Ja Rule Album: “Exodus [PA]”

Ja Rule, love him or hate him, was one of the biggest hip-hop/pop stars of the late 1990s and early 00s. This greatest hits collection could have been a true testament to the state of popular music in that era, but is way too incomplete. What is missing? One of his biggest hits, and his first number one, "I'm Real" with Jennifer lopez. Also missing is the single version of "Put It On Me," which featured amazing vocals from Lil' Mo. How can they have left that one off? That was the HIT version of the song. That is unacceptable. Also missing is his first big big hit, "Between You And Me" with Christina Milian. Also missing are the hits "Down Ass Bitch," "Down 4 U," which was another top ten hit, "Can I Get A..." with JayZ and Amil, and "Rainy Dayz" with Mary J. Blige. They should have made this a 2 CD set and added a few album tracks, like "Caught Up" and "X" and have made a truly definitive package.

What is Mike Ox Long on??? I'm sick of people writing reviews just to diss when they haven't even listened to the CD. Anyways..

This is Ja Rule's greatest hits collection after 6 albums and record sales of over 13 million. Here's my review track by track.

1] Exodus (Intro) - A track discussing the recent investigation into the Murder Inc. empire of money laundering charges. This is the lead single from this CD. Irv Gotti also speaks on this track - "I dont understand why they would think what they thinking about, its just not the case though. I love my n-----, thats all I'm guilty of and that all that I ever was guilty of."

2] Me - A new song with a nice laid back beat with Ja showing everyone that he's still got it after 6 albums. In the chorus he spits: "how dare these n-----s try to hate on me/Come out and make records sounding just like me" and claims that rappers are stealing to `melodic formula' that he and Gotti invented.

3] Holla Holla - Ja's debut single from the "Venni Vetti Vecci" album peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks and #35 on the Hot 100. This track is a blazin' party starter.

4] It's Murda (Featuring DMX & Jay-Z) - The street single from VVV that ripped up mixtapes and was the first commercially released single from the Cash Money Click consisting of Ja, X and Hov'. Ja also used the instrumental to this track to freestyle on 2003's `Blood In My Eye'.

5] Put It On Me (Featuring Vita) - This is the album version of the hit single with Lil' Mo (who isn't present on this version) that reached #8 on the hot 100. It's a shame that the HIT version of this song wasn't included on this album as the version without Lil' Mo sounds sort of boring. From the "Rule 3:66" album

6] I Cry - This is a great single featuring Lil' Mo again that peaked at #11 on the Hot Rap/R&B Tracks and #40 on the Hot 100. In my opinion, this is one of the best songs on the album.

7] Livin' It Up (Featuring Case) - One of Ja's most popular songs from the multi platinum album `Pain Is Love'. This track reached #6 on the Hot 100 and #4 on the Rap chart. This is the song that launched Ja's popularity in other parts of the world.

8] Always On Time (Featuring Ashanti) - Arguably the best known Ja Rule song which reached #1 on the Hot 100. This track also launched Ashanti's career as well. The explicit radio version is featured on Exodus.

9] Ain't It Funny (Featuring Jennifer Lopez & Caddillac Tah) - "Ain't It Funny" was a big hit but it isn't a Ja Rule song. Jennifer Lopez put this song on her J To Tha LO remix album. Ja Rule has a 20 second verse out of the whole song which lasts for nearly 4 minutes. That is a disappointment and the other Ja/JLO collaboration "I'm Real" would have been a better choice instead of "Ain't It Funny". But overall this is a great track and it reached #1.

10] Thug Lovin' (Featuring Bobby Brown) - This track didn't do as well as his other tracks in the USA (peaking at #42), but had a good run in other parts of the world. This was the first single of Ja's 4th album "The Last Temptation". In my opinion, this track is another one of the best Ja Rule songs. Bobby Brown must have been paid a s#!*load of money to appear on this song!

11] Mesmerize (Featuring Ashanti) - This was Ja's make or break track following the disappointing success of `Thug Lovin'. Ja Rule & Ashanti recreated scenes from the movie Grease in the clip and was criticized for being `soft' and `weak'. Nevertheless, `Mesmerize' peaked at #2 on the Hot 100.

12] Clap Back - After a year of disses and hate along with Ja's career being sabotaged by rivals G-Unit, Ja went on a break for 7 months. He `clapped back' at the haters with this track taken from the hate filled LP `Blood In My Eye'. Ja fans waiting for his return were pleased with Ja taking it back the 1999, his VVV days when he made straight hip hop music. But `Pain Is Love' era fans were shocked when they picked up this album full of hate, anger and cussing. `Clap Back', in my opinion is an awesome song and peaked at #12 on Billboard Hot Rap Tracks. Produced by Scott Storch.

13] New York (Featuring Fat Joe & Jadakiss) - When Ja had calmed down, he was ready for his so called `comeback' album. `New York' was the street single from `R.U.L.E.' and face it, it was a hot track. Joe & Jada helped Ja rep his home town. `New York' peaked at #10 on the Hot Rap Tracks and #27 on the hot 100.

14] Wonderful (Featuring R. Kelly & Ashanti) - The official single from `R.U.L.E.' was `Wonderful' and it reached #1 in the UK and #5 in America & Australia. R. Kelly & Ja were talking to the fans that left them when they were down, but now they're back again. Check the lyrics - `And it's a wonder that I'm still here/Thought I was gone but I'm still here/And all you b------ that left me there/It's kinda funny how you right back here'.

15] Never Again - For some reason, Ja decided to put on `Never Again', an album track from 2001's `Pain Is Love' album. I'm clueless to why because this song isn't even that hot. This space could be used to add one of the many missing songs. (More about that later)

16] Daddy's Little Baby (Featuring Ronald Isley) - This song was a single from VVV but although it was a good song, it failed to chart. In this song, Ja is speaking to his then newly born daughter about the struggles of being a black woman in America.

17] Love Me, Hate Me - Another album track from `Rule 3:66', this track is OK but didn't really have a reason to be on here.

18] Exodus (Outro) - Ja closes this album with `Exodus (Outro)' a track with Ashanti on background vocals, but don't get it twisted. This isn't a poppy track, this is another interesting track talking about the Murder Inc. trial. It's pretty much a part 2 for the intro version of this song.

This greatest hits collection has it's good times - `Livin' It Up', `Always On Time', `New York', `Wonderful', but my main complaint is the songs that are MISSING. Missing songs include:

"I'm Real" (Featuring Jennifer Lopez) - I still can't understand why "Ain't It Funny" was put on here instead of "I'm Real". Ja has a 20 second verse in "Ain't It Funny" but is featured with J-Lo in the whole song in "I'm Real". Plus, it made it onto Ja's "Pain Is Love" album, not to mention that the video was a killer. This reached #1 in America for sometime.

Down 4 U (Featuring Ashanti, Vita & Charli Baltimore) - "Down 4 U" peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 and was featured on the Irv Gotti Presents The Inc compilation. This was one of Ja Rule's best songs.

Between Me & You (Featuring Christian Milian) - The song launched Ja's career into the mainstream and gave a push start to Milian's career. This track reached #11 on the hot 100. This song is one of his biggest hits!

Rainy Days (Featuring Mary J. Blige) - This was a historical track...Ja & MJB! This featured on both Mary's "No More Drama" album and "Irv Gotti Prsents The Remixes" album. "Rainy Days" reached #12 on the hot 100.

Down A$$ Chick (Featuring Charli Baltimore) - "Down A$$ Chick" had a kick ass video and was sort of like a part 1 of "Down 4 U". This track managed to reach #21 on the hot 100 and #5 on the Hot Rap Tracks.

Other songs missing is:

"The Reign" - wasn't a hit in the US but reached the top 10 in the UK and Australia.

"Caught Up" - wasn't a major hit but it was still a great song. Reached #20 in the UK.

"Kill `Em All" (Featuring Jay-Z) - one of the best songs on VVV!

"Can I Get A..." (Featuring Jay Z) - The top 20 hit theme from Rush Hour!

"6 Feet Underground" - the street single from "Rule 3:66".

"Furious" - who could forget the high energy theme from the Fast & The Furious

"The Pledge Remix" -The best single from "The Last Temptation" feat. Nas, Ashanti.

"Holla Holla Remix (Featuring Busta Rhymes, Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z, Black Child, Vita & Caddillac Tah) - Better than the original and the video was cool too.

If Ja really cared about what was going on his greatest hits CD, he would have made this a double disc, like what he says he's going to do with every one of his albums before they come out. But this was just an album to get Ja off Def Jam. Luckily, The Inc are signing to Warner Music so Ja can make the great music that we know he's still capable of. Other than that, this album is a good refreshing tour through Ja Rule's interesting career and most of the album is in chronological order. Can't wait for the next album.

Big up to Ja for doin his thing..much support..I'm lovin the new "Me" track...i stopped listening to ja after coming out with the Blood in My Eye album because at the time, i thought it was weak of him to come back with an album dedicated to dissing 50 cent.. but now that i see how much 50 cent has destroyed hip-hop..i actually apprecaite the fact that he made that album..and as for 50 cent..here's what others in the industry have to say about him:

Lil' Kim on the Naked Truth album (2005): "ya man 5-0, i don't seem him in the club cuz he out in the CT with a d**k in his butt"

Jadakiss on a freestyle (2005): "You should just stick to sellin clothes and snakers, cuz out of ur whole camp, ur flow's the weakest"

Sheek Louch (after taxes 2005): "50 u a rat, u a coward, u a snitch, u a bi*ch...all u talk about is money and sales..what u need to talk about is all them ni**as u put in them jails"

The game (300 bars and runnin freestyle 2005): " We get tired of u talkin about who u shot..I use another 6 bars to tell u who u not...u aint't 50 cent, he went out like a gangsta, u went out with Vivica 3 months after 'Wanksta'...Get Rich or Die Tryin, we thought u was hot..now the same ni**a wanna take us to the 'Candy Shop'..c'mon man..what happened to the thug? now u can find him in the club, him and lloyd banks huggin..nigga got mad when the game start buzzin..so f**k makin friends...."

G-UNOOOOOOOOTTTTT!!!!!!!

Ja Rule Exodus contains at least one or two hits from one of six previous Ja Rule albums. Whether Ja Rule is rapping on a track by himself or with a guest artist, Exodus is a reminder of why Ja Rule can't be overlooked in the hip-hop community. This collection of hits are welcomed because now I don't have to scramble and look for several CDs. I can grab Exodus and let some of the songs I really like by Ja Rule play. Some of the tracks that I listen to are "Holla, Holla," "Put It On Me" featuring Vita, "I Cry" featuring Lil' Mo, "Living It Up" featuring Case, "Always on Time" featuring label mate Ashanti and I could go on and on. I play tracks 3 through 11 without hitting the skip button on the remote once. There are a total of 18 tracks.

Regardless if you only liked a song or two from his previous albums or you're a diehard Ja Rule fan, Exodus has something on it for both listening audiences.--Shelia M Goss, BellaOnline Women in Music

I lot of the songs are great dont get me wrong, but Ja left off three top ten singles, one of which was a #1 single. The album is missing "Between Me & You", "Down A** B***h" (Featuring Charli Baltimore) & "Down 4 U" (Featuring Vita, Charli Baltimore & Ashanti), all of which I know were top ten singles, the last I believe hit #1 in the summer of 2001. Also where is the track from "Light it Up" soundtrack? I was hoping for the remix of "Holla Holla" since that got more airplay that a lot of the others. I don't understand how people have a hard time making greatest hits cds, the concept just seems soo easy.