Ja Rule, “Wonderful” | Rap BNGRZ

In the 1^st edition of Rap BNGRZ (2023), we break down the banger status of “Wonderful” performed by Ja Rule featuring R. Kelly & Ashanti.

Bring on the braggadocio, drip, sex, and kickassery, WOO! You’ve entered Rap BNGRZ territory! On Rap BNGRZ (bangers being the proper spelling), the premise is simple. Rap BNGRZ provides background info and commentary on cocky, confident, ferocious hip-hop/rap songs. The bangers can be brand-spanking-new or certified classics. In the 1^st edition of Rap BNGRZ (2023), we break down the banger status of “Wonderful” performed by Ja Rule featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti.

“If it wasn’t for the money, cars, and movie stars, and jewels / And all these things I’ve got / I wonder, hey / Would you still want me?” That is what disgraced, Grammy-winning, R&B singer/songwriter R. Kelly sings in the chorus of the 2004 hit, “Wonderful”. “Wonderful” is not attributed to Kelly as the lead artist – that honor goes to gruff-voiced, gritty rapper Ja Rule ( R.U.L.E.).  Also, appearing on this rap banger with Rule is Grammy winner Ashanti, who contributes to the chorus with Kells, providing the response to his questions:

“Would you still want me? (Want you)

Would you still be calling me? (Still calling you)

You be loving me? (I’ll be loving you).”

Even though “Wonderful” is a hip-hop song, with two R&B singers on the track, it is incredibly smooth.  Of course, Ja Rule is the farthest thing from a smooth rapper, so, he brings punch on verses one and three. Even though Rule is hardnosed, he admits, “The power of P-U-S-S-Y / Got a lotta niggas wonderin’, it ain’t just I,” later adding in the first verse, “If it wasn’t for the money and the things I got / Shit, she probably wouldn’t like me.” Woo! He does make a legitimate point in the third verse: “I wonder why love is about money.” Also, can’t fail to mention R. Kelly once again, who performs the second verse on this top-5 Billboard Hot 100 gem.  You can check out the filthiness for yourself.  Revisiting “Wonderful,” it remains a bop, though it can’t be denied that that it hits different listening to songs featuring or written by R. Kelly.

Ja Rule • R.U.L.E. • The Island Def Jam Music Group • 2004

Ja Rule, “Wonderful”: Rap BNGRZ No. 1 (2023) [: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; The Island Def Jam Music Group; cottonbro studio via Pexels]