Venni Vetti Vecci

Venni Vetti Vecci
A sepia-colored album cover. On the lower part of the cover, the upper torso of an African American man is seen. His head is turned upward, eyes closed and hands clasped together. On the upper part of the cover, behind the man, stands a white statue of Jesus Christ, with its arms stretched outward, with its palms facing upward. In the center, it reads "Ja Rule" in all capital letters.
Studio album by
Ja Rule
ReleasedJune 1, 1999
Genre
Length76:17
Label
Producer
Ja Rule chronology
Venni Vetti Vecci
(1999) 		Rule 3:36
(2000)
Singles from Venni Vetti Vecci
  1. "Holla Holla"
    Released: March 2, 1999

Venni Vetti Vecci is the debut studio album by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on June 1, 1999, by Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. It was the first album to be released on Murder Inc. Production was mostly handled by Irv Gotti (who also executive produced the album), with additional work provided by Lil Rob, Ty Fyffe, Erick Sermon and Self Service. The album features guest appearances from Jay-Z, DMX, Case, Memphis Bleek, Black Child, Ronald Isley and Erick Sermon, among others. The album title alludes to the Latin phrase "veni, vidi, vici", meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered".

Venni Vetti Vecci was released on June 1, 1999, debuting at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 and selling 184,000 copies in its first week.[2] The album was supported by one successful single, "Holla Holla", peaking at number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[3]

Background

In 1995, Ja Rule was one of the first artists to be featuring on Mic Geronimo's "Time to Build". He then formed a group named "Cash Money Click" with his friends. The group then signed a deal to TVT Records. Under their association to TVT Records, the group recorded two albums, releasing one single, upon being dropped from the label. Ja Rule called it a "bullshit deal" as TVT withheld the publishing royalties of the recorded material. Irv Gotti was hired as an A&R while working as an executive producer for Def Jam, and convinced Ja Rule to sign a deal with the label.[4]

Russell Simmons later allowed Gotti to have his own record label. Irv promoted and Ja Rule in 1997, founding Murder Inc. Records, placing him on songs amongst rappers Jay-Z, LL Cool J, DMX, Method Man and Redman. Due to Ja Rule's exceptional performances on these songs, according to Def Jam; the representatives from the label it gave this album a release date.[citation needed]

Title

The album title, Venni Vetti Vecci, refers to the Latin phrase "veni, vidi, vici", which means "I came, I saw, I conquered".[5]

Music

The track titled "Only Begotten Son" alludes to the biblical verses John 3:16 and John 3:18, in which signifying "the father so feared the world that he left his only begotten son, in order to show that pain is love".[6]

Artwork

The album cover of Venni Vetti Vecci features Ja Rule with his head turned upward, eyes closed and hands clasped together, standing in front of a white statue of Jesus. It has been interpreted as referring to the "only begotten son" metaphor.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Los Angeles Times[7]
RapReviews6/10[8]
Rolling Stone[9]
Rolling Stone Album Guide[10]
The Source[11]

Upon its release, Venni Vetti Vecci received generally mixed reviews. Ja Rule received several comparisons to fellow rappers Tupac Shakur and DMX.[10] Writing for Vibe, Shaheem Reid felt that the majority of the album was "hampered by colorless production", stating that Ja Rule "desperately needs tighter tracks to complement his MC skills".[12]

Commercial performance

Venni Vetti Vecci debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard 200, selling 184,000 copies in its first week.[2] The album became a certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[13] In November 2002, the album had sold 2 million copies worldwide.[14]

Aftermath

Ja Rule became one of the biggest hip hop stars, along with Jay-Z and DMX. With their albums, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life and It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, which all gained notoriety and multi-platinum sales. Because of these albums, Ja Rule was able to tour with these artists as they formed a group titled, Murder Inc., who fittingly signed to Murder Inc. and Def Jam. He was an opening act for Jay-Z and DMX on the 1998's "Hard Knock Life" tour, along with Memphis Bleek.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[15]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The March Prelude" Irv Gotti1:19
2."We Here Now" (featuring Black Child)
  • Irv Gotti
  • Lil' Rob
3:25
3."World's Most Dangerous" (featuring Nemesis)
5:07
4."Let's Ride"
  • Atkins
  • Lorenzo
  • Mays
  • Irv Gotti
  • Lil' Rob
4:22
5."Holla Holla"
  • Atkins
  • Taiwan Green
  • Lorenzo
  • Tai
  • Irv Gotti
4:24
6."Kill 'Em All" (featuring Jay-Z)
  • Self
  • Irv Gotti (co.)
4:17
7."I Hate Nigguz (Skit)"  1:06
8."Nigguz Theme"
  • Atkins
  • Lorenzo
  • Mays
  • Irv Gotti
  • Lil' Rob
4:09
9."Suicide Freestyle" (featuring Case)
Irv Gotti2:16
10."Story to Tell"
  • Atkins
  • Lorenzo
  • Mays
  • Irv Gotti
  • Lil' Rob
4:05
11."Chris Black (Skit)"  1:40
12."Count on Yo Nigga"
  • Atkins
  • Lorenzo
  • Mays
  • Irv Gotti
  • Lil' Rob
4:35
13."It's Murda" (featuring DMX and Jay-Z)
  • Tyrone Fyffe
  • Irv Gotti (co.)
  • Richard "Love" Marshall (co.)
3:36
14."E-Dub and Ja" (featuring Erick Sermon)
4:14
15."187 Murda Baptiss Church (Skit)"  2:48
16."Murda 4 Life" (featuring Memphis Bleek)
  • Tai
  • Irv Gotti
4:48
17."Daddy's Little Baby" (featuring Ronald Isley)
  • Self
  • Irv Gotti (co.)
5:20
18."Race Against Time"
  • Atkins
  • Lorenzo
  • Mays
  • Irv Gotti
  • Lil' Rob
4:43
19."Only Begotten Son"
  • Atkins
  • Fyffe
  • Lorenzo
  • Mays
  • Tyrone Fyffe
  • Irv Gotti
  • Lil' Rob
4:55
20."The Murderers" (featuring Black Child and Tah Murdah)
  • Atkins
  • Lorenzo
  • Larry Ogletree
  • Gill
  • Taheem Crocker
  • DL
  • Irv Gotti
5:08

 • (co.) Co-producer

Sample credits

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.[15]

  • Bob Brown – assistant mix engineer (17, 18)
  • Case – background vocals (8)
  • Black Child – additional vocals (2, 8)
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • Glen E. Friedman – photography
  • Irv Gotti – executive producer, mixing (2-6, 8-10, 12-14, 16-20)
  • Ken Duro Ifill – mixing (2-6, 8-10, 12-14, 16-20)
  • Lil' Rob – instrumentation (1-4, 6-13, 15, 17-20)
  • Jonathan Mannion – photography
  • Erick Sermon – instrumentation (14)
  • Tai – instrumentation (5, 16)
  • Tommy Uzzo – engineer (14)
  • Pat Viala – engineer (2-6, 8-10, 12, 13, 16-20), mixing (16)

Sequel

In 2008, Ja Rule released the mixtape titled The Atkins Files, Vol. 1. The mixtape was a comeback, after the long-awaited from his album The Mirror. In this mixtape, he explains his plans on releasing a sequel to Venni Vetti Vecci.

Chart positions

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Venni Vetti Vecci > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Backstreet Boys Hold Off Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez on Chart". MTV News. June 9, 1999. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  3. ^ "Ja Rule". Billboard.
  4. ^ Ogg, Alex (2002). The Men Behind Def Jam: The Radical Rise of Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. Omnibus Press. p. 227. ISBN 0-7119-8873-0.
  5. ^ Farber, Jim (June 21, 1999). "Ja Rule, The Conqueror, Drug Dealer Turned Rapper Has Got a Lot to 'Holla' About". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 13, 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b Blount, Brian K.; Felder, Cain Hope; Martin, Clarice Jannette (2007). True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary. Fortress Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-8006-3421-6.
  7. ^ Baker, Soren (May 30, 1999). "Ja Rule; 'Venni Vetti Vecci'; Def Jam; ** 1/2". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  8. ^ Juon, Steve (July 15, 1999). "Ja Rule :: Venni Vetti Vecci :: Def Jam". RapReviews. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  9. ^ Sheffield, Rob (August 19, 1999). "Recordings: Memphis Bleek – Coming of Age / Ja Rule – Venni Vetti Vecci". Rolling Stone. No. 819. pp. 111–112.
  10. ^ a b Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Simon & Schuster. pp. 422–423. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  11. ^ Lullaby Jones (July 1999). "Record Report: Ja Rule – Venni Vetti Vecci". The Source. No. 118. New York. pp. 190, 192.
  12. ^ "Vibe". Vibe. Vol. 7, no. 5. Vibe Media Group. 1999. p. 182.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  14. ^ "Billboard". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 45. Nielsen Business Media. 2002. p. 182.
  15. ^ a b Venni Vetti Vecci (booklet). Murder Inc., Def Jam. 1999.
  16. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  17. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  18. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  20. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  22. ^ "American album certifications – Ja Rule – Venni, Vetti, Vecci". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 17, 2021.