Album: Blood in My Eye

Introduction
"Blood in My Eye" is the 5th studio album by American rap artist Ja Rule, released on November 4, 2003, by Murder Inc. Records and Def Jam Recordings. The album was conceived as a response to the continuous beef with fellow rapper 50 Cent and his label G-Unit. Over its 15 tracks, Ja Rule takes goal at 50 Cent, Eminem, and Dr. Dre, to name a few, with different success. Despite its raw and aggressive technique, "Blood in My Eye" received blended evaluations from critics and did not fare especially well on the charts, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Album Background and Controversy
The beef between Ja Rule and 50 Cent go back to around 1999 when 50 Cent was still a reasonably unknown artist. The feud started due to a botched robbery including people from both rappers' entourages, which consequently intensified and became personal. Stress continued to rise with each rapper launching numerous diss tracks focused on each other, consisting of 50 Cent's "Wanksta" and "Life's on the Line." In response to the growing hostility from 50 Cent and his allies, Ja Rule began dealing with "Blood in My Eye".

The album's title is derived from the phrase "blood in my eye", which is a metaphor for being angry or focused on a particular target or goal. In this case, Ja Rule's primary targets were 50 Cent, Eminem, and Dr. Dre, and other members of G-Unit, whom he considered as his main antagonists. While the majority of the album is dedicated to the feud, there are also songs that deal with social problems and personal development.

Album Production and Guest Appearances
Blood in My Eye" was executively produced by Ja Rule and Irv Gotti, with extra production from various manufacturers, including Scott Storch, 7 Aurelius, and DJ Twinz. The album also includes visitor looks from a range of artists, most significantly label mate and frequent partner Ashanti, who sings the hook on the song "The Crown".

Other guest looks include Hussein Fatal, Caddillac Tah, Black Child, and James Gotti. Regardless of the aggressive tone of the album, Ja Rule's ability to craft catchy hooks and tunes remains undamaged, enabling some of the tracks to work as club bangers in addition to diss tracks.

Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, "Blood in My Eye" got combined reviews from music critics. While some appreciated Ja Rule's hard-hitting technique and his desire to take on several challengers simultaneously, others slammed the album for its absence of depth and struck tunes to stabilize the aggressive content. Regardless of its reception, the album debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 140,000 copies in the United States.

In the years following its release, "Blood in My Eye" has actually become a rather forgotten album in Ja Rule's discography. However, with the persistence of the beef between Ja Rule and 50 Cent (though it has actually cooled off over the last few years), the album remains a fascinating artifact from a noteworthy time in hip-hop history. Its aggressive method and direct reaction to the feud reveal an artist who refused to pull back from his challengers, even if the end outcome did not produce a lasting effect on his career.