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.
I Cry
Ja Rule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I cry, you cry
We cry, together
Said I cry, you cry
We cry, together
Said I cry, you cry
We cry, together
Said I cry, you cry
[Ja Rule]
I life I love my wife
A bad time to prevail, it overwhelmed me
I'm livin in hell but livin wealthy
And know these hoes love me
Because I'm a star
I can't even cop a drink at the bar
Get me some bottles of that Remi Mar-tin
Let's get the party
Cracking right here fuck V.I.P
Now when my baby loves me
Home wit tears in her eyes
And when I get in, I hurt her more by tellin her lies
She ain't surprise at me
Just surprise at we
Been together for this long
And I can be
The one to mistreat her
Thought it last forever
'Cause if I cry, you cry
We cry together
[Chorus]
[Ja Rule]
From, what I recall we was little niggas
Cut, who gettin high, the hottest pictures
Livin, life so free
That we ain't fearin
The, ills of the world
In heat of drug dealin
You and I then made a killin
And tuck together
I this land of forbidden treasure
Love is the only evil seed that could sever
A tied this close
Not the love between us but your love for the dough
You went O.T started makin M-O-N-E-Why
All my good niggas gotta die
But shit could last forever
I wish (???) was pleasure
'Cause when you die
I cried, we cried together
[Chorus]
[Ja Rule]
Wash away your tears (my love)
You ain't gotta cry no more (my love)
I'm putting on everything out (my love)
And my pain it's my love
And I want
This world to smile for me
Don't shed a tear 'cause the nigga died happily
My momma warned me life was a muthafucka
But I ignored the warning and kept on hustlin
And every night she just looked at me
Tears in her eyes and they be saying shit like
"I don't want me baby to die"
Brought so much pain into a life
Gotta make it better
'Cause when ma cried I cried
We cried together
[Chorus]
[Lil' Mo]
Oooooohhhh
You cry, then I cry
Then we cry
When he cries
I cry together, together
When I cry, then you cry
Then we'll cry, together
Baby, 'cause when
Ja cries, Mo cries
We'll cry, together
If he cry, I'll cry
Then we'll cry, together
The song "I Cry" by Ja Rule is an emotional track that talks about the pain the artist experiences in different aspects of his life. The chorus emphasizes the importance of togetherness even in times of sadness by saying that when one person cries, the other person cries too as they cry together. Ja Rule talks about different experiences that had him in tears and how he was comforted by the support of his loved ones.
In the first verse, Ja Rule talks about the struggles he faced in his marriage, where his actions hurt his wife, and he couldn't bear to see her cry. Despite being a star and wealthy, he still had his fair share of struggles, which sometimes overwhelmed him. The second verse sees the artist reflecting on his childhood experiences with a close friend, who eventually died. They started off together, but their paths diverged, with one getting into drug dealing while the other struggled to hustle. The artist notes the pain he experienced when his friend died, and how he cried together with their loved ones. The final verse features Lil' Mo comforting Ja Rule by letting him know that she is there to support him and cry with him when he is in pain.
Overall, "I Cry" is a deeply emotional song that captures the importance of being there for loved ones during times of sadness and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
When I cry, you cry
Ja Rule is telling his audience that when he is sad or upset, they should be too.
We cry, together
Ja Rule wants his fans to empathize with him and feel his pain.
Said I cry, you cry
Ja Rule is emphasizing that he wants his fans to feel connected to him on an emotional level.
I life I love my wife
Ja Rule begins telling the story of his life, starting with his marriage.
A bad time to prevail, it overwhelmed me
Ja Rule has had a tough time recently and it has been difficult for him to handle.
I'm livin in hell but livin wealthy
Despite his struggles, Ja Rule is wealthy and successful.
And know these hoes love me
Ja Rule has a lot of women interested in him because of his fame and money.
Because I'm a star
Ja Rule's celebrity status attracts a lot of attention and admiration.
I can't even cop a drink at the bar
Ja Rule has become so well-known that he is recognized everywhere he goes.
Get me some bottles of that Remi Mar-tin
Ja Rule wants to have a good time with his friends and order some expensive alcohol.
Let's get the party
Ja Rule is ready to have fun and enjoy the night.
Cracking right here fuck V.I.P
Ja Rule doesn't care about exclusive areas or special treatment - he's happy to have a good time wherever he is.
Now when my baby loves me
Ja Rule is referring to his wife as his 'baby' and his greatest supporter.
Home wit tears in her eyes
Sometimes when Ja Rule comes home, his wife is sad and upset.
And when I get in, I hurt her more by tellin her lies
Ja Rule has done things that have hurt his wife, such as lying to her.
She ain't surprise at me
Ja Rule's wife isn't shocked by his actions anymore because she's used to them.
Just surprise at we
Ja Rule's wife is surprised that their relationship has lasted this long despite everything.
Been together for this long
Ja Rule and his wife have been together for a significant amount of time.
And I can be
Ja Rule admits that he has done things to mistreat his wife.
The one to mistreat her
Ja Rule is not proud of the way he has treated his wife.
Thought it last forever
Ja Rule hoped that his marriage would be strong enough to last a lifetime.
'Cause if I cry, you cry
Ja Rule is reminding his fans that they should be emotionally connected to him and his struggles.
From, what I recall we was little niggas
Ja Rule is reflecting on his past and the people he grew up with.
Cut, who gettin high, the hottest pictures
Ja Rule and his friends used to focus on getting high and taking photos together.
Livin, life so free
Ja Rule felt that he and his friends were living life without any worries or consequences.
That we ain't fearin
They were not afraid of the dangers around them.
The, ills of the world
Ja Rule recognizes that the world is full of problems.
In heat of drug dealin
Ja Rule and his friends turned to selling drugs to make money.
You and I then made a killin
Ja Rule and one of his friends made a lot of money from drug dealing.
And tuck together
Ja Rule and his friends stuck together through thick and thin.
I this land of forbidden treasure
Ja Rule is describing the illegal activities he and his friends used to participate in.
Love is the only evil seed that could sever
Ja Rule realizes that love is the only thing that could damage his close friendships.
A tied this close
Ja Rule's friendships were tightly knit.
Not the love between us but your love for the dough
Ja Rule's friend cared more about money than their friendship.
You went O.T started makin M-O-N-E-Why
Ja Rule's friend started making a lot of money by going 'out of town'.
All my good niggas gotta die
Ja Rule is lamenting the fact that many of his close friends have died over the years.
But shit could last forever
Ja Rule knows that nothing lasts forever.
I wish (???) was pleasure
It is unclear what Ja Rule meant by this line.
'Cause when you die
Ja Rule is focusing on the pain and sadness that comes with losing a loved one.
I cried, we cried together
Ja Rule wants to emphasize the connection he shares with his fans - they have all experienced the pain of losing someone they love.
Wash away your tears (my love)
Ja Rule is addressing someone he cares for and wants to comfort in their time of need.
You ain't gotta cry no more (my love)
Ja Rule wants to reassure his loved one that everything will be okay.
I'm putting on everything out (my love)
Ja Rule is being open and transparent with his loved one.
And my pain it's my love
Ja Rule feels that his pain comes from the love he feels for others.
And I want
Ja Rule is expressing his desire for something.
This world to smile for me
Ja Rule is asking for the world to show him some positivity.
Don't shed a tear 'cause the nigga died happily
Ja Rule wants people to be happy when he passes away.
My momma warned me life was a muthafucka
Ja Rule's mother warned him that life would be difficult.
But I ignored the warning and kept on hustlin
Ja Rule didn't listen to his mother's advice and continued working hard.
And every night she just looked at me
Ja Rule's mother used to watch him and worry about him.
Tears in her eyes and they be saying shit like
Ja Rule's mother was visibly emotional and would say things that worried him.
"I don't want me baby to die"
Ja Rule's mother expressed her fear that something bad might happen to him.
Brought so much pain into a life
Ja Rule feels responsible for causing pain in his own life and the lives of those around him.
Gotta make it better
Ja Rule wants to work towards making things better.
'Cause when ma cried I cried
Ja Rule is conveying his close relationship with his mother.
We cried together
Ja Rule and his mother shared many emotional moments together.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEFFREY ATKINS, K. N GAMBLE, L. N HUFF, IRVING N LORENZO, CYNTHIA N LOVING, ROBERT N MAYS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind