Ja Rule - PIL2 Review

As Ja Rule’s Pain Is Love 2 album releases, it’s hard to believe that it has over a decade since the first Pain is Love dropped. That album absolutely dominated the radio and charts in 2001, going triple platinum, and appeased fans of pop and hip hop alike. Along with its predecessor, Rule 3:36, the project catapulted Ja to the top spot in the commercial hip hop arena. To make a comparison for you younger fans, he was the Lil Wayne of his day.

The writing and lyricism are easily the strongest points of the Pain Is Love 2 album. Ja Rule’s never been the best technical rapper, or known for witty word play, and that doesn’t change here. But, the subject matter is fresh, and its full of the type of wisdom that only pain and bad experiences can bring. While there aren’t too many bars that would make you sit back and say, “Damn!” there’s an awful lot to think about....full text “Pain Is Love 2″, the latest album by Ja Rule- set for release today (28.02.2012), is arguably his most personal and emotional album to date. Having risen to the greatest heights of hip-hop stardom, selling an excess of 30 million records worldwide and giving us hits like “Always On Time”, “Holla, Holla”, “Between Me and You”, “Put It On Me” amongst many others, Ja Rule gives us a glimpse of his internal battles with fame – views of his own celebrity.

Letting fans see through his dark shades, he provides a clarity and perspective that allows listeners to connect fully – to identify with not only Ja Rule the artist, but Ja Rule the man.“PIL2 is a passion project. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to capture a moment of a unique and extremely important artist in arguably the most important moment of his career.” said longtime collaborator and producer of PIL2 Seven Aurelius in a recent interview....full text Been a long ass time since this guy dropped an album or even been seen. After the infamous battle with 50 Cent, the former Juggernaut that once was Murder Inc disbanded. Ja Rule tried to make a come back with “Uh Oh” with Lil Wayne, with was a radio smash but due to label disputes the album “Mirror” was released for free and some other shit behind closed doors went down and ultimately ruined his potential comeback and relevancy. Since then, Ja has left Murder Inc. and started over from scratch and been working hard on his new album “Pain Is Love 2.” He also was hit with legal issues and is now serving time in jail and put his album on hold until further notice. What looked like to be a falling in the same faith of the album that never was, “Mirrors.” This album is finally set to drop after numerous of push backs, PIL2 is finally here. Can he return to the top? No Emcee has ever been as high as Ja was and fallen to the bottom like he has. With alot of doubt and young kids out her not even knowing his legacy and who he is, can he overcome that and have the comeback of the year?...full text Ja Rule returns to our headphones with Pain is Love 2, eight years since his last official release.

The rapper, currently serving a two-year stint for gun possession and tax evasion, laid down the vocals before starting his sentence.

PIL 2 is a concept album, based loosely on Ja's own fall from grace.

Back in the late 90s and early 2000s he was a rap superstar, rolling out hits (Between Me and You, Always on time) and pursuing a promising acting career.

Then the fall started: a misguided beef with 50 Cent and Eminem began, album sales dropped, culminating in a two year stay at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Oneida, N.Y....full text With third release WZRD, Kid Cudi has plugged in his amp and paired up with Dot Da Genius for an album that has critics fairly divided. Some argue that Mr. Rager is bringing something new to the table as he attempts to distance himself from the hip hop crowd, while others point out that his stab at rock simply isn’t any good. Teleport below to read what the Internet at large has to say, then let us know your own thoughts on WZRD!...full text