He is best-known for hits "Put It On Me", "Between Me And You", "Wonderful" and for being associated with Jay-Z as a part of The Murderers. Ja Rule has sold over 20 Million albums worldwide and has released six albums with one on the way. His best-selling albums are Pain Is Love and Rule 3:36. Ja Rule has beefed with rappers DMX, 50 Cent, The Game, Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, and Eminem.
Early life:
He attended Junior High School in Floral Park, New York, where he met his future wife Aisha Murray and they graduated in 1991. They attended Martin Van Buren High School together but he did not graduate. When Atkins was five years old, his sister died from respiratory problems. Growing up in a strict religious home, Atkin's family did not celebrate birthdays and Christmas, and as a child, was not allowed to listen to rap music. When he first heard it, he decided to be a rapper. He would sneak the music into his house and played it on his CD player when his mother wasn't around. Atkins is married to his high school sweetheart, Aisha Atkins née Murray.They have three children: Brittney (11), Jeffrey Junior (6) and Jordan (3).He and his family live in a mansion in New Jersey.
Rise to Fame:
At age 15, Atkins appeared with 0-1 and Chris Black as part of Cash Money Click. This would lead to him being signed by TVT Records in 1994. He would end up being heard by a young DJ who called himself DJ Irv, then later Irv Gotti. Gotti, was a friend of Jay-Z's and he was also a DJ for Def Jam Recordings. During the mid 90s his main priority was meeting Ja Rule. He wanted to sign Ja to his new label Murder Inc. Records. He wanted Ja because of his distinct deep voice. After Irv was able to sign Ja along with DMX and Jay-Z to Def Jam. He began to have an idea that they all work together. They formed a group named The Murderers. They recorded many songs together. Friction tore the group apart, DMX, a rapper that sounds very similar to Ja accused him of trying to steal his style with the deep voice, by saying that before the three were signed Ja tried to make his voice sound lighter but heard him embrace the deep voice and tried to imitate it. They had planned to release an album together, but this idea was scrapped and they all made appearances on their respective albums. Still, around this time, Ja Rule was still fairly unknown. Jay-Z, at the time a young star and new to Def Jam, was the most popular rapper in hip hop. Russell Simmons had the idea that in order to build hype around Ja Rule and capitalize on Jay's popularity that Ja Rule do a verse on Jay-Z's 1998 single Can I Get A..., which also featured Amil. Ja's performance of the verse made him a household name and he became an instant star and by the release of his album a year later he was one of Def Jam Recordings premier acts.
Damn
Ja Rule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(They ain't ready for this)
Ja Rule
Uh, Darkchild
Yeah, yeah, yeah, damn
I couldn't think about the next man bangin' you
Hittin' it, empowerin' you the I used to
Purr when wet, worth puttin' diamonds on your collar
We down, hittin' switches like a 6-4
Follow me and you against the world, baby girl
(Oh, oh, oh)
But you broken, now she got your side of the bed
Your 6 with wide-screen TVs, in the head
You like the livin’ dead ‘cuz you won't be back
The cat you thought was on throwin' you off-track
(Oh, oh, oh)
Can't do that, love's like a tug-a-war match
You can't win, you fall in, get too attached
You wanna be where I'm at, feelin' me without climax
Nails diggin' in my back, head board outta wack
What you love about Ja is what caught your eye
Painful lies and sweet goodbyes, baby, why?
Damn, I should've never let you walk right out of my life
I should've treated you right, I should've been by your side
But damn, I slept and let you catch somebody's eye
Now I can't even lie, it's killin' me inside
I fell in love with you, see, like they do in movies
You were the generous type, you brought me things I didn't need
Promised to take care of me but then I pushed you to leave, yeah, yeah
Money don't make the man, I understand, since I let you go
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
But I could've had damn near everything, yeah, yeah
You see I should've changed my plans
Let you be my man just for your doe
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
And never ever have to explain
Damn, I should've never let you walk right out of my life
I should've treated you right, I should've been by your side
But damn, I slept and let you catch somebody's eye
Now I can't even lie, it's killin' me inside
It's wrong for me to think this but I could have handled it
Me playin' you for a fool, frontin', so romantic
Just to get my wishes granted, I should've did what I had to do, oh
Now when I think it through, I could've been to you a real good girl
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
It didn't mean that this is your world, yeah, yeah, yeah
To satisfy all my needs I could've pleased you a little bit more
(Oh oh oh oh)
Should've been, could've been, would've been
But these thoughts I just ignored, oh
Damn, I should've never let you walk right out of my life
I should've treated you right, I should've been by your side
But damn, I slept and let you catch somebody's eye
Now I can't even lie, it's killin' me inside
Damn, I should've never let you walk right out of my life
I should've treated you right, I should've been by your side
But damn, I slept and let you catch somebody's eye
Now I can't even lie, it's killin' me inside
You don't even wanna talk to me, you don't wanna be with me anymore
You don't even wanna call at all, but you come around tryin' to hit me off
You don't wanna go out with me, I can't stand to see you outta line
But it's really killin’ me, you're not feelin’ me, I wish you were mine but
Damn, I should've never let you walk right out of my life
I should've treated you right, I should've been by your side
But damn, I slept and let you catch somebody's eye
Now I can't even lie, it's killin' me inside
Damn, I should've never let you walk right out of my life
I should've treated you right, I should've been by your side
But damn, I slept and let you catch somebody's eye
Now I can't even lie, it's killin' me inside
Damn, I should've never let you walk right out of my life
I should've treated you right, I should've been by your side
But damn, I slept and let you catch somebody's eye
Now I can't even lie, it's killin' me inside
…
The lyrics of Ja Rule's song "Damn" speak of regret and desolation. The artist reflects on his past relationship and the mistakes he made which led to losing his love. Ja Rule raps about his love for his former partner, their shared intimacy, passion, and connection. He highlights the value of his partner and the feelings he had for her that he never made clear, choosing instead to let her go easily. The artist addresses the pain he feels now that his ex has moved on, and how it hurts him to see her with someone else. Throughout the song, Ja Rule laments over the fact that he should have treated his former partner better, that he should have been more attentive and that he should have never let her go.
The song's chorus of "Damn, I should've never let you walk right out of my life, I should've treated you right, I should've been by your side, but damn, I slept and let you catch somebody's eye, now I can't even lie, it's killing me inside" illustrates the artist's regret as he reflects on his past relationship. Ja Rule conveys a sense of genuine remorse of not only losing someone he loved but doing an injustice in the way he treated his love. Through his lyrics, Ja Rule shows the audience that he recognizes how important it is to appreciate and cherish the people in one's life while they are present.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah, damn
Expressing frustration and regret over the situation
I couldn't think about the next man bangin' you
Jealousy and possessiveness towards the partner
Hittin' it, empowerin' you the I used to
Feeling inadequate and powerless in the relationship
You make me holla, your cat top dollar
Appreciating the partner's sexual prowess
Purr when wet, worth puttin' diamonds on your collar
Comparing the partner to a valuable pet
We down, hittin' switches like a 6-4
Feeling united as a couple and enjoying life together
Following me and you against the world, baby girl
Believing in the strength of the relationship and the partnership
But you broken, now she got your side of the bed
Acknowledging a betrayal and the end of the relationship
Your 6 with wide-screen TVs, in the head
Referencing material possessions that no longer matter in the wake of their failed relationship
You like the livin’ dead ‘cuz you won't be back
Feeling trapped and stuck in a situation without an escape
The cat you thought was on throwin' you off-track
Discovering someone you thought was on your side was not trustworthy or loyal
Can't do that, love's like a tug-a-war match
Comparing love to a game of tug-of-war with winners and losers
You can't win, you fall in, get too attached
Admitting his own vulnerability and tendency to become too attached
You wanna be where I'm at, feelin' me without climax
Desiring true emotional connection over just physical satisfaction
Nails diggin' in my back, head board outta wack
Enjoying passionate physical intimacy with the partner
What you love about Ja is what caught your eye
Recognizing that the partner was initially drawn to him for superficial reasons
Painful lies and sweet goodbyes, baby, why?
Questioning why the relationship had to end so painfully
Now I can't even lie, it's killin' me inside
Expressing the deep emotional pain caused by the failed relationship
Money don't make the man, I understand, since I let you go
Regretting prioritizing material possessions over true love and partnership
But I could've had damn near everything, yeah, yeah
Realizing that the relationship was the most valuable thing he had and he let it slip away
You see I should've changed my plans
Acknowledging that he made wrong decisions in the relationship
Let you be my man just for your doe
Realizing that love should not be based solely on financial gain
But these thoughts I just ignored, oh
Admitting to ignoring red flags and making mistakes in the relationship
You don't even wanna talk to me, you don't wanna be with me anymore
Accepting that the partner has moved on and does not want to be with him anymore
I wish you were mine but
Expressing longing for what could have been
Now I can't even lie, it's killin' me inside
Echoing the pain and regret felt throughout the song
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: FRED JERKINS, JEFFREY ATKINS, LASHAWN DANIELS, LYSETTE TITI, RODNEY JERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kristian Galvan
This whole album deserved a Grammy! After the industry was done with him he dropped the best album of his career and no one paid attention it's a shame man
Machel Laborde
Which ja rule album was this track on
Gilles Robins Bien Aime
@Hip Hop
You sound Jamaican
Hip Hop
@purpose and goals that's yo opinion bro
purpose and goals
@Hip Hop rule was his best album
Hip Hop
@Jesse Jeremiah i love R.U.L.E, but I'd probably put Venni Vetti Vecci and Rule 336 before them. In my opinion
Fabricio 0101
Uma das melhores vozes do hip hop!
Taz Man
Most underrated artist in history...
Bob Harlie
@purpose and goals I'm only here to see what ja rule actually does these days. As I suspected. Nothing
Bob Harlie
Said no hip hop fan ever