Jeffrey Bruce Atkins Sr., better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper. Born and raised in New York City, he debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its lead single "Holla Holla". During the 2000s, Ja Rule was signed to Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records, formerly known as The Inc. From 1999 to 2005, Ja Rule had multiple hits that made the top 20 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, including "Between Me and You", "I'm Real " and "Ain't It Funny" —which both topped the Hot 100—the number 1 hit "Always on Time", "Mesmerize", and "Wonderful".
Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., professionally known as Irv Gotti, is an American DJ, music producer, record executive, and the CEO and co-founder of Murder Inc. Records. He is best known for producing multiple number-one records for Ashanti, Ja Rule, and Jennifer Lopez, as well as his collaborations with Jay-Z, DMX, and Kanye West. Gotti is also the creator of the BET series Tales.
"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.
Pain Is Love is the third studio album by American rapper Ja Rule. Executive produced by Irv Gotti, it was released on October 2, 2001 by Murder Inc. Records and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. Although, the album received a mixed reception from critics, Pain Is Love debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was supported by four singles: "Livin' It Up", "I'm Real ", "Always on Time" and "Down Ass Bitch". It was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 3,000,000 copies. Pain is Love received numerous awards and nominations including a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 44th Grammy Awards. The album's first two singles "Livin' It Up" featuring Case and "Always on Time" featuring Ashanti collected nominations for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2002 and 2003.
Venni Vetti Vecci is the debut studio album by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on June 1, 1999, by Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. It was the first album to be released on Murder Inc. Production was mostly handled by Irv Gotti, with additional work provided by Lil Rob, Ty Fyffe, Erick Sermon and Self Service. The album features guest appearances from Jay-Z, DMX, Case, Memphis Bleek, Black Child, Ronald Isley and Erick Sermon, among others. The album title alludes to the Latin phrase "veni, vidi, vici", meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered".
Rule 3:36 is the second studio album by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on October 10, 2000, by Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. The album features guest appearances from Christina Milian, Lil' Mo, Shade Sheist and Jayo Felony, with producers Irv Gotti, Ty Fyffe, Tru Stylze, Lil Rob and Damizza contributing to the album. The album marked a significant change in Ja Rule's musical style, shifting from hardcore hip hop to a more radio-friendly pop rap oriented sound to greater success.
Blood in My Eye is the fifth studio album by American rapper Ja Rule, released on November 4, 2003, by Murder Inc. and Island Def Jam Music Group. The album was originally planned to be released as a mixtape. The release took place during the feud with Shady/Aftermath rappers 50 Cent, G-Unit, Eminem, D12, Dr. Dre, Obie Trice, along with artists including DMX and Busta Rhymes and was entirely dedicated to dissing them. The album was named after George Jackson's radical book of the same name. Hussein Fatal of Outlawz, Cadillac Tah, James Gotti, Sizzla, Black Child, Young Merc, D.O. Cannon, Shadow, and Sekou 720 are listed as guest appearances on this album. Reviews for the record were mixed, with critics skeptical of Ja's lyrical skills as a hardcore rapper. Blood in My Eye debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 140,000 copies in the United States.
Exodus is a 2005 greatest hits album by rapper Ja Rule. He had released an album every year since 1999, but in 2005, with no new album planned The Inc. released this greatest hits album featuring songs such as "Mesmerize" and "Wonderful".
Murder Inc. was an American East Coast hip hop supergroup, formed by New York record executive Irv Gotti in 1995. The trio was composed of three of the most prominent rappers in the music industry at the time, Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule. The trio first appeared on fellow New York-based rapper Mic Geronimo's song "Time to Build". The trio went on to appear on the cover of the June 1999 issue of American hip-hop magazine XXL.
Coming of Age is the debut album by American rapper Memphis Bleek. It was released by Get Low Records, Roc-A-Fella, and Def Jam on August 3, 1999. The album spawned the hit single "Memphis Bleek Is...". The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on September 14, 1999, for shipment of over 500,000 units.
"New York" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Ja Rule, released October 27, 2004 as the second single from his sixth studio album R.U.L.E. (2004). The track, produced by Cool & Dre, features fellow New York rappers Fat Joe and Jadakiss. The song's chorus is based on Boogie Down Productions' 1990 song, "100 Guns".
The discography of Ja Rule, an American rapper. He has released seven studio albums and twenty singles.
Streets Is Watching is the soundtrack album to Abdul Malik Abbott's 1998 film of the same name. It was released on May 12, 1998, via Roc-A-Fella Records/Def Jam Recordings. Production was handled by Mahogany, Jaz-O, AK47, Darrel 'Digga' Branch, Dave G, Dinky Bingham, DJ Clue?, Irv Gotti, Ken "Duro" Ifill, M.O.P., Tone Capone, Ty Fyffe, and Dame Dash, who also served as one of executive producers together with Jay-Z and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. It features appearances from Jay-Z, Christión, Memphis Bleek, Diamonds In Da Rough, DMX, Ja Rule, M.O.P., N.O.R.E., Rell, Sauce Money, Usual Suspects, and The Ranjahz member Wais. The album fared well commercially reaching #27 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and having two singles appear on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Between Me and You" is the first single from Ja Rule's second album, Rule 3:36. The single features Christina Milian and was released on June 16, 2000 to radio. The song was his first major crossover hit, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and became Ja Rule's first top 15 hit. It also reached number 26 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was produced by Irv Gotti and Lil' Rob. A version also exists with Ja Rule singing the chorus instead of Christina Milian. The song was released through The Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records.
"Put It On Me" is the second single from Ja Rule's second studio album, Rule 3:36. It was released through The Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. The song also appeared on The Fast and the Furious soundtrack and also in the film Double Take. The song features female Murder Inc. rapper Vita, with Vita's verse being written by Caddillac Tah. The song's original version appeared on Rule 3:36 and just featured Ja Rule and Vita, but then a remix version was made with vocals by Lil' Mo on the chorus of the song. Ja Rule explained that the lyrics of the song were inspired by an argument he had with his wife to show how important she is to him. It peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of March 19, 2001, making it Ja Rule's first top ten hit on the chart.
"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".
"Down 4 U" is the lead single from Murder Inc. Records' compilation album Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc., released through Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. The song features rapped verses from Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore, and Vita while Ashanti provides the chorus and sung vocals. The song is a remix as well as its music video being the sequel of Ja Rule's 2002 single, "Down Ass Bitch".
Murder Inc. Records, LLC. is an American record label founded by brothers Chris and Irv Gotti in 1998. The label's flagship artist was Ja Rule. According to Chris Gotti, Murder Inc. had sold over 30 million units worldwide and grossed over $500 million. Their office was located at One Worldwide Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York, while their main studio was The Crackhouse, also located in New York City.
LaVita Raynor, known simply as Vita, is an American rapper, songwriter and actress. Raynor is perhaps best known for her role as Kionna, Tommy "Buns" Bundy's "mistress" in the 1998 crime drama film Belly. As a rapper, Raynor is known for her appearances on the songs "Lapdance" by N.E.R.D, "Put It on Me" by Ja Rule, and "Down 4 U" by Irv Gotti. In 2014, Raynor was included in Billboard's list of the "31 Female Rappers Who Changed Hip-Hop".
