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Always on Time

{{Short description|2001 single by Ja Rule}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Always on Time

| cover = Always on Time.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Ja Rule featuring Ashanti

| album = Pain Is Love

| B-side = I Cry

| released = {{start date|2001|11|27}}

| recorded =

| studio = The Crackhouse (New York City)

| genre =

| length = 4:05

| label =

| writer =

| producer = Irv Gotti

| chronology = Ja Rule

| prev_title = Livin' It Up

| prev_year = 2001

| next_title = Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)

| next_year = 2002

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Ashanti

| type = singles

| prev_title = Just Like a Thug

| prev_year = 2001

| title = Always on Time

| year = 2001

| next_title = What's Luv?

| next_year = 2002

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|0tcDXJfAFVw&pp|"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,{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/05/ashanti-tbt-complex-tv|title=Watch Ashanti Talk About Her Career Highlights and Working with Ja Rule and Fat Joe on Complex TV's #TBT|last=Ortiz|first=Edwin|work=Complex|date=May 1, 2014|access-date=January 8, 2018}} 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[ing] with them shits.' I took [that] shit 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] is here and we could do it with her.' She had [done] one record at that point, which I think was the Big Pun ['How We Roll'] joint, but she didn't have any visibility on the record. That was a good moment."{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/ja-rule-irv-gotti-2002-week-interview-1235048407/|title=Ja Rule & Irv Gotti Break Down Their 2002 Hot 100 Takeover: 'It's Cool Now to Love Murder Inc.'|last=Lamarre|first=Carl|date=March 24, 2022|work=Billboard}}

Track listings

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UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 946-2}}

  1. "Always on Time" (LP version)
  2. "Always on Time" (radio version)
  3. "I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo)
  4. "Always on Time" (full length video)

UK CD2 and European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=UK CD2 & European CD single liner notes|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 795-2}}

  1. "Always on Time" (radio edit)
  2. "Always on Time" (explicit album version)

UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 946-4}}

  1. "Always on Time" (radio version)
  2. "I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo)

{{col-2}}

UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 946-1}}

:A1. "Always on Time" (LP version)

:B1. "I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo)

:B2. "Always on Time" (radio version)

Australasian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=Australasian CD single liner notes|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 929-2}}

  1. "Always on Time" (radio edit)
  2. "Always on Time" (explicit album version)
  3. "Always on Time" (instrumental)
  4. "Always on Time" (video)

{{col-end}}

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Pain Is Love album booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=Pain Is Love|title-link=Pain Is Love|others=Ja Rule|year=2001|type=US CD album booklet|publisher=Murder Inc., Def Jam Recordings|id=384 586 437-2}}

Studios

Personnel

{{div col}}

  • 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

{{div col end}}

Charts

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{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Always on Time"

! Chart (2001–2002)

! Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|3|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Australiaurban|1|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020423140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020424-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue633.pdf|urltitle=Issue 633|access-date=February 2, 2021|rowheader=true}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
{{single chart|Flanders|22|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|26|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ja-rule/chart-history/cns/|title=Ja Rule Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905004416/https://www.billboard.com/artist/ja-rule/chart-history/cns/|archive-date=September 5, 2023|access-date=March 4, 2025}}

| 16

scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2002/MM-2002-05-04.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=20|issue=19|page=15|date=May 4, 2002|access-date=August 16, 2020}}

| 33

{{single chart|France|45|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Germany|22|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|songid=5084|access-date=October 10, 2018|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|22|song=Always on Time|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Italy|29|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|12|year=2002|week=15|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|11|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|2|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Norway|17|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Scotland|18|date=20020203|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Sweden|45|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|4|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|UK|6|date=20020202|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|UKrandb|2|date=20020202|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|16|artist=Ashanti|access-date=April 15, 2022|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|1|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardrapsongs|4|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|5|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|1|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"| US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Top 40 Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=114|issue=9|page=85|date=March 2, 2002}}

| 4

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Always on Time"

! Chart (2002)

! Position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2002/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2002|publisher=ARIA|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

| 60

scope="row"| Australian Urban (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-singles-2002.htm|title=ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2002|publisher=ARIA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415012252/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-singles-2002.htm|archive-date=April 15, 2020|access-date=September 17, 2020}}

| 20

scope="row"| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002|publisher=Jam!|date=January 14, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184715/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles.html|archive-date= September 6, 2004|accessdate=March 22, 2022}}

| 94

scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2003/MM-2003-01-11.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002|magazine=Music & Media|volume=21|issue=2–3|page=14|date=January 11, 2003|access-date=September 12, 2022}}

|97

scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2002|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

| 78

scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2002&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

| 82

scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2002|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002|website=hitparade.ch|language=de|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

| 47

scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2002.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2002|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

| 64

scope="row"| UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-01-18.pdf|title=Most Broadcast of 2002 — Airplay Top 50|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=January 18, 2003|access-date=August 4, 2023}}

|15

scope="row"| UK Urban (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-01-18.pdf|title=Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2002|magazine=Music Week|page=32|date=January 18, 2003|access-date=August 4, 2023}}

|25

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/2002-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 2002|website=billboardtop100of.com|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

| 12

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2002/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2002|magazine=Billboard|url-access=subscription|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

| 7

scope="row"| US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 2002: Hot Rap Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=114|issue=52|page=YE-52|date=December 28, 2002}}

| 2

scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=10|issue=51|page=12|date=December 20, 2002}}

| 36

scope="row"| US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=10|issue=51|page=22|date=December 20, 2002}}

| 5

=Decade-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Decade-end chart performance for "Always on Time"

! Chart (2000–2009)

! Position

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2009/BB-2009-12-19.pdf|title=The Decade in Music – Hot 100 Songs|magazine=Billboard|volume=121|issue=50|page=160|date=December 19, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2020}}

| 82

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts-decade-end/r-b-hip-hop-songs?year=2009#/charts-decade-end/r-b-hip-hop-songs?year=2009&begin=31&order=position|title=Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts|magazine=Billboard|date=December 31, 2009|access-date=January 14, 2012}}{{dead url|date=October 2022|fix-attempted=yes}}

| 33

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Always on Time"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2002|access-date=January 24, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Ja Rule|title=Always on Time|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|access-date=June 28, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|title=Always on Time|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=March 28, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Ja Rule ft Ashanti|title=Always on Time|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2001|certyear=2025|id=9039-2514-1|access-date=March 20, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Release dates and formats for "Always on Time"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United States

|November 27, 2001

|{{hlist|Rhythmic contemporary|urban radio}}

|rowspan="4"|{{hlist|Murder Inc.|Def Jam}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-11-23.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1429|pages=40, 48|date=November 23, 2001|access-date=April 28, 2021}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|January 21, 2002

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2002/Music-Week-2002-01-12.pdf|title=Reviews – For Records Released on January 14/21|magazine=Music Week|page=9|date=January 12, 2002|access-date=August 21, 2021}}

scope="row"|United States

|January 28, 2002

|Contemporary hit radio

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2002/RR-2002-01-25.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1437|page=31|date=January 25, 2002|access-date=April 28, 2021}}

scope="row"|Australia

|April 1, 2002

|CD

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue631.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st April 2002|publisher=ARIA|page=26|date=April 1, 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020423140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020424-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue631.pdf|archive-date=April 23, 2002|access-date=April 28, 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Ja Rule}}

{{Ashanti}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Always On Time}}

Category:2001 singles

Category:2001 songs

Category:Ashanti (singer) songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Def Jam Recordings singles

Category:Ja Rule songs

Category:Songs written by Channel 7 (musician)

Category:Songs written by Irv Gotti

Category:Songs written by Ja Rule