Venni Vetti Vecci

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Venni Vetti Vecci
Rush Associated Labels
  • Murder Inc.
    • 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

    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]

    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]
    RapReviews(6/10)[8]
    Rolling Stone[9]
    Vibeunfavorable

    Upon its release, Venni Vetti Vecci received generally mixed reviews. Ja Rule received several comparisons to fellow rappers

    DMX.[9] Writing for Vibe magazine, 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".[10]

    Commercial performance

    Venni Vetti Vecci debuted at number 3 on the US

    platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[11] In November 2002, the album had sold 2 million copies worldwide.[12]

    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.[13]

    No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
    1."The March Prelude" 
    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.[13]

    • 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)[20] Platinum 1,000,000^

    ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

    See also

    • List of number-one R&B albums of 1999 (U.S.)

    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. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
    3. ^ "Ja Rule". Billboard.
    4. ISBN 0-7119-8873-0
      .
    5. New York Daily News. Retrieved May 13, 2010.[permanent dead link
      ]
    6. ^
      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. ^
      ISBN 0-7432-0169-8
      .
    10. ^ "Vibe". Vibe. 7 (5). Vibe Media Group: 182. 1999.
    11. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
    12. Nielsen Business Media
      . 2002. p. 182.
    13. ^
      Def Jam
      . 1999.
    14. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
    15. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
    16. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
    17. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
    18. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
    19. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
    20. ^ "American album certifications – Ja Rule – Venni, Vetti, Vecci". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
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