This Ain't a Game

Last updated

This Ain't a Game
Thisaintagame.jpg
Studio album by
Ray J
ReleasedJune 19, 2001
Genre R&B [1]
Length64:36
Label
Producer
Ray J chronology
Everything You Want
(1997)		This Ain't a Game
(2001)		 Raydiation
(2005)
Singles from This Ain't a Game
  1. "Wait a Minute"
    Released: May 1, 2001
  2. "Formal Invite"
    Released: February 5, 2002
  3. "Keep Your Head Up"
    Released: December 4, 2002

This Ain't a Game is the second studio album by American R&B singer Ray J. It was released by Atlantic Records on June 19, 2001 in the United States.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [2]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Vibe Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

AllMusic editor Jon Azpiri found that the album "is full of macho posturing that is more than a little tedious. The best of the tracks on the album feature production from The Neptunes [...] Since This Ain't a Game has so little to offer, that line is what listeners will remember most about Ray J." [1] In a positive review, Craig Seymour from Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Brandy’s little brother Ray-J matures nicely on this sophomore set, with production by R&B hotshots Rodney Jerkins and The Neptunes. The singing/acting biz kid, who evokes Bobby Brown and Off the Wall -era Jacko, sounds surprisingly credible on the hard-knock-life odes." [2] NME found tha This Ain't a Game "is Ray J’s big chance. [He] might sound like he researched the role as "playa" following Jay-Z around and watching from behind a newspaper with two eye holes cut in it but the track smokes, and that’s that. [...] Again, Jerkins’ beats are what draw your attention. The stand-outs are few. The trademark Jerkins skittery beats are many." [3]

Chart performance

In the United States, the album debuted and peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200 and at number nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with first week sales of 62,000 copies. [5] This Ain't a Game produced the top 40 hit single "Wait a Minute", featuring rapper Lil' Kim. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Second single, "Formal Invite" peaked at number 54 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. [6]

Track listing

This Ain't a Game track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro" William Norwood II Ray J 1:01
2."Wait a Minute" (featuring Pharrell & Lil' Kim)
 The Neptunes 3:47
3."Takin' Control"W. NorwoodRay J4:30
4."Formal Invite" (featuring Pharrell)
The Neptunes5:06
5."Keep Your Head Up"
  • Daniels
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins5:34
6."I Tried"
Evans3:58
7."U Need It"/"U Don't"W. NorwoodRay J4:06
8."Out of the Ghetto" (featuring Shorty Mack)
  • Hugo
  • Owens
  • Williams
The Neptunes4:27
9."No More"
Allamby4:47
10."This Ain't a Game"
  • Daniels
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins
R. Jerkins4:18
11."Interlude"W. NorwoodRay J1:39
12."Wet Me" Dalvin DeGrate DeVante Swing 4:30
13."Crazy"
  • Daniels
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins
  • R. Smith
R. Jerkins4:51
14."I Got It All"
4:04
15."Airport" (Skit)
  • Taylor
  • Wolfe
0:55
16."Where Do We Go From Here"
  • Mobley
  • Oczavia Pittman
Ray J7:10
Total length:64:36
UK bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."Formal Invite (Remix)" (featuring Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Clipse, and Boobonic of Philly's Most Wanted)
The Neptunes6:25

Charts

Weekly chart performance for This Ain't a Game
Chart (2001)Peak
position
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [7] 50
UK R&B Albums (OCC) [8] 39
US Billboard 200 [9] 21
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [6] 9

References

  1. 1 2 3 This Ain't a Game at AllMusic. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Seymour, Craig (June 22, 2001). "This Ain't a Game". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Ray J : This Ain't A Game". NME . September 12, 2005. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  4. ↑ Anderson, Tomika (July 2001). "Revolutions: Ray J – This Ain't A Game". Vibe . New York. p. 132. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2024– via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Trust, Gary (April 16, 2008). "Lewis Leaps To No. 1 Debut" . Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Ray J Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  7. ↑ "R&B : Top 50". Jam! . July 18, 2001. Archived from the original on July 23, 2001. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Ray J Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2020.


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