The Last Temptation (Ja Rule album)

The Last Temptation
Studio album by
Ja Rule
ReleasedNovember 19, 2002 (2002-11-19)
Recorded2002
StudioHit Factory Criteria (Miami), The Crackhouse (New York City, New York)
GenreHardcore hip-hop[1]
Length54:46
Label
Producer
Ja Rule chronology
Pain Is Love
(2001) 		The Last Temptation
(2002) 		Blood in My Eye
(2003)
Singles from The Last Temptation
  1. "Thug Lovin'"
    Released: November 4, 2002[2]
  2. "Mesmerize"
    Released: December 16, 2002[3]
  3. "Reign"
    Released: June 30, 2003[4]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic57/100
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blender[5]
RapReviews6/10[6]
NME[7]
MVRemix Urban3.5/10[8]

The Last Temptation is the fourth studio album by American rapper Ja Rule.[9] It was released by Murder Inc., Def Jam and Island Def Jam Music Group on November 19, 2002.

The album was successful, moving 237,000 units in its first week,[10] but less than his previous Pain Is Love. On December 13, 2002 the album was certified Platinum. "Mesmerize" is ranked at #45 on Blender's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever",[11] but was the most successful single from the album, reaching number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. The album also received criticism from fans, saying that the album sounded too commercial, and that Ja Rule was selling out. Though neither its debut nor lifetime sales ever matched those of Pain Is Love, The Last Temptation is Ja Rule's third highest-selling album to date.

Background

Originally scheduled for a Fall 2002 release (as found in the booklet for Pain Is Love), the album was delayed to 2003 (as found in the booklet for Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc.), but was ultimately released on November 19, 2002.

This album contained singles such as "Thug Lovin'" (featuring Bobby Brown), "Mesmerize" (featuring Ashanti) and "The Pledge (Remix)" (by Ashanti featuring Nas, Ja Rule and 2Pac). "Murder Reigns" was also released as a single titled "Reign" in select territories outside of North America, such as Europe and Australasia. The song "Pop Niggas" gained some attention after it was reported to be talking in part about 50 Cent. Pharrell was featured on the song, but not credited. Other guests featured on the album include: Alexi, Charli Baltimore, Caddillac Tah, Celeste, Eastwood, Crooked I, Young Life, and Chink Santana.

Track listing

The Last Temptation track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"  0:20
2."Thug Lovin'" (featuring Bobby Brown)
4:50
3."Mesmerize" (featuring Ashanti)
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
4:38
4."Pop Niggas"
The Neptunes4:29
5."The Pledge (Remix)" (featuring Ashanti, Nas & 2Pac)
3:54
6."Murder Reigns" (featuring Celeste)
  • 7 Aurelius
  • Irv Gotti
4:03
7."Last Temptation" (featuring Charli Baltimore)
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
4:58
8."Murder Me" (featuring Caddillac Tah & Alexi)
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
5:15
9."The Warning"
  • Atkins
  • Parker
  • Lorenzo
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
5:05
10."Connected" (featuring Eastwood & Crooked I)
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
4:54
11."Emerica" (featuring Young Life & Chink Santana)
  • Atkins
  • Parker
  • Rahmane Donovan
  • Lorenzo
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
5:16
12."Rock Star"
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
4:58
13."Destiny (Outro)"
Cool & Dre2:05

Leftover tracks

Sample credits[12]

Personnel

  • Alexi – additional vocals (8)
  • Milwaukee Buck – engineer (2, 3, 5-8, 10-13), mixing (4, 6, 10, 11)
  • Demo Castellon – assistant engineer (2, 3, 7-9, 12)
  • Celeste – additional vocals (6)
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • Brian Garten – engineer (4)
  • Irv Gotti – executive producer, mixing (2, 3, 5, 7-9, 12, 13)
  • Terry "Murda Mac" Herbert – assistant engineer (5)
  • Eric Jackson – keyboards (2)
  • Marc Lee – mixing assistant (2, 3, 7-9, 12)
  • James Manning – bass guitar (2)
  • Demi Doc McGhee – instrumentation (7)
  • Keez Parker – instrumentation (7)
  • Brian Springer – engineer (2), mixing (2, 3, 5, 7-9, 12, 13)
  • Ja Rule – executive producer

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for The Last Temptation
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[36] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[37] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[39] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Allmusic review
  2. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1477. November 1, 2002. p. 24.
  3. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1483. December 13, 2002. p. 26.
  4. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 30th June 2003" (PDF). ARIA. June 30, 2003. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Blender review Archived November 22, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ RapReviews review
  7. ^ NME review
  8. ^ MVRemix Urban review
  9. ^ "The Last Temptation: Ja Rule: Music". Amazon. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  10. ^ Reid, Shaheem (December 6, 2003). "Ja Rule Done Lashing Out At 50, Will Be Himself Again On New LP - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  11. ^ "The 50 Worst Songs Ever! Watch, Listen and Cringe!". Blender. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  12. ^ The Last Temptation (booklet). Murder Inc., Def Jam. 2002.
  13. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien.
  14. ^ "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 30th June 2003" (PDF). The ARIA Report (697): 14. June 30, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. December 12, 2002. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. December 19, 2002. Archived from the original on December 26, 2002. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  18. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 50. December 7, 2002. p. 13. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via World Radio History.
  19. ^ "Lescharts.com – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  20. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  21. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ja Rule". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  22. ^ "Charts.nz – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  24. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Hung Medien.
  25. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  26. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  27. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  28. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  29. ^ "Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales)". Jam!. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  30. ^ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  31. ^ "Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  32. ^ "2002 UK Albums Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  33. ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2003". ARIA. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  34. ^ "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2003". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  35. ^ "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2003". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  36. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  37. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Music Canada. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  38. ^ "British album certifications – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  39. ^ "American album certifications – Ja Rule – The Last Temptation". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
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