Ja Rule - Rule 3:36

Don't let the rough exterior and the propensity to rhyme about acts of violence and criminal activities fool ya. No sir, Ja Rule is a lover and girl he's gonna make you love him. Make you as in wear you down and render you defenseless against his almost nonstop and thereby "persuasive" presentations of the pros of loving a thug. He might be crude, he might be loud (hell is he loud) and his flow might make DMX's canine fixations seem like subtle artistry. But be he rapping or be he semi-sing-songy vocalizing, Ja Rule's brand of rough-and-tough love gets under your skin. OK, it also starts to get on your nerves, but what Mr. Rule lacks in finesse he makes up for in intensity. Musically, his sophomore CD, with its stutter-stop break-point beats and its rich, resonant sound is nothing to ignore. Which must be why the first single, the off-kilter "Between Me and You," is so successful. This isn't groundbreaking or even significant stuff, but Ja's raspy roar has a certain appeal. While said appeal is geared towards men in the joint and the women who stand by them, you can't hate on a guy for trying, in his own way, to show a little love in this cold, cold world. --Amy Linden Amazon.com

Ja Rule - Rule 3:36

After his successful debut, Ja Rule didn't take no time whipping up his second album. "Rule 3:36" spawned the hit singles, "Between Me and You" and "Put It on Me." It was released in Fall of 2000. Can Ja do it again and release another very solid effort or will he fall to the sophomore curse?

1. Intro - No Rating

2. Watching Me - Very Short - 4.5/5

3. Between Me and You (Featuring Christina Milian) - 4/5

4. Put It on Me (Featuring Vita) - 3.5/5

5. 6 Feet Underground - 4/5

6. Love Me, Hate Me - 3.5/5

7. Die (Featuring Caddillac Tah, Black Child & Dave Bing) - 4.5/5

8. F*** You (Featuring O-1 & Vita) - 4.5/5

9. I'll F*** U Girl (Skit) - No Rating

10. Grey Box (Skit) - No Rating

11. E***** (Featuring Caddillac Tah, Black Child & Jayo Felony) - 3.5/5

12. It's Your Life (Featuring Shade Sheist) - 4/5

13. I Cry (Featuring Lil' Mo) - 3.5/5

14. One of Us - 5/5

15. Chris Black (Skit) - No Rating

16. The Rule Won't Die - Very Short - 3/5

47.5/60

3.5 Stars

Wow I can't believe my ears, Ja Rule sold out big time! He almost dropped his whole street style completely and pretty much filled this album with all commercialized pop-rap music. Some of it is good no doubt but this isn't an album you can bump and nod your head to. Good for a couple listens then probably never again. Mannn Ja what happened to you? October 18, 2006

s***s trippin da wrong whay

Maan, ima venda spenda of dis shizzi hur but fur shur, iz hord cor poor. I meanz what I be sayin is I be buyin all the hip s*** but when i play dis on ma player my mind be hurtin, in da bad way. So fow sho, to all da playaz out thay stay clean of this bad crack, itll hurt yow mind and yow poket.

Fur shur dis is da Flippa, keep it clean boyz (yea, you punks now what I be sayin) August 24, 2006

Judge it for what it is

This album sold 4 mil for a reason. Great production mic skills, catchy hooks and some street s***. Don't knock this album cuz Ja was public enemy at one point. Ja had the game on lock for a little while. I started to dislike his music after his 3rd album cuz he was puttin out bubble gum, not cuz 50 and goon unit turned the masses against him. This album had like 3 tracks aand a remix ridin hard through 2000 and mid 01. This was a good follow up release. Its hard to see Ja as hard now. I just want to help out the ratin' cause of the d*** riders on goon units bandwagon.

PS every Goose unit release is usin Ja's formula. So who's fake now? July 4, 2006

Thug Rap??? Please...(2.5 stars)

A lot of people are meriting Ja's credibility on all his albums because he has been able to keep his voice on the airwaves since 1998. So he released his sophomore album Rule 3:36 in Sept 2000, that is one of the worst Ja albums I've heard (not the worst, The Last Temptation takes that title).

Ja tries to be "gangstafied" on this album but fails terribly. Starting with the first single "Me & You" thinking his thug style can attract women. I haven't bought the concept in 2000, and I'm still not buying it six years later. Or how about the flat falling track "F*** You" featuring Vita and 01?

Or as many revewers have pointed out that he tries to boast his singing vocals on this album, which seriously damages his creditablity. How about the song "Put It On Me" before Lil Mo joined song. Sounds wack(er) with out her. Or how about the late Barry White imitation on the song "Extacy" (and thats one of the decent tracks on this album). Oh and remember when "Between Me & You" was highly antacipated that you downloaded the single on Napster? Well do you remember that the origonal/demo that some of you downloaded didn't have Christina Millian singing the hook, but had Ja singing it himself. Thank god that wasn't on the album.

Now there are some listenable tracks on this album that I would like to point out. "6 Feet" is a standout track, and is possibly the best track on this album and my personal favorite. "Watching Me" is another tight track, as Ja spits with a load of energy within him. "I Cry" and as mentioned earlier "Extacy" are decent at best. Other than that, most of the tracks on this album are skippable.

Overall, a sub medicore Ja Rule album. Most of the 4 and 5 star reviewers are either big time Ja Rule fans or just in love with mainstream overrated rap ("Put It On Me" [Remix]). To me, this album is nothing else but a pop rap, falsafied thug rap album that just doesn't appeal to me. I recommend this to hardcore Ja Rule fans if they don't have this already.

Lyrics: C
Production: C+
Guest Appearances: C-
Musical Vibes: D-

Favorite Tracks: Watching Me, 6 Feet, Die, Extacy

Honorable Mention Track : Chris Black (skit) January 19, 2006

would be 4 stars if

I didnt have to hear this on the radio so much and had to listen people sing it all the time. I liked the first Jarule but not this 1 dont get it if you dont like to hear a lot of radio type cuts get it if u do November 28, 2005

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