The Mirror (Ja Rule album)

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Untitled
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blender[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[2]
XXL[3]

The Mirror is a Digital album by rapper Ja Rule, originally planned to be released in 2007. Two singles, "Uh-Ohhh!" and "Body," were released in 2007 to poor chart performance. After tracks from the unreleased album were leaked online, Ja Rule decided to re-record the album, but later decided to release it as a free download on July 31, 2009 along with two bonus tracks, "Free" and "Style On 'Em."

Background

Prior to the start of recording for this album, Ja Rule's last original studio album was R.U.L.E. in 2004; The Inc. released a greatest hits compilation, Exodus, in 2005. The Inc. CEO Irv Gotti was accused of laundering money for drug dealer Kenneth McGriff, but in December 2005 a jury found him not guilty.[4] Jayson Rodriguez of MTV News asserted that Gotti's trial and other events, including a rivalry with 50 Cent, prompted Ja Rule "to take a much needed moment to get his thoughts together".[5]

History

The album was originally scheduled for released on September 25,[5] then November 13.[6] "Uh-Ohhh!", featuring Lil Wayne, was the first single off The Mirror.[5] It debuted on July 31, 2007 and peaked at #69 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Other tracks recorded for the album included various tracks that, according to Jayson Rodriguez of MTV News, reflected on the criminal trial of Irv Gotti: "Hearsay", "Love is Pain", and "Father Forgive Me".[6] "Body", featuring Ashley Joi, premiered in October and reached #71 on the R&B chart.

Ja Rule stated in an interview that there are seventeen tracks and only a few guest appearances because he wanted The Mirror to be about him. In an interview with SOHH, Ja Rule commented on the album:

"The whole industry is so focused on beefin' with each other — it's like the WWE of rap right now. I'm stepping out of the arena. I don't want to be a wrestlin' rapper. Somebody's got to come in and make it positive. You have to make records that make people feel like having a good time. This record is like my confessions, I'm shedding my skins. The Mirror is your only real moment of truth. It's the place where everybody can go and be honest with themselves."

[7]

Ja Rule released a free mixtape, Atkins Files Vol. 1, to fans via his MySpace page late in 2008 which contained songs originally slated for The Mirror.[8]

Addressing the leak of tracks from his original version of The Mirror, Ja Rule announced in a 2009 interview with HipHopDX that he would record an entirely new album.[9] Gotti explained to MTV News that the delay of the album was for "trying to craft a classic LP."[10] "Hollywood" dropped in late April; Micaela Hood of the Miami Herald called it "an ode to some of his favorite peeps like Oprah and President Obama".[11] On July 31, 2009, the original version of The Mirror was released online as a free download.[12]

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Intro" 1:47
2."Skit" 0:06
3."Message to Mankind" 2:22
4."Uh-Ohhh!!" (featuring Lil' Wayne)Minnesota3:48
5."Body" (featuring Ashley Joi)7 Aurelius3:48
6."Sunset" (featuring Game & Stefani)Scott Keeney3:56
7."300" (featuring Newz, Tre & Merc Montana) 4:57
8."Enemy of the State"Chink Santana3:53
9."Ladies"Erick Sermon5:02
10."Father Forgive Me"7 Aurelius3:29
11."Judas" 4:07
12."Damn"Rick Steel4:36
13."The Mirror (Pain is Love)" 4:05
14."Something New" (featuring Vita) 4:34
15."Rules of Engagement" 2:17
16."It's All Hood Now" 4:39
17."Katt Williams" (skit) 0:43
18."Hear Say" 4:11
19."Sing a Prayer 4 Me"Chink Santana4:22
20."Free" (featuring Ashley Joi) (Bonus Track) 4:01
21."Style on 'Em" (Bonus Track) 4:29

References

  1. ^ Blender review
  2. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
  3. ^ XXL review
  4. ^ "Murder Inc. mogul acquitted". MSNBC. Associated Press. 2005-12-02. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  5. ^ a b c Rodriguez, Jayson (2007-07-12). "Ja Rule Leaves Bitterness — And 50 Cent Beef — Behind On New Album". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  6. ^ a b Rodriguez, Jayson (2007-10-15). "Ja Rule Looks In The Mirror -- And Sees Who 50 Cent Wishes He Could Be". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  7. ^ Roberts, Anthony (August 24, 2007). "Ja Rule CD Pushed Back, Rapper Teams Up With Game". SOHH. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008.
  8. ^ Ja Rule (2008-12-23). "Atkins files". MySpace.
  9. ^ Kuperstein, Slava (2009-04-29). "Ja Rule Explains Hip Hop Vs. Rock Music". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  10. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2009-05-07). "Irv Gotti Says He's Dropping Ashanti From The Inc". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  11. ^ Hood, Micaela (2009-05-01). "Ja plays by his own rules". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2009-05-17. [dead link]
  12. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2009-07-29). "Ja Rule's Long-Awaited The Mirror To Be Released Online". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
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