Pain Is Love [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Ja Rule

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 2, 2001)
• Original Release Date: October 2, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Def Jam
• ASIN: B00005ONMT
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (212 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,021 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Like rapper DMX, Ja Rule's scratchy vocal delivery is an acquired taste. But given the success of his Lil' Mo-aided hits "Put It on Me" and "I Cry," it's no surprise that his third album follows the same formula as its predecessor, as midtempo grooves mix with thugged-out beats and rhymes. On "Lost Little Girl," a coming-of-age tale that charts the struggles of an urban hottie, Rule's gift for storytelling shines bright. While "I'm Real (Murder Remix)," featuring Jennifer Lopez, is almost worth the purchase price alone, one must conclude that Rule is best appreciated in small doses. On "So Much Pain" Rule apes 2Pac's flow, rhyme patterns, and introspection to an annoying T. Likewise, "Down Ass Bitch" sadly sounds like another thematic take-off on Apache's "Gangsta Bitch" anthem. At least "Livin' It Up" doesn't bastardize Stevie Wonder's gem "Do I Do" too much, and the beats cooked up on "Pain Is Love" and the guitar-fuelled "Always on Time" saves this release from losing all of those cool points he's earned for being a great writer. This one's strictly for the Ja Rule-initiated. --Dalton Higgins

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ja Rule Crossing Over On "Pain Is Love", July 16, 2002

By	musiqstar87 "Erick" (Huntington WV USA) - See all my reviews

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ja Rule Sucks So Much D1ck, June 10, 2004

By A Customer

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.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unnecessary Profanity !, April 30, 2002

By	Aleshia-Marie Francis (England) - See all my reviews

On this rather unusual album, Ja has successfully found his originality. His raspy voice is very uncommon and can become slightly irritating after a while, but other than that, I thought that it wasn't a bad album, but there was room for improvement. Unfortunately, I found that there was too much unnecessary vulgar language. I mean, yes you're allowed to express your personal feelings in your songs, but I am sure you can find many other more useful words to replace these profanities. However, I do have quite a few favourite tunes on this album, which include LIVIN' IT UP, LOST LITTLE GIRL and ALWAYS ON TIME.
Ja Rules' collaboration with Jennifer Lopez and have produced some really cool remixes. `I'M REAL' remix was the first of many and I love this song. I'm not a real fan of Jennifer Lopez but since she has started working with Ja I have paid more attention to her work. She's not an exceptional singer and she hasn't got a special voice, but put Ja Rule and J.Lo together and you can expect something special. If you are a real Rap lover, I think that this is the perfect album for you. But I advise that you take heed of the warning on the front of the CD when it says `explicit content'.