By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Much like a superstar athlete who has a career-altering injury, when thinking of Ja Rule’s career, many think about what could have been for the Queens rapper. At the peak of his career, Ja Rule was facing the first backlash of his career. Had it not been for an onslaught of disses from rival Queens rapper, 50 Cent, Ja Rule would have likely been able to push through the backlash and deliver more hit singles. However, the world will never know.
Aside from deceased legends Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., there is no rapper more defined by his beef, as opposed to his music, than Ja Rule. Over the past nine years, Ja has been the inspiration for several jokes. It is easy to forget the multitude of hit records he delivered over the span of three years. While it seems as if the world has forgotten, Ja Rule nor the man behind the hits, 7 Aurelius have.
7 Aurelius was the last producer to work with Ja Rule before he began serving time in prison last summer. However, a decade before, 7 helped Ja Rule craft his classic multiplatinum album, Pain is Love. In the time since the release of this album, Ja Rule has been trying his best to top the album. The success of Pain is Love is one reason why the Murder Inc. rapper wants to record a sequel. During his interview with AllHipHop.com, 7 Aurelius said Pain is Love 2 would have a dark element the original album did not possess.
Unlike his previous comeback efforts, 7 Aurelius said this time Ja Rule has too much good music recorded to hold him back. While the album might be the one that makes Ja Rule relevant in a much-different hip hop world than the one he dominated, the toughest part about the comeback has been actually releasing the album. The most-recent release date for Pain is Love 2 was February 28, but it looks like the album might be delayed again. 7 Aurelius explained the latest delays came from certain artists not wanting to be featured on the project, but they were able to land a collaboration with Rick Ross.
Rick Ross began 2009 known as a Miami rapper who primarily rapped about the drug trade. He started the year with a diss aimed at 50 Cent, which led to the biggest feud of the year. Not backing down from the G-Unit CEO, Rick Ross took a page from 50’s own playbook and recorded a diss record with several of 50 Cent’s biggest rivals. The remix of his initial diss track, “Mafia Music,” featured verses from Game, Fat Joe, and Ja Rule. At the time, Rick Ross had several collaborations with Fat Joe, but had never worked with Game or Ja Rule. Still hoping to release an album in 2009, Ja Rule reached out to Ross for a collaboration and he agreed, initially planning to be featured on each other’s albums.
The plans changed and eventually Rick Ross’ seizures stopped their collaboration from happening, period. 7 Aurelius stated Ja Rule is still highly popular in other parts of the world, but his reception in the United States is what evaporated. Since Ja Rule’s decline in popularity, 7 Aurelius said it has been difficult, not only landing collaborations, but also getting samples cleared. Admitting it has been very frustrating, 7 said he cannot wait until it becomes okay to like Ja Rule again. Regardless, 7 Aurelius feels the decline in 50 Cent’s popularity, paired with good music from Ja Rule will lead to him releasing a classic album that will put him on top by the time he is released from prison.
