This Ain't a Game
Studio album by
Ray J
ReleasedJune 19, 2001
Recorded2000-2001
GenreR&B[1]
Length64:36
Label
Producer
Ray J chronology
Everything You Want
(1997)		 This Ain't a Game
(2001)		 Raydiation
(2005)
Singles from This Ain't a Game
  1. "Wait a Minute"
    Released: May 1, 2001
  2. "Formal Invite"
    Released: February 5, 2002
  3. "Keep Your Head Up"
    Released: December 4, 2002

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[2]
NME[3]

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] NME found tha This Ain't a Game "is Ray J’s big chance. [He] might sound like he researched the role as "playa" following Jay-Z around and watching from behind a newspaper with two eye holes cut in it but the track smokes, and that’s that. [...] Again, Jerkins’ beats are what draw your attention. The stand-outs are few. The trademark Jerkins skittery beats are many."[3]

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.[4] 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.[4]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"William Norwood IIRay J1:01
2."Wait a Minute" (featuring Pharrell & Lil' Kim)
The Neptunes3:47
3."Takin' Control"William Norwood IIRay J4:30
4."Formal Invite" (featuring Pharrell)
The Neptunes5:06
5."Keep Your Head Up"
  • Daniels
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins5:34
6."I Tried"
Evans3:58
7."U Need It"/"U Don't"W. NorwoodRay J4:06
8."Out of the Ghetto" (featuring Shorty Mack)
  • Hugo
  • Owens
  • Williams
The Neptunes4:27
9."No More"
Allamby4:47
10."This Ain't a Game"Daniels; Jerkins; Jerkins IIIRodney Jerkins4:18
11."Interlude"W. NorwoodRay J1:39
12."Wet Me"Dalvin DeGrateDeVante Swing4:30
13."Crazy"
  • Daniels
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins
  • R. Smith
Rodney Jerkins4:51
14."I Got It All"
4:04
15."Airport" (Skit)
  • Taylor
  • Wolfe
0:55
16."Where Do We Go From Here"
  • Mobley
  • Oczavia Pittman
Ray J7:10
UK bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."Formal Invite (Remix)" (featuring Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Clipse, and Boobonic of Philly's Most Wanted)
The Neptunes6:25

Charts

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[5] 50
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[6] 39
US Billboard 200[7] 21
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4] 9

References

  1. 1 2 3 This Ain't a Game at AllMusic. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Seymour, Craig (June 22, 2001). "This Ain't a Game". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Ray J : This Ain't A Game". NME. 12 September 2005. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ray J Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  5. ↑ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. July 18, 2001. Archived from the original on July 23, 2001. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Ray J Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2020.



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