R.U.L.E.

For the university, see Royal University of Law and Economics.
R.U.L.E.
Studio album by Ja Rule
Released November 9, 2004
Recorded 2003–04
Genre East Coast hip hop, gangsta rap, R&B
Length 71:30
Label The Inc., Def Jam
Producer Irv Gotti, Cool & Dre, Chink Santana, Jimi Kendrix
Ja Rule chronology
Blood in My Eye
(2003)		 R.U.L.E.
(2004)		 Exodus
(2005)
Singles from R.U.L.E.
  1. "Wonderful"
    Released: September 28, 2004
  2. "New York"
    Released: October 27, 2004
  3. "Caught Up"
    Released: May 24, 2005

R.U.L.E. is the sixth studio album by American rapper Ja Rule; it was released on November 9, 2004, by The Inc. and Def Jam.[1] The album debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 165,000 units in its opening week.[2] The album has become a certified gold for selling more than 600,000 copies in the United States.[3] It marks as his successful return to the charts, after those feuds with other rappers. It supported the top 10 song "Wonderful" featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti; the top 20 song "New York" featuring Jadakiss and Fat Joe, and the song "Caught Up" featuring Lloyd. This is the last album to be released on Irv Gotti's label The Inc. Records.

The album was also made in a heavily edited version removing profanities, drugs and violent content: it removes the skits "Weed" and "Stripping Game". The skit track titled "True Story" was left on the album, based on the constant use of "fuck" was backmasked. This version of the album became the most edited album other than his previous album Blood in My Eye (2003).

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[5]
HipHopDX[6]
RapReviews7/10[7]
USA Today[8]

R.U.L.E. garnered mixed reviews from music critics who questioned if this was a return to form after the disappointing Blood in My Eye.

K.B. Tindal of HipHopDX called the album Ja's best since Rule 3:36 and Pain Is Love, giving high praise to the variety of sexual lyrics and street tracks that Ja is able to deliver again with grit and determination, concluding that, "The Inc. will always be Murder Inc. no matter what and Ja will always be at the head of the fam so get used to it, he's back."[6] Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews said that despite being overwhelmed with guest artists and needless skits, he praised the album for allowing Ja to deliver both pop-rap fluff and thug bravado tracks throughout the runtime, concluding that "This is not an overwhelming strong album lyrically, but it's a pleasant enough one to listen to musically - and from Ja Rule that's enough to get by."[7]

Timothy Gunatilaka of Entertainment Weekly found love ballads like "Passion" and "Wonderful" much better for Ja's career than his return to spitting thug tracks, concluding that they "suggest he might want to stick to raspy romanticism."[5] Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic said that the album continues the depletion of Ja's relevance in hip-hop set by Blood in My Eye, criticizing the filler material for being downbeat and Ja for gangsta posturing over pop-rap songs that feel cynical and deliberate, concluding with, "And so the downfall goes — tragic, indeed, or not, depending on how affecting you find the pathos at work."[4]

Track listing

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "The Inc. Intro"    2:20
2. "Last of The Mohicans" (featuring Black Child)Chink Santana 4:24
3. "Wonderful" (featuring R. Kelly & Ashanti)Jimi Kendrix, Irv Gotti 4:31
4. "What's My Name" (featuring Ashanti)Jimi Kendrix 4:26
5. "New York" (featuring Fat Joe & Jadakiss)Cool & Dre 4:18
6. "Stripping Game (skit)"    1:15
7. "The Manual"  Jimi Kendrix 4:18
8. "Get It Started" (featuring Claudette Ortiz)Jimi Kendrix 4:00
9. "R.U.L.E."  Jimi Kendrix 3:37
10. "True Story (skit)"    0:30
11. "Caught Up" (featuring Lloyd)Jimi Kendrix 4:29
12. "Gun Talk" (featuring Black Child)Chink Santana 4:30
13. "Never Thought"  Jimi Kendrix 4:42
14. "Life Goes On" (featuring Trick Daddy & Chink Santana)Chink Santana 4:52
15. "Weed (skit)"    1:55
16. "Where I'm From" (featuring Lloyd)Chink Santana 5:11
17. "Bout My Business" (featuring Black Child & Caddillac Tah)DJ Twinz 3:39
18. "Passion"  Jimi Kendrix 8:37
19. "Better Days" (Japan bonus track)Jimi Kendrix 4:37
Sample credits

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004–05) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[9] 44
Irish Albums (IRMA)[10] 67
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 50
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 33
US Billboard 200[13] 7
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] 3
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[15] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2005) Position
US Billboard 200[16] 150
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[17] 46

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ "R.U.L.E.: Ja Rule: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  2. ↑ ; Written by Joe D'Angelo (2004-11-17). "News : Eminem Shreds The Competition, Even With A Premature Encore". CMT. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  3. ↑ RIAA database search result
  4. 1 2 Birchmeier, Jason. "R.U.L.E. - Ja Rule". AllMusic. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Gunatilaka, Timothy (November 26, 2004). "R.U.L.E.". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  6. 1 2 Tindal, K.B. (November 24, 2004). "Ja Rule - R.U.L.E.". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  7. 1 2 Juon, Steve 'Flash' (November 9, 2004). "Ja Rule :: R.U.L.E. :: Def Jam". RapReviews. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  8. ↑ Jones, Steve (November 8, 2004). "Elton John's 'Peachtree Road': An unforgettable joy ride". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  10. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 46, 2004". Chart-Track. IRMA.
  11. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Ja Rule – R.U.L.E.". Hung Medien.
  12. ↑ "Ja Rule | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  13. ↑ "Ja Rule – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Ja Rule. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Ja Rule – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Ja Rule. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Ja Rule – Chart history" Billboard Top Rap Albums for Ja Rule. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2005". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2005". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  18. ↑ "British album certifications – Ja Rule – R.U.L.E.". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 7, 2015. Enter R.U.L.E. in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  19. ↑ "American album certifications – Ja Rule – R.U.L.E.". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 7, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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