Despite production that carries a stain of sameness throughout, that style ironically fits Ashanti’s abilities damn near perfect. “Foolish” and “Happy,” the album’s two biggest songs, still work on a level of catchiness that most traditional R&B artists, at that time, couldn't recreate. Why exactly does this project make it into the top three? Frankly, because Ashanti and Irv Gotti knew how to churn out hits while also creating a cohesive sound from top to bottom.
It isn’t perfect, by any means, with many of the deep cuts sounding too similar to already made, superior tracks from Ja’s debut album, Venni Vetti Vecci.
Some of Ja’s biggest singles from the album, like “Put It On Me” and “I Cry,” still manage to capture an overlooked versatility to his style, with the former showcasing his continually expanding ear for hit songs, and the latter utilizing an amazing O’Jays sample for a more introspective hit. Ja Rule - Rule 3:36 (2000): Easily the most controversial pick, Rule 3:36 was Ja Rule’s first true commercial success in terms of albums, and it also manages to hold up musically. Unfortunately, Ashanti’s weaknesses as an artist can only hide for so long on the album’s second half that rarely finds her singing on anything other than retreads of already charted territory in terms of production and concepts.
It starts with a very promising pair of songs in “Rock Wit U (Aww Baby)” and “Breakup 2 Makeup” that feel much less reserved than large portions of her first release. Honorable Mentions:Īshanti - Chapter II (2003): Despite what most considered a step back from her debut album, Ashanti’s Chapter II doesn’t feel as problematic as it might have when it was first released.
However, in honor of the news, we look to which albums from Murder Inc.’s golden age should be considered as the label's top five.
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