"Always on Time" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule from his third studio album, Pain Is Love (2001). Produced by Irv Gotti, it was written by Ja Rule, 7 Aurelius, and Gotti. Originally set to feature Brandy, 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 at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 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)" from her sophomore album J. Lo (2001). Coincidentally, the lyrics of "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" were penned by Ashanti, with the track featuring her background vocals as well. Several months later, Ja Rule and Lopez would appear on another song penned by Ashanti, "Ain't It Funny (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 mainstream 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 UK CD2 and European CD single UK cassette single UK 12-inch single Australasian CD single

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Pain Is Love album booklet. Studios Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications

Release history