By Odeisel

Don’t call it a comeback, he’s been here for years.  Irv’s got his reality TV show. Ashanti is trying to find her way with Nelly, and his arch-nemesis has grown in acclaim while taking a couple blows to the chin on the streets.  It’s 2009 and the days of triple platinum label sales are over for the living, unless you’re a pop star.

You forget how far Ja has come on his journey, from guest rhyming on Mic Geronimo albums with fellow neophytes Jay-z and DMX, to his rise to fame and fortune. We all remember his flameout and his battle with 50, but lost in that is Ja’s success in this business. His newest work, The Mirror, seeks to remind us of that talent and to alert us that it still burns brightly.

The Mirror finds Ja abandoning the trademark Inc. beat jacking and glossy production. In its place stands harder, if not as polished or slick production that is sufficient to handle Ja’s gruff delivery and heavy vocals. The album opens with the cliché dramatic intro complete with chanting monks and orchestral majesty. A simple but strong drum gives Ja a track to run on and he serves lyrics that were missing from his over syrupy singles:

Running n****s back like the Trojan from LA, USC , you vs. me? Okay/

Knife work better than OJ, I put you in a hearse (Hertz) and I ain’t talking rental cars, believe me

This song sets the tone for a much harder Ja than we’re used to seeing and this album is better for it. There’s tough talk on tracks like “Massage to Mankind” but it’s mostly just harmless rhetoric announcing his return and offering the listeners seats on the bandwagon. “Uh Oh” features a cameo from the hardest working guest MC in the business, Lil’ Wayne and Ja’s homie Young Merce (sp) who appears elsewhere on the album. The beat is dynamic and bouncy and the song is easy fun listening. “Uh Oh” was originally released a couple years ago when this album was intended to be released.

The Game makes an appearance on “Sunset” dropping his usual Cali-flavored oratory over a slow smooth track. Songs like this, in contrast with the previous songs show Ja’s diversity as an MC with a wide range of flows and deliveries to fit just about any song.  You begin to remember what a good songwriter he is, as none of the songs feel too long or out of place. “300” features a very aggressive Rule sounding very fresh and live on a hardcore track.  Unlike many of the MC’s from the late 90s still active he does not sound diminished or like he’s holding on. He’s fresh, his flow is live and his voice is not strained.

“Father Forgive Me” makes better use of the “Lonely People” sample than Kweli did a couple years ago. The strings are the key on this track, managing the pace while Ja drops a double time flow to perfection. “Judas” features a vengeful but requited Ja speaking on what sounds like DMX and Ashanti and their subsequent betrayal in his eyes. He never mentions them by name but there are references in the song that point to them as the subjects.

The highlight of the album is “Something New.” The song is beautifully constructed with layered production with many parts, yet it doesn’t feel convoluted or complex. Very clean vocal arrangement and a well-delivered, crisp narrative. Songs like this are why Ja Rule is one of the most professional writers in the business as an MC.

All is not good however.  The album is long, probably a result of the decision to give it away rather than retail it. Ja’s raspy voice is cumbersome over the course of an album this long.  “Rules of Engagement,” his version of the “10 Crack Commandments” pales in comparison and shouldn’t have even been tried. It’s cute but when you reference that kind of classic, you have to come close to it and this track fails in that regard.

In addition, many of his lesser known guest stars don’t distinguish themselves lyrically or delivery-wise and blend in with each other.  There are also a few repeated references to Jay-z and Beyoncé (not derogatory) and OJ with a knife.  That’s either due to songs that were added to the album or a lack of executive production.  Whatever the case, it’s not good to have that kind of repetition. There is a lot of tough talk, but that’s probably intended to wash the stain of syrupy crap from our memories.

This album is surprisingly good.  Had he pared it down and actually released it, I would certainly have picked it up. In its present construction it shows an MC with miles to go, should he choose to continue on his journey, with little sign of wear and tear.  Perhaps people will realize that his career was sidetracked more by his omnipresence than by beef.  With time off to actually miss him and a large section of weak pop rappers who lack his skill level, Ja Rule may have a decent re-entry into this space.  The Mirror is a good album.  Check it out for yourselves.

***The Mirror was originally intended to be released in 2007/2008. Due to track leakage Ja Rule is going to redo the album and entitle it The Mirror: Reloaded***

The Mirror  DOWNLOAD

Out of 5

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