The Last Temptation

His inexplicable top-tier popularity notwithstanding, Ja Rule has developed into something of an oddity among today's pack of commercial rappers. Murder Inc.'s eager young cash cow is an MC whose ability to sound like 2Pac conflicts with his urge to sing like Donny Hathaway, and these two seemingly disparate influences firmly butt heads. Songs like the Ashanti-accented "Mesmerize" and the downtempo "Rock Star" showcase Ja's wobbly baritone croon, while "Thug Lovin'" (featuring the authentic thug crooner, Bobby Brown) and "Murder Me" display his patented hip-hop growl. In keeping with Murder Inc.'s domination of mainstream airwaves, the vibe here is strictly midtempo R&B, aside from the exceedingly shrill synth-and-drum-machine styling of the Neptunes-laced "Pop N****s" and the prefab grimness that permeates "The Warning." Young'uns mightn't notice, but the samples utilized on The Last Temptation, including Toto's "Africa" (on "Murder Reigns") and "Funky Sensation" (on the title track), are extremely unsubtle. Those who were raised on foundation hip-hop might do better to look elsewhere. --Rebecca Levine