Irv Gotti,it was written by Rule,7 Aurelius,and Irv Gotti and features guest vocals from Ashanti. Originally set to feature Brandy,the song was released as the album's second single on November 27,2001,through Def Jam Recordings and Gotti's Murder Inc. Records.
"Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" is a song by American singer Jennifer Lopez for her remix album J to tha L–O! The Remixes (2002). The song was marketed as a remix of "Ain't It Funny",but is actually an entirely different song with the same title. It features guest vocals from Ja Rule (Jeffrey Atkins) and Caddillac Tah (Tiheem Crocker). It was written by Lopez,Atkins,Tah,Cory Rooney,Irving Lorenzo,and Ashanti. Over a reworking of the beat to Craig Mack's "Flava in Ya Ear" (produced by Easy Mo Bee),Lopez sings about "dropping a boyfriend who keeps messing up".
"Lose Control" is a song by American rapper Missy Elliott featuring singer Ciara and rapper Fatman Scoop. It was released as the lead single from Elliott's sixth studio album,The Cookbook,on May 23,2005. It contains samples from Hot Streak's "Body Work" and Cybotron's "Clear". The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States,number two in New Zealand,and in the top thirty in various countries.
"Baby It's You" is a song by American recording artist JoJo,featuring American rapper Bow Wow. Written by Harvey Mason,Jr.,Damon Thomas,Eric Dawkins and Antonio Dixon,and produced by the Underdogs,the song was released in September 2004 as the second single from JoJo's self-titled debut album. It reached number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100,peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart,and entered the top 40 in nine additional countries.
"I Like That" is a song by American R&B singer Houston. It is the first single released from his debut album,It's Already Written (2004). The song features Chingy,Nate Dogg,and I-20. Released on May 10,2004,"I Like That" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 chart and at number 11 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. The song also charted within the top 40 in several other countries,including Australia,France,Italy,New Zealand and Switzerland.
"Only U" is a song by American singer Ashanti from her third studio album,Concrete Rose (2004). The song's introduction uses a sample of Club Nouveau's 1986 song "Why You Treat Me So Bad". "Only U" is a rock-tinged song,that finds Ashanti in love and willing to do anything to be with the one she loves,no matter the cost.
"Girlfriend" is a pop and hip hop song by American boy band NSYNC. It was released on January 14,2002,as the third single from their fourth studio album Celebrity. It was the group's last song to enter the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100,peaking at number five. "Girlfriend" additionally reached number one in Canada and charted within the top 10 in six other countries,including Australia,Germany,and the United Kingdom. This was the last single and song the band released in their career before their reunion in 2023.
"Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" is a song by American R&B singer Ashanti. Written by her along with Irv Gotti and Chink Santana for her second studio album,Chapter II (2003),and produced by Gotti and Santana,the song was released by Murder Inc. on May 19,2003,as the lead single from Chapter II,peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for one week and became her first international hit from her second album,reaching number 7 in the UK and number 19 in Australia.
As of March 2014,American pop and R&B singer Ashanti has released six studio albums,twenty-four singles,and twenty-one music videos on her record labels Murder Inc.,Def Jam,and Motown.
"Into You" is the third single from American rapper Fabolous's second studio album,Street Dreams (2003),featuring either Ashanti or Tamia. The song also appears on Tamia's album More. "Into You" originally featured Ashanti,but after Irv Gotti of Murder Inc. Records refused to let her film a music video to promote the single,Fabolous reached out to Tamia to re-record a commercial version. Both the album and single versions received heavy radio-play,resulting in all three artists being credited on the US Billboard Hot 100. The single was released through Elektra Records and DJ Clue's Desert Storm Records.
"What's Luv?" is a song by American rapper Fat Joe,released through Atlantic Records and Fat Joe's Terror Squad Productions as the second single from his fourth studio album,Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) (2001). The song features additional vocals from singer Ashanti and from rapper Ja Rule on the remix and album version on the song. "What's Luv" was produced by Irv Gotti and Chink Santana. The lyrics of the song's chorus are based in part on the title refrain of the 1984 Tina Turner hit "What's Love Got to Do with It". The song additionally includes a lyric that references the 1998 song "Still Not a Player" by Big Pun. Fat Joe,Ja Rule,and the song's two producers are credited as the writers of "What's Luv",as are Big Pun and the lyricist of "What's Love Got to Do with It",Terry Britten.
"Hotel" is a song by American rapper Cassidy,released by J Records and Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records as his commercial debut single on September 29,2003. The song also serves as the lead single from his debut album,Split Personality. The track was produced by Swizz Beatz and features R. Kelly on featured vocals. "Hotel" reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart.
"Obsesión" is a song by Dominican-American bachata band Aventura with Judy Santos as the female vocalist. It was included on their second studio album,We Broke the Rules (2002),and an English-language version was made for the same album. The song achieved success in many countries,topping many international charts. In France,the song held the French Singles Chart's number-one slot for seven weeks,and as of August 2014,it was the 19th-best-selling single of the 21st century in France,with 565,000 units sold. A radio remix of the song was added to the 2004 special edition version of Love &Hate,which was exclusively released in Italy.
"Livin' It Up" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule featuring singer Case,released in October 2001 through Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records,as the lead single from Ja Rule's third studio album,Pain Is Love (2001). The song,produced by Lil Rob and Irv Gotti,samples Stevie Wonder's 1982 song "Do I Do". In the United States,"Livin' It Up" peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It received a re-issue in the United Kingdom in 2002 and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart. Retired NBA All-Star Baron Davis and former pornographic actress Sunny Leone make appearances in the video.
"Thug Lovin'" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule featuring singer Bobby Brown,released on November 4,2002 as the first single from Ja Rule's fourth studio album,The Last Temptation (2002). The song was produced by Irv Gotti. Bobby Brown's sung portion is an interpolation of part of the chorus of the Stevie Wonder song "Knocks Me Off My Feet".
