Studio Album · No. 3

Pain Is Love Songwriting Credits by Ja Rule

2001 Murder Inc./Def Jam Recordings 16 tracks 62 min

Produced by Irv Gotti, Lil' Rob, Ty Fyffe  ·  Engineered by Milwaukee Buck, Brian Springer, Glen Marchese, Brian Gardner, Supa Engineer Duro

Murder Inc./Def Jam Recordings Hardcore Hip HopGangsta RapR&B
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 14 of 14 tracks · 2 not yet documented

Authorship Breakdown 14 / 14 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether Ja Rule carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
14 trackswritten by Ja Rule 0 tracksoutside writers 2 trackswriters not documented
Ja Rule's roles on this album

Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist88%
Composer81%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

16
Tracks
26
Lyricists
3
Producers
1
No.1 Single
3,000,000+ (RIAA Triple Platinum)
Worldwide Copies Sold
2001
Released
Data Insight

Ja Rule writes his own verses on Pain Is Love under his legal name Jeffrey Bruce Atkins, sharing writing credit on nearly every song with Irv Gotti (Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.) and in-house producer 7 Aurelius (Marcus Vest), the Murder Inc. team behind the bulk of the album. Featured singers pick up a writing credit only when they contribute topline melody: Ashanti (Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas) is co-credited on 'The Inc.,' Missy Elliott (Melissa Elliott) and Tweet (Charlene Keys) on 'X,' and Jennifer Lopez (Jennifer Lynn Lopez) on the 'I'm Real (Murder Remix).' Several tracks also carry interpolation credits pulled in from the underlying sample: Stevie Wonder on 'Livin' It Up,' Dennis DeYoung of Styx on 'Dial M for Murder,' Rick James on the 'I'm Real' remix, and Dave Grusin, Earl Klugh, and Stretch (Randy Walker) alongside 2Pac on 'So Much Pain.' The three skits carry no additional writer or producer credit in the sources checked.

Pain Is Love is Ja Rule's third studio album, released October 2, 2001 on Murder Inc. Records and Def Jam Recordings. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 361,000 copies sold in its first week, at the time the fastest-selling rap album of 2001. The album is carried by three singles: 'Livin' It Up' featuring Case, 'Always on Time' featuring Ashanti, which became Ja Rule's second number-one and Ashanti's first number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, and 'Down Ass Bitch' featuring Charli Baltimore. It also holds the 'I'm Real (Murder Remix)' with Jennifer Lopez, plus features from Missy Elliott, Tweet, Caddillac Tah, Black Child, Boo & Gotti, and a posthumous verse from 2Pac on 'So Much Pain.' Irv Gotti produced or executive produced nearly every track, with Lil' Rob and Ty Fyffe contributing additional production. The RIAA certified the album triple platinum, and it remains Ja Rule's commercial peak.

Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Pain Is Love
Not documented - - Ja Rule (Vocals)
2
Dial M for Murder
Ja RuleTy Fyffe7 AureliusIrv GottiDennis DeYoung Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsTyrone FyffeMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.Dennis DeYoung Irv GottiTy Fyffe Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)Ashanti (Background Vocals)
3
Livin' It Up #6
Ja RuleRobert MaysIrv GottiStevie Wonder Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsRobert MaysIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.Stevland Hardaway Morris Irv GottiLil' Rob Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)Case (Vocals)
4
The Inc.
Ja Rule7 AureliusIrv GottiAshantiRamel GillCaddillac Tah Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.Ashanti Shequoiya DouglasRamel GillTaheem Crocker Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)Caddillac Tah (Rap Vocals)Black Child (Rap Vocals)Ashanti (Vocals)
5
Always on Time #1
Ja Rule7 AureliusIrv Gotti Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)Ashanti (Vocals)
6
Down Ass Bitch #21
Ja Rule7 AureliusIrv GottiCharli Baltimore Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.Tiffany Lane Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)Charli Baltimore (Rap Vocals)
7
Never Again
Ja Rule7 AureliusIrv Gotti Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)
8
Worldwide Gangsta
Ja Rule7 AureliusIrv GottiCaddillac TahRamel GillGottiBoo Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.Taheem CrockerRamel GillMwata MitchellSabrian Sledge Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)Caddillac Tah (Rap Vocals)Black Child (Rap Vocals)Boo & Gotti (Rap Vocals)
9
Leo
Ja Rule - - Ja Rule (Vocals)
10
I'm Real (Murder Remix)
Ja Rule7 AureliusIrv GottiJennifer LopezTroy OliverCory RooneyL.E.S.Rick James Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.Jennifer Lynn LopezTroy OliverCory RooneyLeshan LewisJames Ambrose Johnson Jr. Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)Jennifer Lopez (Vocals)Ashanti (Background Vocals)
11
Smokin' and Ridin'
Ja Rule7 AureliusIrv GottiJodie MackO-1 Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.Christopher BristolOtha Miller Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)Jodie Mack (Rap Vocals)O-1 (Rap Vocals)
12
X
Ja RuleMissy ElliottTweet7 AureliusIrv Gotti Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMelissa ElliottCharlene KeysMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)Missy Elliott (Rap Vocals)Tweet (Vocals)
13
Big Remo
Not documented - - Ja Rule (Vocals)
14
Lost Little Girl
Ja Rule7 AureliusIrv Gotti Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)
15
So Much Pain
Ja RuleIrv GottiDave GrusinEarl Klugh2PacStretch Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.Dave GrusinEarl KlughTupac Amaru ShakurRandy Walker Irv GottiLil' Rob Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)2Pac (Rap Vocals)
16
Pain Is Love
Ja Rule7 AureliusIrv Gotti Jeffrey Bruce AtkinsMarcus VestIrving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. Irv Gotti Ja Rule (Rap Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 49 contributors

JR
Ja Rule
Writer · Vocals
On this album14 written
IG
Irv Gotti
Writer · Producer
On this album13 written
ID
Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.
Writer
On this album13 written
JB
Jeffrey Bruce Atkins
Writer
On this album13 written
7A
7 Aurelius
Writer
On this album11 written
MV
Marcus Vest
Writer
On this album11 written
CT
Caddillac Tah
Writer · Vocals
On this album2 written
RG
Ramel Gill
Writer
On this album2 written
TC
Taheem Crocker
Writer
On this album2 written
TF
Ty Fyffe
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
2
2Pac
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written
A
Ashanti
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Pain Is Love

Who wrote Pain Is Love?
Ja Rule wrote his own verses under his legal name Jeffrey Bruce Atkins, co-credited on nearly every track with Irv Gotti (Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.) and producer 7 Aurelius (Marcus Vest).
Did Ja Rule write his own lyrics?
Yes. He is credited as a writer on every non-skit track on the album alongside his Murder Inc. collaborators.
Who produced Pain Is Love?
Irv Gotti produced or executive produced nearly the entire album, with Lil' Rob co-producing 'Livin' It Up' and 'So Much Pain,' and Ty Fyffe co-producing 'Dial M for Murder.'
How did Always on Time perform?
'Always on Time' featuring Ashanti spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, Ja Rule's second chart-topper and Ashanti's first.
Is the 2Pac verse on So Much Pain new?
No. The Tupac Shakur verse is an archival recording; the track carries a writing credit for him and for Stretch (Randy Walker), tied to the sampled Dave Grusin and Earl Klugh source material.
What sample runs through the I'm Real (Murder Remix)?
The remix interpolates 'All Night Long' written by Rick James and performed by the Mary Jane Girls, alongside writing credit for Jennifer Lopez, Troy Oliver, Cory Rooney, and L.E.S. (Leshan Lewis).
How well did the album sell?
Pain Is Love debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 361,000 first-week copies sold and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA.
Who guests on Pain Is Love?
Case, Ashanti, Charli Baltimore, Caddillac Tah, Black Child, Boo & Gotti, Jennifer Lopez, Jodie Mack, O-1, Missy Elliott, Tweet, and 2Pac all appear.
Data note: Two skits have no writer on record anywhere checked: 'Pain Is Love' (track 1) and 'Big Remo' (track 13). Wikipedia leaves their writer field blank, the Discogs release lists no writer for either, and MusicBrainz records no work at all for them. Genius credits the third skit, 'Leo,' to Ja Rule. The skit performer is assumed to be Ja Rule as the album's host but is not separately credited.

Sources

Wikipedia: Pain Is Love MusicBrainz: Pain Is Love (release group) Discogs: Ja Rule - Pain Is Love (CD, Album) Wikipedia: Always on Time Wikipedia: Down Ass Bitch Wikipedia: Channel 7 (musician) Wikipedia: Boo & Gotti Wikipedia: Rick James Wikipedia: Stevie Wonder Wikipedia: Tupac Shakur Genius: Pain Is Love (album tracks and writer credits) MusicBrainz: Pain Is Love (release, work relationships) Discogs API: Pain Is Love (release 12527998 track credits) Cover Art Archive: Pain Is Love by Ja Rule