As part of Complex’s “Magnum Opus” series, Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, Lyor Cohen, and a handful of other music industry insiders discussed the creation of Ja’s “Put It On Me,” and the moments that led to the record being created.
The Inc founder Irv Gotti first touched on Ja Rule’s contributions to Jay Z’s “Can I Get A,” which was featured on the Brooklyn, New York rapper’s Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life album. According to Irv, Ja Rule wrote the hook to the song, and initially wanted it on his own album.
Irv went on to explain that when Ja Rule’s Venni Vetti Vecci album didn’t bring in the numbers they had hoped for, Ja blamed the lackluster sales on “Can I Get A” not being featured on his album.
“The minute he rapped I was blown away…He said ‘Just give me the record and we can put Ja on it. And you gon’ break Ja,’” Irv Gotti said. “I said ‘Let me ask Ja.’ I said ‘Ja, what you think?’ It’s no disrespect to Jay Z in any way, shape, or form. He gave ‘em the hook, the bounce to it. And then Jay wrote his verse. And he wrote Amil’s verse, so Ja didn’t write his verse, but Ja wrote the hook. And we gave him the aura of the record…Ja would get in interviews and he would openly say ‘If he had ‘Can I Get A’ that could have been my other single. And what it did for Jay it could have did for me.’ And he wasn’t wrong in saying that, but Jay didn’t like that.”
According to Ja Rule, with his second album he completely switched up his style and focused on making more mainstream records. He says “Put It On Me” was a song written with his wife in mind.
“After the first album, I’m being compared to a wannabe DMX, a wannabe Tupac,” Ja Rule said. “So, I go through that. So, I say ‘You know what? The second album I’mma do something that nobody’s expecting.’ So, I grow my hair out…DMX and Pac don’t look nothing like this. So, I changed my look…This is the mother of my children. This is the woman that I love. She’s not understanding this whole ish right now. I’mma make a record that talks directly to her. Because for me, being a recording artist, what better way to express yourself to your woman or to the world then through song? But when I heard the beat, it came to me like that. ‘What would I be without you?’”
For additional Ja Rule coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
Ja went very commercial on the second album. which would have been fine IF he was dropping street music. so, that made it especially easy for 50 to come and stomp him out.
its ironic 50 dissed ja for making records like that then ended up doing it himself
ITS MURDA BITCHES
True…at the same time, I think it was very fickle of the fans to turn against Ja…for no other reason, than 50 and his “I get shot up, stabbed, and beat up” variety of street cred.
If he was? That album is an even mixture Die, 6 Feet Underground, Watching Me, The Rule Won’t Die he’s put out a lot of street music LATELY is the problem he don’t put out street music he tries to hard to make hits now.
They don’t make joints like that no more
Good.. Im glad they don’t. I always thought Ja was trash
classic record to this day
That murda Inc sound
CLASSIC
Ja took his self out he should’ve kept makin love songs he was never good at street music remember he was the original cash money click n he was wack then especially the whole neighborhood knew he wasn’t bout that life
Listen to blood in my eye more pure Street album
I still don’t understand how 50 beat Ja, with the whole beef thing. 50 got stabbed and beat up by Ja and he got shot. How does that make you gangsta? It showed that he was a target ; )
Get rich or die tryin’, does sound better than most of Ja’s albums……….
Snitchy a SNITCH
“Ya so Irv be like let me give you a facial, and I was like Put It On Me! So we did the song and made love on the soundcraft mixing board.” -JA RULE
Wow Jayz wrote Ja Rules breakout verse.damn