It's sad to say, but time has not been kind to Ja Rule's legacy. Unfortunately, his longstanding and bitter feud with 50 Cent, Eminem, and Dr. Dre played a pivotal role in facilitating his fall from grace. Still, one must first achieve said grace in order to actually fall from it. For Ja Rule, the climb to the top essentially began in 1999, on June 1st to be exact. It was then he fired off his debut album Venni Vetti Vicci, a project that arose at the pinnacle of a fresh New York wave and featured rappers like Jay-Z, DMX, and Memphis Bleek.
In honor of Ja's big anniversary, "Kill 'Em All" feels like the perfect showcase for the occasion. Though the Jay-Z guest appearance may be enticing, the song remains Ja's showcase through and through, holding it down for three grimy verses; remember, this was an era during which three-verse song structure was the norm. Thankfully, Ja is more than up for the challenge, showcasing a dexterous flow as he fires off bars. "Get this, while taking yours into process, n***a is stressed," he spits. "Leaving peepholes in your chest, god bless the next that gets laid to rest /
Frustration and stress make me question death."
Happy twenty-first birthday to Ja Rule's debut album, and be sure to sound off in the comments. Do you still look back fondly on Ja Rule's run?
QUOTABLE LYRICS
Get this, while takin' yours into process, n***a is stressed
Leaving peepholes in your chest,
God bless the next that gets laid to rest
Frustration and stress make me question death
