Holla Holla

This article is about the song by Ja Rule. For the song by Akon, see Holla Holla (Akon song). For similarly titled songs, see Hola Hola (disambiguation).

"Holla Holla" is the first single by the American rapper Ja Rule from his first studio album, Venni Vetti Vecci (1999). It was produced by Taiwan "Tai" Green and Irv Gotti. The music video was directed by Hype Williams and Irv Gotti.^[1]

"Holla Holla"
Single by Ja Rule
from the album Venni Vetti Vecci
Released	March 2, 1999 (1999-03-02)
Recorded	1998
Genre	Hip hop East Coast hip hop
Length	4:24 2:55 (remix)
Label	Murder Inc. Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Jeffrey Atkins Irving Lorenzo Taiwan Green
Producer(s)	Tai Irv Gotti
Ja Rule singles chronology
"Grand Finale" (1998) "Holla Holla" (1999) "Daddy's Little Baby" (1999)

A remix and the album's third single featured Jay-Z, Vita, Caddillac Tah, Black Child, Memphis Bleek and Busta Rhymes, the latter of which would later feud with Ja Rule.

Background and composition

After Ja Rule finalized the recording of the album, Ja Rule's record label Def Jam, did not consider any song on the album worthy of marketing as a single. Despite his surprise at this, admitting in an interview with Complex magazine that he "didn’t grasp the idea of making a radio record", he resumed recording sessions to compose what became "Holla Holla". It transpired to be the final song recorded for Venni Vetti Vecci. Ja Rule's rapping on "Holla Holla" employs what he described as his "stutter flow", with the repetition of certain words to increase the volume of lyrics.^[2]

Reception

Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Soren Baker felt that "Holla Holla" demonstrated Ja Rule's ability to use "his edgy voice and the spectacular instrumentation that backs him".^[3]

Track listing

1. "Holla Holla" (Street Version)
2. "Holla Holla" (Instrumental)
3. "BJ Skit"
4. "It's Murda" (Street Version)
5. "It's Murda" (Instrumental)
6. "Kill 'Em All" (Street Version)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999) Peak position Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[4] 15 US Billboard Hot 100[5] 35 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[6] 11 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[7] 20

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] 30

Credits

• Taiwan Green– producer
• Irv Gotti – producer, mixing
• Ken Ifill – mixing
• Ja Rule – vocals, rap
• Patrick Viala – engineer

In popular culture

• The song is played in The Sopranos season 2 episode "Toodle Fucking-Oo" when Tony arrives at the scene of Livia's house where Meadow threw a party.

References

1. "Ja Rule - "Holla Holla" - Music Videos". MTV. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
2. Gale, Alex (August 21, 2013). "Ja Rule Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs". Complex. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
3. Baker, Soren (May 30, 1999). "Ja Rule; "Venni Vetti Vecci"; Def Jam; ** 1/2". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
4. "Ja Rule Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
5. "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
6. "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
7. "Ja Rule Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
8. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2021.