Ja Rule - Pain Is Love (2001)

Like rapper DMX, Ja Rule's scratchy vocal delivery is an acquired taste. But given the success of his Lil' Mo-aided hits "Put It on Me" and "I Cry," it's no surprise that his third album follows the same formula as its predecessor, as midtempo grooves mix with thugged-out beats and rhymes. On "Lost Little Girl," a coming-of-age tale that charts the struggles of an urban hottie, Rule's gift for storytelling shines bright. While "I'm Real (Murder Remix)," featuring Jennifer Lopez, is almost worth the purchase price alone, one must conclude that Rule is best appreciated in small doses. On "So Much Pain" Rule apes 2Pac's flow, rhyme patterns, and introspection to an annoying T. Likewise, "Down Ass Bitch" sadly sounds like another thematic take-off on Apache's "Gangsta Bitch" anthem. At least "Livin' It Up" doesn't bastardize Stevie Wonder's gem "Do I Do" too much, and the beats cooked up on "Pain Is Love" and the guitar-fuelled "Always on Time" saves this release from losing all of those cool points he's earned for being a great writer. This one's strictly for the Ja Rule-initiated. --Dalton Higgins