Rule 3:36

Rule 3:36 is the second studio album by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on October 3, 2000, by The Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. The album features guest appearances from Christina Milian, Lil' Mo, Shade Sheist and Jayo Felony, with producers Irv Gotti (who also executive produced the album), Ty Fyffe, Tru Stylze, Lil' Rob and Damizza contributing to the album. The album marked a significant change in Ja Rule's musical style, shifting from hardcore hip hop to a more radio-friendly pop rap oriented sound to greater success.

Rule 3:36 debuted atop of the US Billboard 200 with 276,000 copies sold in its first week and went on to be certified Triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 20, 2001, producing four singles; all of which had achieved varying degrees of chart success. The most successful single, "Put It On Me" featuring Vita, peaking at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first top-ten single on that chart as a lead artist, and scored his first nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 44th Grammy Awards.

Background
Rule 3:36 contains the song titled "Fuck You", which is titled "Furious" as a clean version for radio play. The song received average airplay, and is also on the soundtrack to The Fast and the Furious (where it is titled "Furious"). The disc is still mostly radio-friendly pop-themed music unlike his later albums, which contain disses of a more dark tone. The album still contains explicit material, and was made in a clean version which only removes profanity and drug/violent lyrics are left in, although some profanity like the words "hoes" and "ass" are also left in.

Reception
Rule 3:36 sold 276,000 during its first week. Initial critical response to Rule 3:36 was average. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 56, based on 5 reviews. The album became a three-time platinum certified album by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Sample credits
 * "I Cry" contains a sample from "Cry Together", written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, and performed by The O'Jays.

Personnel

 * Milwaukee Buck – engineer (14)
 * Tom Coyne – mastering
 * Supa Engineer DURO – mixing (2-8, 11, 13, 14, 16)
 * Jonas Garbonick – engineer (4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 16)
 * Irv Gotti – executive producer, mixing (2-8, 11-14, 16)
 * Mike Schlesinger – mixing (12)
 * Vachik the Terrorist – engineer (12)
 * Pat Viala – engineer (2, 3, 5, 6)