Rule 3:36


Rule 3:36 is the second studio album by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on October 3, 2000, by The [Island Def Jam Music Group], Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. The album features guest appearances from Christina Milian, Lil' Mo, Shade Sheist and Jayo Felony, with producers Irv Gotti, Ty Fyffe, Tru Stylze, Lil' Rob and Damizza contributing to the album. The album marked a significant change in Ja Rule's musical style, shifting from hardcore hip hop to a more radio-friendly pop rap oriented sound to greater success.
Rule 3:36 debuted atop of the US Billboard 200 with 276,000 copies sold in its first week and went on to be certified Triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 20, 2001, producing four singles; all of which had achieved varying degrees of chart success. The most successful single, "Put It on Me" featuring Vita, peaking at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first top-ten single on that chart as a lead artist, and scored his first nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 44th Grammy Awards.

Background

Rule 3:36 contains the song titled "Fuck You", which is titled "Furious" as a clean version for radio play. The song received average airplay, and is also on the soundtrack to The [Fast and the Furious |The Fast and the Furious]. The disc is still mostly radio-friendly pop-themed music unlike his later albums, which contain disses of a more dark tone. The album still contains explicit material, and was made in a clean version which only removes profanity and drug/violent lyrics are left in, although some profanity like the words "hoes" and "ass" are also left in.

Critical reception

Initial critical response to Rule 3:36 was average. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 56, based on five reviews. AllMusic editor Jason Birchmeier noted thath Rule 3:36 "includes a few radio-friendly rap-R&B hybrids, which are then filled out with the same style of Ruff Ryder-style hardcore rap that characterized his debut album, Venni Vetti Vecci The result is an uneven album crossover-R&B singles and hardcore rap filler; even though the commercial prospects are improved, Rule 3:36 isn't any more satisfying than Venni Vetti Vecci had been." Derek A. Bardowell from NME found that "there's not an outstanding tune on the album to the degree of "Holla Holla", but Rule 3:36 has already proven to be successful, having topped the Billboard chart on the week of its release. And if you like Ja Rule, you’ll unquestionably love the album. Unfortunately, there's just no range and way too much negativity."
Entertainment Weeklys Josh Tyrangiel called the album a "solid follow-up" as well as a "moderately ambitious, moderately successful sophomore album." He noted that Rule 3:36 was a "soft-focus close-up of Ja Rule’s sensitive side." Wall of Sound editor Bob Gulla wrote that "there are some quasi-credible moments across the record — some aggressive, highly orchestrated, East Coast-style gangsta vignettes like "6 Feet Underground" and "One of Us" — but they don't resonate with the kind of urban drama necessary to put this one over the top." Rolling Stones Kathryn Farr felt that "Ja Rule plays it painfully safe on his second album, doling out pop hooks over gimmicky production. His gruff voice hasn't changed, but aside from the nimble singsong flow he flexes on the fluffy radio hit "Between Me and You," Rule doesn't push himself much; he simply musters the requisite rawness or throaty sentimentality, and moves on "Do you love me/ Do you hate me," Rule says on one song, but, too often, Rule 3:36 falls somewhere in between."

Commercial performance

Rule 3:36 debuted at number one on both the US Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 276,000 during its first week. By November 2009, the album had sold 3,965,000 copies domestically. It was certified three-time platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album also reached Gold status in the United Kingdom and Platinum in Canada.

Track listing

Notes
  • signifies co-producer
Sample credits

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Canadian Albums 106
Canadian R&B Albums 24
Canadian Rap Albums 11
US Billboard 20027
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 10

Certifications