The Last Temptation (Ja Rule album)

The Last Temptation
The Last Temptation
Studio album by Ja Rule
Released	November 19, 2002
Recorded	2002
Genre	Hardcore hip hop
Length	54:46
Label	Murder Inc.; Def Jam; Island Def Jam;
Producer	Irv Gotti; 7 Aurelius; Chink Santana; The Neptunes; Cool & Dre;
Ja Rule chronology
Singles from The Last Temptation
	"Thug Lovin'"; Released: November 4, 2002; "Mesmerize"; Released: December 16, 2002; "Reign"; Released: June 30, 2003;

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	57/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Blender	^[5]
RapReviews	6/10^[6]
NME	^[7]
MVRemix Urban	3.5/10^[8]

The Last Temptation is the fourth studio album by American rapper Ja Rule.^[9] It was released by Murder Inc., Def Jam and Island Def Jam Music Group on November 19, 2002.

The album was successful, moving 237,000 units in its first week,^[10] but less than his previous Pain Is Love. On December 13, 2002 the album was certified Platinum. "Mesmerize" is ranked at #45 on Blender's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever",^[11] but was the most successful single from the album, reaching number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. The album also received criticism from fans, saying that the album sounded too commercial, and that Ja Rule was selling out. ^{[citation needed]} Though neither its debut nor lifetime sales ever matched those of Pain Is Love, The Last Temptation is Ja Rule's third highest-selling album to date.

Background

Originally scheduled for a Fall 2002 release (as found in the booklet for Pain Is Love), the album was delayed to 2003 (as found in the booklet for Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc.), but was ultimately released on November 19, 2002.

This album contained singles such as "Thug Lovin'" (featuring Bobby Brown), "Mesmerize" (featuring Ashanti) and "The Pledge (Remix)" (by Ashanti featuring Nas, Ja Rule and 2Pac). "Murder Reigns" was also released as a single titled "Reign" in select territories outside of North America, such as Europe and Australasia. The song "Pop Niggas" gained some attention after it was reported to be talking in part about 50 Cent. Pharrell was featured in the song, but not credited. Other guests featured on the album include: Bobby Brown, Ashanti, Nas, Alexi, Charli Baltimore, 2Pac, Caddillac Tah, Celeste, Eastwood, Crooked I, Young Life & Chink Santana.

Track listing

*The Last Temptation* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"			0:20
2.	"Thug Lovin'" (featuring Bobby Brown)	Jeffrey Atkins Andre Parker Irving Lorenzo Stevie Wonder	Chink Santana Irv Gotti	4:50
3.	"Mesmerize" (featuring Ashanti)	Atkins Ashanti Douglas Parker Lorenzo Thom Bell Linda Creed	Chink Santana Irv Gotti	4:38
4.	"Pop Niggas"	Atkins Pharrell Williams	The Neptunes	4:29
5.	"The Pledge (Remix)" (featuring Ashanti, Nas & 2Pac)	Seven Aurelius Lorenzo Douglas Atkins Nasir Jones Eric Baker Gregory Jacobs Tupac Shakur Wonder	7 Aurelius Irv Gotti	3:54
6.	"Murder Reigns" (featuring Celeste)	Atkins Aurelius Lorenzo David Paich Jeff Porcaro	7 Aurelius Irv Gotti	4:03
7.	"Last Temptation" (featuring Charli Baltimore)	Atkins Parker Lorenzo Tiffany Lane Kenton Nix	Chink Santana Irv Gotti	4:58
8.	"Murder Me" (featuring Caddillac Tah & Alexi)	Atkins Parker Lorenzo Taheem Crocker Raphael Saadiq Carl Wheeler	Chink Santana Irv Gotti	5:15
9.	"The Warning"	Atkins Parker Lorenzo	Chink Santana Irv Gotti	5:05
10.	"Connected" (featuring Eastwood & Crooked I)	Atkins Parker Lorenzo Deshaun Woodard Dominic Wickliffe	Chink Santana Irv Gotti	4:54
11.	"Emerica" (featuring Young Life & Chink Santana)	Atkins Parker Rahmane Donovan Lorenzo	Chink Santana Irv Gotti	5:16
12.	"Rock Star"	Atkins Parker Lorenzo Lenny Kravitz	Chink Santana Irv Gotti	4:58
13.	"Destiny (Outro)"	Atkins Marcello Valenzano Andre Lyon Gene Beene Melvin Griffin	Cool & Dre	2:05

Leftover tracks

"Streets Raised Me" feat. Mary J. Blige [1]
"Fuck With Us" feat. Black Child & Caddillac Tah [2]

Sample credits^[12]

"Thug Lovin'" – Interpolates portions of "Knocks Me Off My Feet" performed by Stevie Wonder
"Mesmerize" – Interpolates portions of "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" performed by Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross
"The Pledge (Remix)" – Contains a sample and elements of "So Many Tears" performed by 2Pac
"Murder Reigns" – Contains a sample of "Africa" performed by Toto
"Last Temptation" – Contains a sample of "Funky Sensation" performed by Gwen McCrae
"Murder Me" – Contains a sample of "Anniversary" performed by Tony! Toni! Toné!
"Rock Star" – Contains a sample of "I Belong to You" performed by Lenny Kravitz
"Destiny (Outro)" – Contains a sample of "Midnight Sunshine" performed by The Soul Children

Personnel

Alexi – additional vocals (8)
Milwaukee Buck – engineer (2, 3, 5-8, 10-13), mixing (4, 6, 10, 11)
Demo Castellon – assistant engineer (2, 3, 7-9, 12)
Celeste – additional vocals (6)
Tom Coyne – mastering
Brian Garten – engineer (4)
Irv Gotti – executive producer, mixing (2, 3, 5, 7-9, 12, 13)
Terry "Murda Mac" Herbert – assistant engineer (5)
Eric Jackson – keyboards (2)
Marc Lee – mixing assistant (2, 3, 7-9, 12)
James Manning – bass guitar (2)
Demi Doc McGhee – instrumentation (7)
Keez Parker – instrumentation (7)
Brian Springer – engineer (2), mixing (2, 3, 5, 7-9, 12, 13)
Ja Rule – executive producer

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *The Last Temptation* by Ja Rule
Chart (2002–2003)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[13]	29
Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)^[14]	6
Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[15]	19
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[16]	9
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[17]	44
European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)^[18]	47
French Albums (SNEP)^[19]	97
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[20]	50
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[21]	30
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[22]	11
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[23]	40
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[24]	27
UK Albums (OCC)^[25]	14
UK R&B Albums (OCC)^[26]	2
US Billboard 200^[27]	4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[28]	2

Year-end charts

2002 year-end chart performance for *The Last Temptation*
Chart (2002)	Position
Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[29]	149
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[30]	27
Canadian Rap Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[31]	13
UK Albums (OCC)^[32]	103

2003 year-end chart performance for *The Last Temptation*
Chart (2003)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[33]	95
US Billboard 200^[34]	40
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[35]	14

Certifications

Certifications for *The Last Temptation*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[36]	Gold	35,000^{^}
Canada (Music Canada)^[37]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[38]	Gold	100,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[39]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ ^a ^b Allmusic review
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1477. November 1, 2002. p. 24.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1483. December 13, 2002. p. 26.
^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 30th June 2003" (PDF). ARIA. June 30, 2003. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
^ Blender review Archived November 22, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
^ RapReviews review
^ NME review
^ MVRemix Urban review
^ "The Last Temptation: Ja Rule: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
^ Reid, Shaheem (2003-12-06). "Ja Rule Done Lashing Out At 50, Will Be Himself Again On New LP - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
^ "The 50 Worst Songs Ever! Watch, Listen and Cringe!". Blender. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
^ The Last Temptation (booklet). Murder Inc., Def Jam. 2002.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien.
^ "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 30th June 2003" (PDF). The ARIA Report (697): 14. June 30, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. December 12, 2002. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. December 19, 2002. Archived from the original on December 26, 2002. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 50. December 7, 2002. p. 13. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via World Radio History.
^ "Lescharts.com – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ja Rule". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
^ "Charts.nz – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
^ "Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales)". Jam!. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
^ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^ "Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^ "2002 UK Albums Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2003". ARIA. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
^ "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2003". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
^ "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2003". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Music Canada. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
^ "British album certifications – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
^ "American album certifications – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

[AllMusic-1] Allmusic review

[2] "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1477. November 1, 2002. p. 24.

[3] "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1483. December 13, 2002. p. 26.

[4] "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 30th June 2003" (PDF). ARIA. June 30, 2003. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2022.

[5] Blender review Archived November 22, 2005, at the Wayback Machine

[6] RapReviews review

[7] NME review

[8] MVRemix Urban review

[9] "The Last Temptation: Ja Rule: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2010-09-13.

[10] Reid, Shaheem (2003-12-06). "Ja Rule Done Lashing Out At 50, Will Be Himself Again On New LP - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved 2010-09-13.

[11] "The 50 Worst Songs Ever! Watch, Listen and Cringe!". Blender. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-13.

[liner_notes-12] The Last Temptation (booklet). Murder Inc., Def Jam. 2002.

[ac_Australia_Ja_Rule-13] "Australiancharts.com – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien.

[14] "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 30th June 2003" (PDF). The ARIA Report (697): 14. June 30, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

[15] "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. December 12, 2002. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

[16] "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. December 19, 2002. Archived from the original on December 26, 2002. Retrieved January 29, 2023.

[ac_Netherlands_Ja_Rule-17] "Dutchcharts.nl – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2023.

[18] "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 50. December 7, 2002. p. 13. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via World Radio History.

[ac_France_Ja_Rule-19] "Lescharts.com – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2023.

[ac_Germany_Ja_Rule-20] "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.

[ac_Ireland2_Ja_Rule-21] "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ja Rule". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[ac_New_Zealand_Ja_Rule-22] "Charts.nz – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien.

[ac_Scotland_-23] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.

[ac_Switzerland_Ja_Rule-24] "Swisscharts.com – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien.

[ac_UK2_-25] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.

[ac_UKR&B_-26] "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.

[ac_Billboard200_Ja_Rule-27] "Ja Rule Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Ja_Rule-28] "Ja Rule Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

[29] "Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales)". Jam!. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2022.

[30] "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.

[31] "Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.

[32] "2002 UK Albums Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved September 10, 2020.

[33] "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2003". ARIA. Retrieved June 14, 2015.

[34] "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2003". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

[35] "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2003". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

[AustraliaJa_RuleThe_Last_TemptationalbumCertRef-36] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

[CanadaJa_RuleThe_Last_TemptationalbumCertRef-37] "Canadian album certifications – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Music Canada. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

[United_KingdomJa_RuleThe_Last_TemptationalbumCertRef-38] "British album certifications – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

[United_StatesJa_RuleThe_Last_TemptationalbumCertRef-39] "American album certifications – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

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v t e Ja Rule
Discography
Studio albums	Venni Vetti Vecci Rule 3:36 Pain Is Love The Last Temptation Blood in My Eye R.U.L.E. Pain Is Love 2
Compilation albums	Exodus Icon
Mixtapes	The Mirror
Singles	"Holla Holla" "Between Me and You" "Put It on Me" "I Cry" "Livin' It Up" "Always on Time" "Down Ass Bitch" "Down 4 U" "Thug Lovin'" "Mesmerize" "Reign" "Clap Back" "Wonderful" "New York" "Caught Up" "Uh-Ohhh!" "Body" "Real Life Fantasy"
Featured artist	"Can I Get A..." "Grand Finale" "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" "Damn (Should've Treated U Right)" "Get da Money" "I'm Real" (Murder Remix) "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" "What's Going On" "Rainy Dayz" "What's Luv?" "Old Thing Back" "Helpless"
Tours	Summerbeatz
Related articles	Murder Inc. Records Murder Inc. Follow the Rules Growing Up Hip Hop: New York