Always On Time

"Always on Time" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule from his third studio album, ''Pain Is Love'' (2001). Produced by Irv Gotti, the song was written by Ja Rule, 7 Aurelius, and Gotti. Originally set to feature Brandy, it features guest vocals from singer-songwriter and labelmate Ashanti. The song was released as the album's second single on November 27, 2001, through Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings and Gotti's Murder Inc. Records.

"Always on Time" spent two weeks atop the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in February and March of 2002, becoming Ja Rule's highest-charting single as lead artist. It was Ashanti's first mainstream number-one and Ja Rule's second after he was featured on Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real (Murder Remix)". In 2009, "Always on Time" was named the 33rd-most successful song of the 2000s on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and the 82nd-most successful song of the 2000s on the Hot 100.

Background

The beat for "Always on Time" was created by producer 7 Aurelius. As Ja Rule explained to ''Billboard'': "7 had this CD and he threw it in the garbage, Gotti. I was like, 'Yo, what the fuck are you doing?' He was like, 'I ain't fuck ngwith them shits.' I took hatshit out the garbage and I took it home and wrote three or four records to songs on there. Two of them came to be hits, with one being 'Always On Time' and the other being Mary J. Blige's ' Rainy Dayz.' I had a studio in my crib. We thought about putting other people on it at first, but I was like, 'Baby sis Ashanti">nowiki/> Ashantiis here and we could do it with her.' She had oneone record at that point, which I think was the Big Pun How We Roll'">How_We_Roll_(Big_Pun_song).html" ;"title="How We Roll (Big Pun song)">How We Roll'joint, but she didn't have any visibility on the record. That was a good moment."

Track listings

UK CD1
# "Always on Time" (LP version)
# "Always on Time" (radio version)
# " I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo">I Cry (Ja Rule song)">I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo)
# "Always on Time" (full length video)

UK CD2 and European CD single
# "Always on Time" (radio edit)
# "Always on Time" (explicit album version)

UK cassette single
# "Always on Time" (radio version)
# "I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo)

UK 12-inch single
:A1. "Always on Time" (LP version)
:B1. "I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo)
:B2. "Always on Time" (radio version)

Australasian CD single
# "Always on Time" (radio edit)
# "Always on Time" (explicit album version)
# "Always on Time" (instrumental)
# "Always on Time" (video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the ''Pain Is Love'' album booklet.

Studios
* Recorded at The Crackhouse (New York City)
* Mixed at The Hit Factory (New York City)
* Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)

Personnel

* Ja Rule – writing (as Jeffrey Atkins)
* 7 Aurelius – writing, all instruments, mixing
* Irv Gotti – writing (as Irving Lorenzo), production, mixing
* Ashanti – featured vocals, additional vocals
* Milwaukee Buck – recording
* Glen Marchese – mix engineering
* Brian Gardner – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications

Release history

See also

* List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles of 2002
* List of number-one R&B singles of 2002 (U.S.)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Always On Time
2001 singles
2001 songs
Ashanti (singer) songs
Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Def Jam Recordings singles
Ja Rule songs
Songs written by Channel 7 (musician)
Songs written by Irv Gotti
Songs written by Ja Rule