Ja Rule is making his move.
The larger-than-life president of Murder Inc., Irv Gotti, came by the MTV studios this week to play some brand new soon-to-be-released material from Ja Rule's new album, The Mirror. I went into the room with an open mind but with the understanding that this album marks a pivotal point in Ja Rule's career, a line between success and fading into the background.
I remember a time about five years ago that Ja couldn't do any wrong. He pretty much swept the board picking up just about every hip-hop award there was to grab, from the VMAs to the Grammys. He found his magic formula and stuck with it. Songs with J.Lo, Christina Milian, Ashanti and Mary J were some of his most radio-friendly hits, like "I'm Real," "Rain on Me" and "Always on Time," to name a few.
But in early 2003, at the height of Ja's career, came the rise of 50 Cent. With both rappers hailing from Jamaica, Queens, New York simply wasn't big enough for the both of them.
The rise of 50 led to the fall of Ja Rule.
Now, Ja is coming back with The Mirror, inspired by a line from the movie "V for Vendetta": "If you're looking for the guilty, just look into the mirror." The lead single, "Uh Ohhh" featuring Lil Wayne, dropped a while back, and they shot the video on the streets of New York. More recently, Ja's second single, "Body," hit the Internet, complete with X-rated video — both good. But will it gather enough momentum prior to his album release on November 13 to see him come back?
Part of me hoped for a return to the harder Ja of old, back when he first released his debut album Venni Vetti Vecci. But at a first listen, what it seems to be is a slightly older, deeper and more experienced Ja Rule.
Standout tracks include "Father Forgive Me," which bravely uses a re-creation of a sample from the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby." It's a dark joint that Ja wrote during his and Irv's trial.
A track called "Hearsay" is about all the rumors surrounding Ja Rule and Murder Inc.
"They say I'm out of control ... drugs like his father ... Why should I give a f--- about them? ... ridiculed and criticized, but in the same breath praised and idolized. ..."
And dare I say it, the best track I heard that day: A follow-up to Ja's "New York," but an LA version featuring — yes, you know there's strength in numbers — the Game.
"My life, my love, is it in vain, some say love is pain." — Ja Rule
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