View source for Always on Time

{{Short description|2001 single by Ja Rule}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Always on Time
| cover      = Always on Time.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Ja Rule]] featuring [[Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti]]
| album      = [[Pain Is Love]]
| B-side     = [[I Cry (Ja Rule song)|I Cry]]
| released   = {{start date|2001|11|27}}
| recorded   =
| studio     = The Crackhouse (New York City)
| genre      = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres -->
| length     = 4:05
| label      =
* [[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]]
* [[Murder Inc. Records|Murder Inc.]]
| writer     =
* [[Ja Rule|Jeffrey Atkins]]
* [[Channel 7 (musician)|7 Aurelius]]
* [[Irv Gotti|Irving Lorenzo]]
| producer   = [[Irv Gotti]]
| chronology = [[Ja Rule]]
| prev_title = [[Livin' It Up (Ja Rule song)|Livin' It Up]]
| prev_year  = 2001
| next_title = [[Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)]]
| next_year  = 2002
| misc       = {{Extra chronology
| artist     = [[Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti]]
| type       = singles
| prev_title = Just Like a Thug
| prev_year  = 2001
| title      = Always on Time
| year       = 2001
| next_title = [[What's Luv?]]
| next_year  = 2002
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|0tcDXJfAFVw&pp|"Always on Time"}}
}}
}}
"'''Always on Time'''" is a song by American rapper [[Ja Rule]] from his third [[studio album]], ''[[Pain Is Love]]'' (2001). Produced by [[Irv Gotti]], the song was written by Ja Rule, [[Channel 7 (musician)|7 Aurelius]], and Gotti. Originally set to feature [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/05/ashanti-tbt-complex-tv|title=Watch Ashanti Talk About Her Career Highlights and Working with Ja Rule and Fat Joe on Complex TV's #TBT|last=Ortiz|first=Edwin|work=[[Complex magazine|Complex]]|date=May 1, 2014|access-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref> it features guest vocals from singer-songwriter and labelmate [[Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti]]. The song was released as the album's second [[Single (music)|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 atop the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart 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 (Jennifer Lopez song)|I'm Real (Murder Remix)]]". In 2009, "Always on Time" was named the 33rd-most successful song of the [[2000s in music|2000s]] on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|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 [[Channel 7 (musician)|7 Aurelius]]. As Ja Rule explained to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'': "7 had this CD and he threw it in the garbage, [[Irv Gotti|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 [<nowiki/>[[Ashanti (singer)|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 (Big Pun song)|How We Roll]]'] joint, but she didn't have any visibility on the record. That was a good moment."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/ja-rule-irv-gotti-2002-week-interview-1235048407/|title=Ja Rule & Irv Gotti Break Down Their 2002 Hot 100 Takeover: 'It's Cool Now to Love Murder Inc.'|last=Lamarre|first=Carl|date=March 24, 2022|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>

==Track listings==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''UK CD1'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 946-2}}</ref>
# "Always on Time" (LP version)
# "Always on Time" (radio version)
# "[[I Cry (Ja Rule song)|I Cry]]" (LP version featuring [[Lil' Mo]])
# "Always on Time" (full length video)

'''UK CD2 and European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=UK CD2 & European CD single liner notes|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 795-2}}</ref>
# "Always on Time" (radio edit)
# "Always on Time" (explicit album version)

'''UK cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 946-4}}</ref>
# "Always on Time" (radio version)
# "I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo)
{{col-2}}
'''UK 12-inch single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 946-1}}</ref>
:A1. "Always on Time" (LP version)
:B1. "I Cry" (LP version featuring Lil' Mo)
:B2. "Always on Time" (radio version)

'''Australasian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Always on Time|others=Ja Rule|year=2002|type=Australasian CD single liner notes|publisher=Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings|id=588 929-2}}</ref>
# "Always on Time" (radio edit)
# "Always on Time" (explicit album version)
# "Always on Time" (instrumental)
# "Always on Time" (video)
{{col-end}}

==Credits and personnel==
Credits are taken from the ''[[Pain Is Love]]'' album booklet.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Pain Is Love|title-link=Pain Is Love|others=Ja Rule|year=2001|type=US CD album booklet|publisher=Murder Inc., Def Jam Recordings|id=384 586 437-2}}</ref>

'''Studios'''
* Recorded at The Crackhouse (New York City)
* Mixed at [[The Hit Factory]] (New York City)
* Mastered at [[Bernie Grundman]] Mastering (Hollywood, California)

'''Personnel'''
{{div col}}
* [[Ja Rule]] – writing (as Jeffrey Atkins)
* [[Channel 7 (musician)|7 Aurelius]] – writing, all instruments, mixing
* [[Irv Gotti]] – writing (as Irving Lorenzo), production, mixing
* [[Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti]] – featured vocals, additional vocals
* Milwaukee Buck – recording
* Glen Marchese – mix engineering
* [[Brian Gardner]] – mastering
{{div col end}}

==Charts==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Always on Time"
! Chart (2001–2002)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|3|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Australiaurban|1|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020423140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020424-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue633.pdf|urltitle=Issue 633|access-date=February 2, 2021|rowheader=true}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|22|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|26|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"| Canada ([[Canadian Singles Chart|Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ja-rule/chart-history/cns/|title=Ja Rule Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905004416/https://www.billboard.com/artist/ja-rule/chart-history/cns/|archive-date=September 5, 2023|access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref>
| 16
|-
! scope="row"| Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2002/MM-2002-05-04.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=20|issue=19|page=15|date=May 4, 2002|access-date=August 16, 2020}}</ref>
| 33
|-
{{single chart|France|45|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Germany|22|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|songid=5084|access-date=October 10, 2018|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|22|song=Always on Time|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Italy|29|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|12|year=2002|week=15|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|11|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|2|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|17|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|18|date=20020203|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|45|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|4|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|song=Always on Time|access-date=April 14, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|6|date=20020202|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKrandb|2|date=20020202|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|16|artist=Ashanti|access-date=April 15, 2022|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|1|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrapsongs|4|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|5|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|1|artist=Ja Rule|access-date=November 1, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"| US [[Top 40 Tracks]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 40 Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=114|issue=9|page=85|date=March 2, 2002}}</ref>
| 4
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Always on Time"
! Chart (2002)
! Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2002/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2002|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]|access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>
| 60
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Urban (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-singles-2002.htm|title=ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2002|publisher=ARIA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415012252/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-singles-2002.htm|archive-date=April 15, 2020|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref>
| 20
|-
! scope="row"| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002|publisher=[[Jam!]]|date=January 14, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184715/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles.html|archive-date= September 6, 2004|accessdate=March 22, 2022}}</ref>
| 94
|-
! scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2003/MM-2003-01-11.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002|magazine=Music & Media|volume=21|issue=2–3|page=14|date=January 11, 2003|access-date=September 12, 2022}}</ref>
|97
|-
! scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2002|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002|publisher=[[Dutch Top 40]]|access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>
| 78
|-
! scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2002&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|language=nl|access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>
| 82
|-
! scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2002|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002|website=hitparade.ch|language=de|access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>
| 47
|-
! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2002.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2002|work=[[UKChartsPlus]]|access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>
| 64
|-
! scope="row"| UK Airplay (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-01-18.pdf|title=Most Broadcast of 2002 — Airplay Top 50|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=31|date=January 18, 2003|access-date=August 4, 2023}}</ref>
|15
|-
! scope="row"| UK Urban (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-01-18.pdf|title=Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2002|magazine=Music Week|page=32|date=January 18, 2003|access-date=August 4, 2023}}</ref>
|25
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/2002-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 2002|website=billboardtop100of.com|access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>
| 12
|-
! scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2002/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2002|magazine=Billboard|url-access=subscription|access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>
| 7
|-
! scope="row"| US Hot Rap Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 2002: Hot Rap Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=114|issue=52|page=YE-52|date=December 28, 2002}}</ref>
| 2
|-
! scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002|magazine=[[Airplay Monitor]]|volume=10|issue=51|page=12|date=December 20, 2002}}</ref>
| 36
|-
! scope="row"| US Rhythmic Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=10|issue=51|page=22|date=December 20, 2002}}</ref>
| 5
|}

===Decade-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Decade-end chart performance for "Always on Time"
! Chart (2000–2009)
! Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2009/BB-2009-12-19.pdf|title=The Decade in Music – Hot 100 Songs|magazine=Billboard|volume=121|issue=50|page=160|date=December 19, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2020}}</ref>
| 82
|-
! scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts-decade-end/r-b-hip-hop-songs?year=2009#/charts-decade-end/r-b-hip-hop-songs?year=2009&begin=31&order=position|title=Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts|magazine=Billboard|date=December 31, 2009|access-date=January 14, 2012}}{{dead url|date=October 2022|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
| 33
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Always on Time"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2002|access-date=January 24, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Ja Rule|title=Always on Time|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|access-date=June 28, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Ja Rule feat. Ashanti|title=Always on Time|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=March 28, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Ja Rule ft Ashanti|title=Always on Time|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2001|certyear=2025|id=9039-2514-1|access-date=March 20, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

==Release history==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release dates and formats for "Always on Time"
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Format(s)
!scope="col"|Label(s)
!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope="row"|United States
|November 27, 2001
|{{hlist|[[Rhythmic contemporary]]|[[urban radio]]}}
|rowspan="4"|{{hlist|[[Murder Inc Records|Murder Inc.]]|[[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]]}}
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-11-23.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|issue=1429|pages=40, 48|date=November 23, 2001|access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|January 21, 2002
|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2002/Music-Week-2002-01-12.pdf|title=Reviews – For Records Released on January 14/21|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=9|date=January 12, 2002|access-date=August 21, 2021}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|United States
|January 28, 2002
|[[Contemporary hit radio]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2002/RR-2002-01-25.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1437|page=31|date=January 25, 2002|access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|Australia
|April 1, 2002
|CD
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue631.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st April 2002|publisher=ARIA|page=26|date=April 1, 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020423140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020424-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue631.pdf|archive-date=April 23, 2002|access-date=April 28, 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 2002|List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles of 2002]]
* [[List of number-one R&B singles of 2002 (U.S.)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ja Rule}}
{{Ashanti}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Always On Time}}
[[Category:2001 singles]]
[[Category:2001 songs]]
[[Category:Ashanti (singer) songs]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Def Jam Recordings singles]]
[[Category:Ja Rule songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Channel 7 (musician)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Irv Gotti]]
[[Category:Songs written by Ja Rule]]