Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel includes: Ja Rule, DMX, Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Case, Tah Murdah, Black Child, Nemesis (rap vocals); Erick Sermon (rap vocals, various instruments); Lil' Rob, Tai (various instruments). | | Producers include: Irv Gotti, Lil' Rob, Tyrone Fyffe, Tai, Self. | | Personnel includes: Ja Rule (rap vocals); Erick Sermon (rap vocals, various instruments); DMX, Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Case, Tah Murdah, Black Child, Nemesis (rap vocals); Lil' Rob, Tai (various instruments). | | Producers include: Irv Gotti, Lil' Rob, Tyrone Fyffe, Tai, Self. | | Personnel: Ja Rule (vocals, rap vocals); Black Child (vocals). | | Audio Mixers: Irv Gotti; Bob Brown. | | Recording information: Batte; Electric Lady, New York, NY; Mirror Image East, Long Island; Quad Recording, New York, NY; Roc-A-Fella Studios, NY. | | Photographers: Glen E. Friedman; Jonathan Mannion. | | Before even releasing his debut album Venni Vetti Vecci, Ja Rule had made a name for himself appearing on cuts by Mic Geronimo, DMX, and Jay-Z, which naturally increased expectations for his first effort. Perhaps the expectations were raised a little bit too much, since Venni isn't the stunner some may have expected, but it nevertheless is a strong opening salvo. Ja Rule doesn't bend the rules of East Coast hardcore hip-hop enough to truly distinguish himself, but he does deliver a solid record, filled with tough party jams and good straight-ahead gangsta. If the record runs a little long, it nevertheless has enough fine moments to make this a promising debut. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine | | From the opening "The March Prelude," a ghostly, lugubrious call-and-response number that references field recordings from the beginning of the century, one can tell that VENNI VETTI VECCI is not going to be a picnic in the woods. Slow, grinding beats and ominous horror-movie keyboard samples provide ballast for Ja Rule's raw-throated delivery as he kicks rhymes about the hardships of street-life and his own prowess as a street thug. | | Considering the murder threats of "World's Most Dangerous" and the chilling narrative of "The Murderers," Ja Rule doesn't sound like the kind of guy you'd want mad at you. Such cuts as "Race Against Time" and "Only Begotten Son" show the rapper wrestling with existential questions and Christian themes. For the most part, however, there is little here to brighten the dark reality of inner city life. This is hardcore gangta rap of the rawest and most uncompromising nature. |
Engineer: Pat Viala; Tommy Uzzo |
Musical Guests | | DMX | | Nemesis | | Case | | Jay-Z | | Erick Sermon | | Memphis Bleek | | Tah Murdah | | Ronald Isley | | Black Child |
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| Rolling Stone (8/19/99, pp.111-2)
- 3 stars out of 5 - "...Ja gets maximum flossage out of his down-and-dirty Queens rasp....it's a pleasure to hear a rapper who just wants to make you feel something."Vibe (6,7/99, p.182)
- "...The first single, 'Holla, Holla', is a sweltering call and response that picks up where [Jay-Z's] 'Can I Get A...' left off. Then Ja reunites with his Murder, Inc. cohorts Jay-Z and DMX for 'It's Murda'....Ja is definitely a superstar in the making." |
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