Track Listing

1. The Inc Intro
2. Last of the Mohicans
3. Wonderful
4. What's My Name
5. New York
6. Stripping Game (Skit)
7. The Manual
8. Get It Started
9. R.U.L.E
10. True Story (Skit)
11. Caught Up
12. Gun Talk
13. Never Thought
14. Life Goes On
15. Weed (Skit)
16. Where I'm From
17. Bout My Business
18. Passion

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60240 in Music
• Released on: 2004-11-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

CD Description
Coming only a year after his US billboard number one album 2003's 'Blood In My Eye', US rapper Ja Rule returns with hissixth studio album. Sticking to the hardcore thuggish rap style that has dominated his previous work, the album features guest appearances from a whole host of US rap and RnB talent, including R. Kelly, Ashanti, Fat Joe and Jadakiss.

Customer Reviews

Back to Basics
2003: 'Blood in My Eye'. This seemed like a return to form for the fallen rapper Rule. despite pretty much dedicating the whole album to dissing the Shady/Aftermath clique, it featured some very hard hitting 'rap' tunes, such as 'Clap Back' and 'N***az & B****es', and none of the R n'B/Hip-Pop that he had been previously slammed for. Things were looking up.

2004: 'R.U.L.E'. Something went wrong. In the process of trying to redeem himself, Jeffery Atkins has somewhat regressed, producing an album that, composition wise, seems like an inferior version of 'Pain is Love'. Shame. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Rule Hater, I own all of his albums and do like them all, to an extent, but I just feel that this is a slightly half-hearted effort. In my humble oppinion, the aforementioned 'Pain is Love' is his finest work to date, despite many seeing this as the start of his downfall. And this just doesn't measure up.

After a promising start with 'Last of the Mohicans', the album wanes in the middle, with a medlee of virtually identical songs, finally picking up towards the end. On the rap side there is the hot joint 'New York', 'Gun Talk' and 'Bout My Business', but most of the rest is Hip-Pop, interspersed with the obligatory pointless skits. I can't pinpoint a single flaw that brings this album down, but on the whole, it is just a rather unremarkable album; even Gotti's production seems to have slipped, perhaps due to that fact that he doesn't solo produce any more, always co-working with other DJ's.

So overall, if you liked the first single 'Wonderful', I'm sure you'll find lots to like here, but if like me you were hoping for an actual rap album, then go for something like Obie Trice's 'Cheers', DMXs 'Grand Champ', or even, dare I say it, Lloyd Banks 'Hunger for More', which are all much better balanced albums. Anyway, to summarise, here are my individual track breakdowns:

1. The Inc Intro(skit): N/A - Pointless emotional intro
2. Last of the Mohicans: 4/5 - Great beat, dodgy chorus
3. Wonderful: 3/5 - OK for chilling to, but too similar to 'Mesmerized'
4. What's My Name: 5/5 - Great Party Track, nice beat
5. New York: 5/5 - Definition of a banger. Rule's voice tears up the chorus!
6. Stripping Game(skit): N/A - Baffling skit, again pointless
7. The Manual: 2/5 - Sounds like a Craig David joint, weak chorus
8. Get it Started: 2/5 - Sounds like a BEPs joint, aka rubbish
9. R.U.L.E: 3/5 - Pretty unremarkable, out of tune chorus too
10.True Story(skit): N/A - Bored of skits, so haven't bothered listening to it!
11.Caught Up: 3/5 - Too R n'B, catchy enough though
12.Gun Talk: 3/5 - Sinister beat, reminiscent of something from 'Venni, Vetti, Vecci'. Still unremarkable though
13.Never Thought: 3/5 - More R n'B, fairly cool beat though
14.Life Goes On: 4/5 - Smooth beat, and soulful collaboration
15.Weed(skit): N/A - Who gives...
16.Where I'm From: 5/5 - Awesome soulful track. Nice beat, heartfelt lyrics and a great chorus from Lloyd
17.Bout My Business: 4/5 - Good beat. Funny hearing Caddilac Tah and Black Child trying to be Ja Rule though.
18.Passion: 4/5 - Interesting production, very Neptunes-esque, good lyrics too.

ALBUM IS BANGING
Im tellin' ya, this is ja's best album, full of sik beats. Its one of them albums u can jus let it play through and not get bored of. one of my favourite rappers has 2 be eminem, but 2 be honest ja's album is much better! although eminem is better this album is quality, its bout 10 months old now and i still listen 2 it. definately worth getting if you havent got it already... also if you got a subwoofer in ya car definately get it cos it got sum gd tunes for serious base. overall an amazin album definately reccomend it.

A Two Day Masterpiece
Reports say it only took Ja Rule 48hrs to write this album, HOW? It is a masterpiece and Ja pulls it off again, just when you thought the standard had dropped Ja drops a lyric and beat bomb shell, his Intro is an indication to how the album is going to play, heart felt and up beat, dare I say it quite Kanye West like.
Wonderful, Caught Up, The Manual and Never Thought are certainly Hip Hop and more commercial (Ja Style). But between these tracks are some excellent Raps, Whats My Name, New York, Gun Talk, Bout My Business, Last of the Mohicans and of course Life Goes On, make this album one of Ja and Irv's best creations to date. My personal favourites are New York (so good The Game felt like he had to rip it off on a mix tape) and Gun Talk (Black Child can rap shocking as it may seem its true and the beat is quality) but you can decide for yourself. Definately Rated and Recommended