The new music of Ja Rule

Ja Rule is known as one of the best proponents of gangsta rap. His nasty, full throated snarl sounds as though it was made to spout the darkest of epithets and to sow fear instead of soothe the hearts of his listeners. But that does not hold true anymore. The talented rapper once associated with notorious figures like Christ Black, who I read in some magazine is still in jail, has gone romantic and is giving the likes of Babyface, Usher, R. Kelly and other R&B Romeos a big run for their money.

The totally unexpected change occurs in his new album Pain is Love. Like his second release Rule 3:36, this one also debuted on number one in Billboard Magazine’s top 200 albums. And take note, this happened at around the same time that I’m Real, his collaboration with Jennifer Lopez, was in the list of the top 10 selling singles. So there was Ja Rule with the number one album in Pain is Love and two hit tunes, I’m Real from J. Lo’s album and his single from Pain is Love, Livin’ It Up.

You can also add to all these another duet with J. Lo, the current top 10 seller Ain’t It Funny that was also a recent number one. And then there is another collaboration with the hottest new female in the realm of R&B, Ashanti titled Always On Time. Proof of how popular Ja Rule is with his new image is that there were times when the hit charts had a Ja Rule recording either alone or with another artist in the first and second slots on the same week.

I am quite sure that Ja Rule must be getting the flak from hip hop purists with an album title like Pain is Love and beauties like J. Lo and Ashanti sharing his CDs and his music videos. The guy seems to be selling out and moving fast towards the pop charts. But then there is nothing more constant than change and why begrudge this on somebody like Ja Rule who has paid his dues and getting more and more confident with what he wants to do with his music.

There is plenty of the old and new Ja Rule to go around in Pain is Love. If you are a fan of the old one, you will still find him in X, Dial M for Murder, Smokin’ and Ridin’ and Never Again. Now if you want the sound of the sleek, R&B star, there are the likes of Livin’ It Up, Pain is Love, I’m Real, Always on Time and So Much Pain.

Ja Rule was born Jeff Atkins in the Hollis, that place in Queen’s acknowledged as the birthplace of rap music. His first release was the hard-hitting album titled Vetti, Venni, Vecci was released in 1999. It was a multi-platinum success thanks to the single Holla, Holla. His second was Rule 3:36 where he rapped to catchy, incredibly commercial tunes. Aside from his solo stints, he is also a member of the all-star hip hop group Murder Inc., which includes X and Jay Z.

Ja Rule has also joined the movies. He scored a box-office hit on his first time out with the summer sleeper, The Fast and the Furious. He was nominated in the recent Grammy Awards for Best Rap Duo or Group Performance for Put It On Me with Vita from the Rule 3:36 album for Rap/Sung Collaboration for Livin’ It Up with Case, which comes from Pain is Love, his third album release.

Viva’s bets to MTV Video Awards

Viva Records last week announced the list of Viva artists who made it as nominees in the MTV Video Awards Pilipinas 2002. These are:

Best Female Video: To Reach You by Regine Velasquez; Love Hurts by Jaya

Best Male Video: Can We Just Stop and Talk a While by Gary Valenciano featuring Kyla; Kapantay ay Langit by Janno Gibbs featuring Pilita Corrales; Say a Little Pray’r by Janno Gibbs featuring Pops Fernandez; Loving by Gabby Eigenmann.

Best Group Video: Umaaraw Umuulan by Rivermaya

Best New Artist: Gabby Eigenmann, Loving

Best Song: Umaaraw Umuulan by Rivermaya; To Reach You by Regine Velasquez.

Congratulations to the Viva nominees. The MTV Video Awards Pilipinas 2002 awards night will be held at The Tent on June 6.