Ja Rule in concert!

Ja Rule, along with Ludacris, Benzino and Charli Baltimore, will be at the SIU Arena this Saturday

Factoid:Tickets are still available for the SIU Arena’s presentation of Ja Rule, who will appear alongside Ludacris, Charli Baltimore and Benzino. Tickets are $32.50 or $22.50 for students with an SIU ID and are available at Disc Jockey in the University Mall, the Arena or Student Center ticket offices or through Ticketmaster. For more information, call the Arena at 453-2321.

The nominees are in! Ja Rule has earned himself a 2003 Grammy nomination for his duet with Ashanti. “Always On Time” is up for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Now Carbondale can witness this rap sensation and movie star in person Saturday, Feb. 15 at the SIU Arena. Helping Ja Rule excite and entice the crowd will be guests Ludacris, Benzino and Charli Baltimore.

Tickets are still available for $32.50, but for SIU students with an SIU student ID, they are only $22.50. The show begins at 8 p.m.

Promoting his latest CD, “The Last Temptation,” Ja Rule features Ashanti with “Mesmerize” and Bobby Brown with “Thug Lovin’.” The album mixes thug rap along with the ever-popular radio-ready pop songs.

Ja Rule is hardly just another MC. After two platinum albums, hip-hop fans anticipate each new song vocalized by Ja Rule. His unique style has fans hanging onto every song off each album, while developing his own type of hip-hop that cannot easily be duplicated. Ja Rule has various levels of talent. He is a talented songwriter, movie superstar and musical sensation, leaving him at the top of hip-hop’s list. His songwriting capabilities really rise to the top on his third album, “Pain Is Love.”

The nomination of “Always On Time” (featuring Ashanti) is a mid-tempo song that puts Ja Rule into the hearts of female fans. The song that follows, “Down A** B**ch,” a classic rap love song, features Charli Baltimore, who will also be at the Arena on Saturday.

Even though Ja Rule has added rhythm to his rap throughout his albums, it doesn’t mean he has abandoned hardcore rap. “Dial M for Murder” reiterates his love for hardcore rhythm. On every album, his music has consisted of murderous material, salutes to the street and hardcore realism as well as his passions and love, such as for his wife. In fact, the 2000 hit “Put It On Me” is about his relationship with his wife, who was also his high school sweetheart.

Ja Rule has not only had his share of albums since his premiere on the rap scene in 1998, but he has also had the privilege of working side by side with other musical mainstays such as Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, Eve, 2Pac, Dru Hill and J Lo.

Not only has his talented songwriting given him notice, but his vocal talent and acting abilities also have him popping up everywhere in the public eye. In November 2002, Warner Bros. gave the green light to begin producing remakes of “Sparkle” and “Grease” starring Ja Rule and Ashanti. Also coming soon to theaters is “Crime Partners,” the first Donald Goines novel to be made into a movie. This feature film stars Ja Rule, Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, John “BJ” Bryant, Charlie “Chuck” Baltimore and Tyren Turner and keep eyes open for a soundtrack to soon follow.

But don’t get too comfy with Ja Rule’s consistent release of rap albums. He wants to retire from “the actual job of being an artist.” With two children, Ja Rule has plans to star in movies and focus on soundtracks for the simple love of it rather than treating it as a business. From the website, Ja Rule said, “I think I’m gonna retire after two more albums. I think I’m gonna be the first rapper to really retire. I don’t want to stop making music because I love to make music. But I want to retire from the actual job of being an artist. I want to be able to star in movies and do soundtracks just because I love to do it!”

As a new film career begins to develop, Ja Rule is wasting no time. His plans include more than rap, but he will never fully abandon the creative process of making music.

Atlanta rapper Ludacris has his hometown in a rouse with the debut album, “Back For the First Time.” Ludacris was a strong follower of artists like Timbaland. He has appeared on “Phat Rabbit” from Tim’s “Life from the Bassment” and has also worked with Dallas Austin and Jermaine Dupri. From the website, Ludacris, aka Chris Bridges, says his lyrics are ludicrous and his live shows are ludicrous. Like many artists, Ludacris’ love for music goes back to his childhood. He was born while his parents were still in college, and he was brought along to many house jams, enjoying the music. His love for music continued into his teen years. At age 12, he joined the Loudmouth Hooligans, a Chicago based hip-hop outfit.

Moving to Atlanta that same year, he pursued his goal full throttle. While attending high school in Atlanta, he started performing at talent shows and clubs and eventually landed a gig on an Atlanta hip-hop station, Hot 97.5, where he produced the night show. Then he began rapping on the station promos. This way people were able to hear the rap talents of Ludacris. Finally, he had enough money to really begin his career. The success of the single “What’s Your Fantasy” caught the eye of many major labels, including Def Jam South and president Scarface. Ludacris decided to go with Def Jam South. Hip-hop producer and lyricist Ray Benzino, who was raised in the Four Corners neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, will also be accompanying Ja Rule and Ludacris. The Benzino Remix Project is a testament to the 15 years of hard work and determination. This latest release proves he can also “kick spitfire rhymes with the best of them.” Executive produced by Raymond “Benzino” Scott with creative direction by new jack legend, Teddy Riley, The Benzino Remix Project is a perfect blend of smoothed out party rhythms and jolts of hip-hop.

Tracks like the bass-banging “Boottee” remix, featuring industry newcomers G-Dep and Fabolous, have people bouncing in clubs across America. Still don’t recognize this musical sensation? The Benzino Remix Project also features special guest appearances by P. Diddy on the track “Who Is Benzino?,” Foxy Brown on the cut “Picture That,” Tupac on “Feel Your Pain,” Pink on “Nobody Liver” and M.O.P, Scarface and West Snoop on the blazing remix of “Figadoh.” But Benzino has a warm side to him, too. The most memorable track, “Shine Like My Son,” features his eight-year-old son Ray. The song pays tribute to the special bond shared between fathers and sons and the accompanying videoclip features a host of hip-hop fathers with their sons:Jadakiss, Master P, Treach, Guru, boxer Zab Judah, Jam Master Jay of Run DMC and many others. Can we get a talented female in this trio of males? SIU shall have its wish. Charli Baltimore has always been something of a mystery to her fans, but on Saturday, the mystery will be solved. She made her first appearance in a Notorious B.I.G. video and had people asking, “Who is that?” Finally, the word was out that she signed with Untertainment Records, the new label headed by Lance “Un” Rivera. But yet, people still didn’t know much about her. Then, “Money,” her first big hit coming from the “Woo” soundtrack, exploded on the charts. With an amazing video to back it up, fans were able to view a beautiful, talented artist. Tiffany Lane, a certified paralegal in West Philadelphia and mother of two young daughters, had completed the transformation into Charli Baltimore, hip-hop’s new female sensation.

Baltimore’s summer release of her album “Ice” promises that a girl who looks like a supermodel still has the ability to go mic-to-mic with the best of them.

Baltimore is anywhere from gritty to coy throughout the album. Also included on her album are samples from Led Zeppelin to Donna Summer.

And there’s much more ahead:unexpected samples, hot producers and special guest appearances.

Be prepared for these hot rap sensations to melt away the winter weather with their exceptionally talented songwriting, rapping and stage presence.