This Ain't a Game is the second studio album by American R&B singer Ray J. It was released on June 19, 2001 under Atlantic Records in the United States.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[2] |
Allmusic editor Jon Azpiri found that the album "is full of macho posturing that is more than a little tedious. The best of the tracks on the album feature production from The Neptunes [...] Since This Ain't a Game has so little to offer, that line is what listeners will remember most about Ray J."[1] In a positive review, Craig Seymour from Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Brandy’s little brother Ray-J matures nicely on this sophomore set, with production by R&B hotshots Rodney Jerkins and The Neptunes. The singing/acting biz kid, who evokes Bobby Brown and Off the Wall-era Jacko, sounds surprisingly credible on the hard-knock-life odes."[2]
Chart performance
In the United States, the album debuted and peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200 and at number nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with first week sales of 18,321 copies.[3] This Ain't a Game produced the top 40 hit single "Wait a Minute", featuring rapper Lil' Kim. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Second single, "Formal Invite" peaked at number 54 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.[3]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | William Norwood II | Ray J | 1:01 |
| 2. | "Wait a Minute" (featuring Pharrell & Lil' Kim) |
| The Neptunes | 3:47 |
| 3. | "Takin' Control" | William Norwood II | Ray J | 4:30 |
| 4. | "Formal Invite" (featuring Pharrell) |
| The Neptunes | 5:06 |
| 5. | "Keep Your Head Up" |
| Rodney Jerkins | 5:34 |
| 6. | "I Tried" |
| Evans | 3:58 |
| 7. | "U Need It"/"U Don't" | W. Norwood | Ray J | 4:06 |
| 8. | "Out of the Ghetto" (featuring Shorty Mack) |
| The Neptunes | 4:27 |
| 9. | "No More" |
| Allamby | 4:47 |
| 10. | "This Ain't a Game" | Daniels; Jerkins; Jerkins III | Rodney Jerkins | 4:18 |
| 11. | "Interlude" | W. Norwood | Ray J | 1:39 |
| 12. | "Wet Me" | Dalvin DeGrate | DeVante Swing | 4:30 |
| 13. | "Crazy" |
| Rodney Jerkins | 4:51 |
| 14. | "I Got It All" |
|
| 4:04 |
| 15. | "Airport" (Skit) |
|
| 0:55 |
| 16. | "Where Do We Go From Here" |
| Ray J | 7:10 |
Charts
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[4] | 39 |
| US Billboard 200[5] | 21 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[3] | 9 |
References
- ^ a b c This Ain't a Game at AllMusic. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ a b Seymour, Craig. "Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Ray J Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
- ^ "Ray J Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2020.