Ja Rule - Venni Vetti Vecci

Without DMX, there would be no Ja Rule. When the gravelly voiced Dark Man X bum-rushed the rap world, he paved the path for a whole slew of next-generation leathernecks with flows to match. That being said, Rule is a worthy adversary for his oft-maligned peer, managing to combine DMX's signature stuttery, acerbic flow with just a hint of Jay-Z's flash and wit. The production, handled largely by Irv Gotti, is trademark New York thug style, suiting Rule's grumbles to a T. Yet amid the tales of "murda" (and there are many), there are some moments of insurgent sunshine. "Race Against Time" is the thug's lament, no less potent for its obligatory nature. And on "Let's Ride," Rule winks at the ladies, telling them "My style is so touching, it'll wipe your eye." To boot, he prints his lyrics in the booklet, an all-too-rare phenomenon in rap. Caesar he ain't, but emperor for a day? Certainly. --Jon Caramanica Amazon.com

Ja Rule - Venni Vetti Vecci

After appearing on Jay-Z's 1998 smash hit, "Can I Get a...." off his album, "Volume 2: Hard Knock Life," Ja Rule's debut became highly anticipated. His rugged voice and flow made him stick out amongst most rappers in the New York rap scene. Signed to Irv and Chris Gotti's Murder Inc Records, Ja's debut album, "Venni Vetti Vecci" was released in Summer of 1999 spawing the hit single, "Holla Holla."

1. The March (Intro) - No Rating

2. We Here Now (Featuring Black Child) - 4.5/5

3. World's Most Dangerous (Featuring Nemesis) - 4.5/5

4. Let's Ride - 4.5/5

5. Holla Holla - 3.5/5

6. Kill 'Em All (Featuring Jay-Z) - 4/5

7. I Hate N***** (Skit) - No Rating

8. N***** Theme - 4/5

9. Suicide Freestyle (Featuring Case) - 4/5

10. Story to Tell - 4.5/5

11. Chris Black (Skit) - No Rating

12. Count on Your N**** - 4.5/5

13. It's Murda (Featuring DMX & Jay-Z) - 4.5/5

14. E-Dub & Ja (Featuring Erick Sermon) - 4.5/5

15. 187 Murda Baptiss Church (Skit) - No Rating

16. Murda 4 Life (Featuring Memphis Bleek) - 4/5

17. Daddy's Little Baby (Featuring Ronald Isley) - 4.5/5

18. Race Against Time - 4/5

19. Only Begotten Son - 5/5

20. The Murderers (Featuring Black Child & Caddillac Tah) - 4.5/5

Overall:

69/80

4.5 Stars

This a very impressive debut album from Ja Rule. He mixes up his tracks with street records along with some commercial appeal which goes nicely together. Check it out if your a fan of Ja Rule, DMX, Murder Inc or New York hip hop. October 18, 2006

Ja before he became pop

Yeah, there was a time I actually liked Ja Rule and this album was that time. We Hear Now was an okay track to start off the album with. World's Most Dangerous(feat Nemesis) is good. Let's Ride has Ja rapping like Twista on the track and it wasnt a bad album. Nigguz Theme(which borrows from NWA's Efil4zaggin) is cool. The Suicide freestyle with Case is great because it shows what Ja is capable of. Holla Holla was a good first single and Murda 4 Life(feat Memphis Bleek) is a dope follow up. E-Dub And Ja(feat Erick Sermon) is dope collabo by itself. Erick Sermon and Ja did pretty good on that track. Daddy's Little Baby(feat Ron Isley) is Ja's touching tribute to his daughter and Ron Isley complimented the track well. Its Murda was a great match up which feautured DMX and Jay-z(before Ja fell out with DMX). Kill Em All also features Jay-z-- the only thing he's on the hook. Only Begotten Son is Ja ripping his father a new one for not being is his life as a kid. As for flaws I cant recall any. Bottom Line: Venni Vetti Vecci is Ja's best work to date. This is not out of spite, its out of love. Ja showed his true potetial more on this album then he ever did on his later releases. Im not mad at him for going pop, Im mad that he abandoned his fanbase out the window just to make a quick buck and put out slopy work. I could care less about him going pop. This album is reccomended to anybody who remebered him for what he was and not what he turned out to be. Standout Tracks: WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS, LET'S RIDE, NIGGUZ THEME, SUICIDE FREESTYLE, STORY TO TELL, ITS MURDA, E-DUB AND JA, DADDY'S LITTLE BABY, RACE AGAINST TIME and ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.

PS: If you never like Ja, that's cool. If you liked him at one point than despised him for what he has become that's cool to but dont bash him just because 50 Cent made it trendy then turn around and bash 50 Cent years later. This punkdafied groupie behavior you kids chronically exhibit has got to stop! October 2, 2006

You've Gotta Be Kidding Me

Ja Rules best work sounds like Chingy's worst work. Well yeah Chingy is crap as well but at least he doesn't lie to everyone and steal Pac's words and try to act like him. Ja, stop thinking that Pac would roll with you. If Pac was still here he'd diss you, oh no wait. If Pac was still here you wouldn't even be in the game so shut up.It's no wonder 50 disses you so much. And stop talking like your so gangsta, Everyone outside your blind legion of fans knows that your a fake. How dare people have the nerve to call this rubbish straight hip hop. You want straight hip hop? Get yourself one of these.

NWA - STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
ICE CUBE - AMERRIKKA'S MOST WANTED
DR DRE - THE CHRONIC
SNOOP DOGGY DOGG - DOGGYSTYLE
BIGGIE - READY TO DIE
THUG LIFE - VOLUME 1
THA DOGG POUND - DOGG FOOD
TUPAC - ME AGAINST THE WORLD
TUPAC - ALL EYEZ ON ME
TUPAC - THE DON KILLUMINATI
TUPAC - GREATEST HITS
NAS - ILLMATIC
BIGGIE - LIFE AFTER DEATH
50 CENT - POWER OF THE DOLLAR

Better luck next time kids. September 3, 2006

Not a classic

But a good debut album. This is when I felt proud knowin Ja was from ny. No radio friendly s*** here just street for the most part. But i guess when you were never really gangsta in the first place you can't keep talkin about it, which is why i guess he changed his style. Now the subject i wanna hit. Has anyone noticed that guy named progressive? Why does amazon allow goofs who hate hip hop trash our culture? And everytime I turn around its some damn rocker/junkie hippie. Last time i checked Rhythm and melody was part of music. I dont hear none of those when i through on heavy metal or rock. I'm tired of our music bein trashed. You know what im a go trash one of they "artist" right now. July 4, 2006

Ja Rules fans are dumb as hell! READ THIS

Yo i hate when people like ja dont speak the truth. He talks about all this (...) like he went through it but hes just lying. He's a WANKSTA and im not sayin that cause i support 50 cause i hate 50. But hes got a point when he talks about ja. If your a ja fan you are being lied to and wasting your money when your supporting a true wanksta. Yo ja stop stealing Pac's words if he were alive he would never role wit you. If you want to be lied to and hear the most annoying voice and waste your money by this album or other ja albums. November 22, 2005

More reviews at Amazon.com ...