Always on Time

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2001 single by Ja Rule

title: "Always on Time" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2001-singles", "2001-songs", "ashanti-(singer)-songs", "billboard-hot-100-number-one-singles", "def-jam-recordings-singles", "ja-rule-songs", "songs-written-by-channel-7-(musician)", "songs-written-by-irv-gotti", "songs-written-by-ja-rule"] description: "2001 single by Ja Rule" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Always_on_Time" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 2001 single by Ja Rule ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

FieldValue
nameAlways on Time
coverAlways on Time.jpg
typesingle
artistJa Rule featuring Ashanti
albumPain Is Love
B-sideI Cry
released
studioThe Crackhouse (New York City)
genre
length4:05
producerIrv Gotti
chronologyJa Rule
prev_titleLivin' It Up
prev_year2001
next_titleAin't It Funny (Murder Remix)
next_year2002
misc{{Extra chronology
artistAshanti
typesingles
prev_titleJust Like a Thug
prev_year2001
titleAlways on Time
year2001
next_titleWhat's Luv?
next_year2002
::

| 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 = | recorded = | studio = The Crackhouse (New York City) | genre = | length = 4:05 | label =

"Always on Time" spent two weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in February and March 2002, becoming Ja Rule's highest-charting single as a lead artist. It was Ashanti's first Hot 100 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."

Track listings

UK CD1

  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

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

UK cassette single

  1. "Always on Time" (radio version)
  2. "I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo) UK 12-inch single :A1. "Always on Time" (LP version) :B1. "I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo) :B2. "Always on Time" (radio version)

Australasian CD single

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

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Pain Is Love album booklet.

Studios

Personnel

  • 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

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table title="Weekly chart performance for "Always on Time""] | Chart (2001–2002) | Peak position | Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard) | |---|---|---|---|---| | 16 | | | | | | 33 | | | | | | 4 | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table title="Year-end chart performance for "Always on Time""]

Chart (2002)PositionAustralia (ARIA)Australian Urban (ARIA)Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)Netherlands (Single Top 100)Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)UK Singles (OCC)UK Airplay (Music Week)UK Urban (Music Week)US Billboard Hot 100US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard)US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)
60
20
94
97
78
82
47
64
15
25
12
7
2
36
5
::

Decade-end charts

::data[format=table title="Decade-end chart performance for "Always on Time""]

Chart (2000–2009)PositionUS Billboard Hot 100US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
82
33
::

Certifications

Release history

::data[format=table title="Release dates and formats for "Always on Time""]

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.United StatesUnited KingdomUnited StatesAustralia
November 27, 2001
January 21, 2002
January 28, 2002Contemporary hit radio
April 1, 2002CD
::

References

References

  1. Ortiz, Edwin. (May 1, 2014). "Watch Ashanti Talk About Her Career Highlights and Working with Ja Rule and Fat Joe on Complex TV's #TBT". [[Complex magazine.
  2. Lamarre, Carl. (March 24, 2022). "Ja Rule & Irv Gotti Break Down Their 2002 Hot 100 Takeover: 'It's Cool Now to Love Murder Inc.'". [[Billboard (magazine).
  3. (2002). "Always on Time". Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings.
  4. (2002). "Always on Time". Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings.
  5. (2002). "Always on Time". Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings.
  6. (2002). "Always on Time". Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings.
  7. (2002). "Always on Time". Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings.
  8. (2001). "Pain Is Love". Murder Inc., Def Jam Recordings.
  9. "Ja Rule Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)".
  10. (May 4, 2002). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
  11. (March 2, 2002). "Top 40 Tracks".
  12. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2002". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
  13. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2002". ARIA.
  14. (January 14, 2003). "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002". [[Jam!]].
  15. (January 11, 2003). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002".
  16. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002". [[Dutch Top 40]].
  17. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002". [[MegaCharts]].
  18. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002".
  19. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002". [[UKChartsPlus]].
  20. (January 18, 2003). "Most Broadcast of 2002 — Airplay Top 50".
  21. (January 18, 2003). "Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2002".
  22. "Billboard Top 100 – 2002".
  23. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2002".
  24. (December 28, 2002). "The Year in Music 2002: Hot Rap Tracks".
  25. (December 20, 2002). "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002".
  26. (December 20, 2002). "Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002".
  27. (December 19, 2009). "The Decade in Music – Hot 100 Songs".
  28. (December 31, 2009). "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts".
  29. (November 23, 2001). "Going for Adds".
  30. (January 12, 2002). "Reviews – For Records Released on January 14/21".
  31. (January 25, 2002). "Going for Adds".
  32. (April 1, 2002). "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st April 2002". ARIA.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

2001-singles2001-songsashanti-(singer)-songsbillboard-hot-100-number-one-singlesdef-jam-recordings-singlesja-rule-songssongs-written-by-channel-7-(musician)songs-written-by-irv-gottisongs-written-by-ja-rule