| This Ain't a Game | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 19, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | 2000–2001 | |||
| Genre | R&B [1] | |||
| Length | 64:36 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Ray J chronology | ||||
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| Singles from This Ain't a Game | ||||
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This Ain't a Game is the second studio album by American R&B singer Ray J. It was released on June 19, 2001, under Atlantic Records in the United States.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+ [2] |
| NME | [3] |
| Vibe |  [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]
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 18,321 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. [5]
| No. | Title | Writer(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" | William Norwood II | Ray J | 4:30 |
| 4. | "Formal Invite" (featuring Pharrell) | The Neptunes | 5:06 | |
| 5. | "Keep Your Head Up" |
| Rodney Jerkins | 5:34 |
| 6. | "I Tried" |
| Evans | 3:58 |
| 7. | "U Need It"/"U Don't" | W. Norwood | Ray J | 4:06 |
| 8. | "Out of the Ghetto" (featuring Shorty Mack) |
| The Neptunes | 4:27 |
| 9. | "No More" |
| Allamby | 4:47 |
| 10. | "This Ain't a Game" | Daniels; Jerkins; Jerkins III | Rodney Jerkins | 4:18 |
| 11. | "Interlude" | W. Norwood | Ray J | 1:39 |
| 12. | "Wet Me" | Dalvin DeGrate | DeVante Swing | 4:30 |
| 13. | "Crazy" |
| Rodney Jerkins | 4:51 |
| 14. | "I Got It All" |
| 4:04 | |
| 15. | "Airport" (Skit) |
|
| 0:55 |
| 16. | "Where Do We Go From Here" |
| Ray J | 7:10 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | "Formal Invite (Remix)" (featuring Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Clipse, and Boobonic of Philly's Most Wanted) | The Neptunes | 6:25 |
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [6] | 50 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC) [7] | 39 |
| US Billboard 200 [8] | 21 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [5] | 9 |
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