I like to think of my musical tastes as being fairly eclectic. I can even understand how other people could like and appreciate music that I don’t. The exception, however, is Ja Rule. Am I completely on my own in thinking that this man is a talentless buffoon? Please. Somebody ease my fears…
Pretty much all rap is terrible now. Most of the rappers constantly perpeptuate the idea that sexism is ok, that crime is ok, etc. It does not help to make people believe that Rap is real type of music, rather that it just be rhyming about beating up your bitch and busting caps in peoples asses.
New, hot rapper and Eminem/Dr. Dre protege 50 Cent certainly agrees. He has been scathing about Ja in the press and in lyric, and has gone on record stating that while he is the real McCoy of hardcore street cred (he has survived multiple gunshot wounds) Ja Rule was, as recently as two years before he broke through, a good Jehovah’s Witness lad who spent his Saturdays knocking on people’s doors with Watchtower magazines. Go figger.
As to his music, I’m not familiar enough to judge, though his image certainly doesn’t appeal in any way to encourage me to find out more. His remix of “Ain’t That Funny” by Jennifer Lopez was pretty good, though.
Ruining all my own cred this morning, aren’t I?
Aslan2 has vividly shown s/he doesn’t listen to much rap music, to think it’s all about “beating up your bitch and busting caps in peoples asses.” Seriously, have you listened to any rap since 1997? Sure, you’ll find misogynistic and violent lyrics, but this is obviously not anywhere near the majority out there.
That said, I think Ja Rule is a hack. He’s got some skills, but his mediocrity is why he’s always relegated to being second banana on all of his singles. And his singing is absolutely horrible (check out “Mesmerize” with Ashanti); he’s definitely got to stick to the rapping.
I cannot stand JaRule. When he first stepped on the scene, I thought he was a poor man’s DMX. My opinion of him has only gotten worse over time. Why, oh why, is this man still making music?
I like hip-hop. This man is not hip-hop.
He survives on that voice. Its the only thing bigger than his ego.
Of course, if my speaking voice sounded like Optimus Prime and Barry White had a lovechild, I’d probably be a platinum-selling rapper too.
His singing is terrible.
peepthis makes a valid point that stretches across all music today regardless of genre: that the acts which are “popular” are by no means the most artistically talented, nor can they be considered indicative of the status of the genre. For instance, what fan of rock music would want to hang their hat on someone like Linkin Park or Blink-182? I consider Ja Rule to be nothing more than a Pop act. The point is, who cares? How many people that make a lot of money in the music industry do so because of sheer talent alone, and not a sharp, calculated marketing campaign? I think that American Idol underscores this argument.
I must really be out of it. I thought it was a mispelling of J-Lo (aka Jennifer Lopez) and was all set to agree. Now that I know it is someone else entirely that I have never heard and likely never will, I will still agree. J-Lo and Ja-Rule sitting in a tree, Popping cups up her P***y. First comes divorce, then comes jail, then all the music will be sung in Hell.
I’ve had the priviledge of spending two long days with Mr. Rule. I shot the Ja Rule MTV: Cribs episode. I also shot Ja Rule’s House Party on Star Island in Miami, also for MTV ( although not technically a Cribs episode ).
He has every move down pat. Upon seeing me the morning of the second gig ( roughly a year had passed after his Cribs shoot ), he walked up to me and exclaimed loudly, ’ Hey Niggah ! ’ and proceeded to hug me. I cracked up at the gesture. ( Being a 6’2" pudgy white boy, it’d been a VERY long time since somebody had greeted me that way…
).
He is beyond parody. What I’ve heard of his stuff ( and admittedly, I’ve not heard much at all ) doesn’t say much for vocal or writing skills.
Now it is entirely fair to say that MANY major performers in every single area of music have had brilliant careers, while relying upon the writing skills of others. Barbra Streisand and The Beach Boys, just to name two hot current acts. 
I just don’t think he has the chops to keep afloat for long, even if other people write his songs.
This guy is riding a wave that at some point will wet him down and he’ll cross over into self-parody. Or, has that happened already?
Cartooniverse
Niggah[sup]TM[/sup]…It’s not just for black people anymore.