Customer Reviews

Pain Is Love

5 star:		(101)
4 star:		(46)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(33)
1 star:		(31)

 

 

Ja Rule, the raspy voiced rapper (just like DMX) is back with his third full-length album "Pain Is Love". Though his second album "Rule 3:36" had more pop appeal with songs like "Between Me And You" w/ Christinia Milean and "Put It On Me" w/ Vita than his first "Venni Vetta Vecca", he moves way closer to being a pop act on this album.

The first song you hear would tell you otherwise, though. "Dial M For Murder" is a hardcore rap track that would make you think Ja was going back to his roots on his first album, but, really, the next song tells you completely different. "Livin' It Up" w/ Case is a fun little party song that adepts well to pop radio, making it the first single was a wise decision by Rule, because it made the track an instant success. The following track "The Inc." also tells you Ja is trying to go hardcore rap, but, once again, the following track "Always On Time" w/ Ashanti makes you think he's going pop again.

The next song, "Down A** B***h" w/ Charli Baltimore, is lingering on the edge of pop and rap, but the next song "Never Again" brings it down to the rap world. Rapping about murdered friends and broken relationships, this is not a friendly radio song. The following track is also not radio freindly, the hardcore rap thrash "Worldwide Gangsta" is a pop fans worst nightmare.

The pop appeal re-enters on the huge hit remix of Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real" and just keeps on going in "Smokin' And Ridin'". The dark appeal returns on tracks like "X" w/ Missy "Misdemeaner" Elliott and "So Much Pain" but are taken over by more pop tracks like "Lost Little Girls" and "Pain Is Love".

Ja Rule's skits, however, are very clever and funny, differing majorly from the skits off "3:36". "Leo", a comic stab at Miss Cleo, the "so-called physic" is very funny. The skit "Big Remo" is quite funny as well. The intro "Pain Is Love (Skit)" is more darker but is OK.

So, in all, Ja Rules "Pain Is Love" is his best yet. A nice blend of pop and rap. However, i fear, on Ja's next record, he might cross all the way over to the pop world.

Ja Rule has changed a lot since his first album, Venni Vetti Vecci. It was real rap - no singing or pop songs. "Holla Holla" was the song that got me into Ja Rule. After that, Ja released Rule 3:36. I could tell he was getting more "pop" on this album. It didn't have the gangsta beats that Venni Vetti Vecci features. On Pain Is Love, he comes out with an even more pop-strung CD. This CD is meant for mainstream. Some songs, such as "Never Again," are ruined by Ja singing. "Pain Is Love" ft. 2pac is a remake of the "Pain" song on the Above the Rim Soundtrack. Ja Rule tries to rap like 2pac, and he does a decent job of it, but let me tell you, he is no 2pac. This song is still very good, though. "Dial M for Murder" is another great track. It is a hardcore track with a good beat. Besides for these songs and the collaborations with the Murderers, this CD is meant for mainstream. Well, I guess it sells. =( If you like pop rap, then buy this, but if you like gangsta rap, buy Ja's first CD, Venni Vetti Vecci, and stay away from this CD.

This Cd is awesome.My favorites are ''Always on Time'',''I'm Real'' and ''livin it up'',though there are other good songs too.
Here is my track-by-track:
Dial m for murder:2 don't really like this one.It leaves something to be desired.
livin it up:5 Unbelievable!Rule raps well in this one and he cleverly uses stevie Wonder excerpts to make it even better.
INC:1 Yuck!One of the only bad things about the album.
always on time:5 Amazing vocals by the girl he features(ashanti, or something?)and the best lyrics of any song on the album,plus he shows he can really bring it in this one My personal favorite!Down a** b***H:4 better edited.nice job with the vocals,Rule.
never again:5 another great song with great lyrics!
X:5 AWESOME song he does with missy elliot.Cool beat,rapping, and chorus.
i'm real:5 great arrangement of the jlo smash.Lyrics are nice,with acatchy chorus that sticks in your head.
All others are pretty cool, and the skits are tight.that's all!

Pain is Love? Pain is Listening to that stupid album. Ja Rule is such a Dmx and Tupac rip-off. Get your own style fool. Stop taking other peoples styles and step your rap game up.

THIS GUY TO ME WENT FROM MAYBE ONE OF THE HOTTEST RAPPERS TODAY TO THE WORST. HE'S A RAPPER NOT A POP STAR. THIS IS LIKE A RAP/POP ALBUM. I DON'T LIKE IT.

This is my first Ja rule album after I heard Livin it up and always on time with ashanti I had to buy this album. I Like many songs Ja Says the same things over and over talking about Doing gangsta things But I think he really doesnt do all that But he has a way of making it sound cool. Dial m for murda,Livin it up,the INC, and always time are my favorite songs Tweet and missy elliot are on this cd to my surprise on the song called x and all of the murder inc family too I've enjoyed listening to this cd it hasn't come out of my cd player since I got it. I like to hear one song at a time cause It gets boring if you listen to it through Get this if your into that gangsta gangsta stuff Other wise Just listen to all the hits on the radio I hope next time The rule would leave the skits out cause there boring and the cd would have flowed better without them.

Ok, this is a pretty good album for those who aren't allowed to buy the explicit content one. You can still enjoy songs with words being blocked out.

this is my review for jarule
ever since jarule has come out in 1995 i think he has the courage
to be the new person that is not jayz or dmx or 2pac
when jarule brought when i cry featuring lilmo i thourght it really touched peoples heart and i think put it on me for the ladies has made the music industry enjoy it very well.

Look Ja, 2Pac is the greatest rapper that ever lived. You, on the other hand, are nowhere near him. Pain is one of the best songs 2Pac ever recorded, COME UP WITH YOUR OWN LYRICS! He took 2Pacs lyrics and re-worded them just a little and is getting credit for them like he wrote them.If you want the real song, buy the cassette version of the Above The Rim soundtrack,Or Go To http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=kazaalite and download kazaa lite (it's better than the regular kazaa) if you don't already have it to get the song it'll be worth it and you can see how ja rule just copied 2Pac's Lyrics. The original is way better and has 2 2Pac Verses. If you know and appreciate real rap, then you wont buy this. You'll buy, 2Pac,Biggie Ice Cube Or Snoop Dogg.

What up yo?!? YO diz cee dee bee TIGHT bam smack a wiggety wiggety! Ja Rule be bumpin'! Me and my homeslicez bump to dis cd in my cadillac ezcalade in da wal-mart parkin lott on saterday nite!!! It be OFF DA NIZZLE FO SHIZZLE! Iff yoo doent gett dis CD, ya'll be WHACK!!!

Just kidding. This is just another meaningless rap CD. Sad to say, but the day this CD hit shelves was the day that America as a whole got a little dumber. Avoid like the plague. If you want some above-average rap, get Public Enemy or something.

You know where the "No" button is below. Knock yourselves out.