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This Ain't a Game is the second studio album by American R&B singer Ray J. It was released on June 19, 2001 under Atlantic Records in the United States.

This Ain't a Game
Studio album by Ray J
Released	June 19, 2001
Recorded	2000-2001
Genre	R&B[1]
Length	64:36
Label	Atlantic Knockout
Producer	Ray J (exec.) Hutson Miller (exec.) Darrell "Delite" Allamby DJ Clue Duro Brycyn Evans Rodney Jerkins The Neptunes DeVante Swing Chris Taylor
Ray J chronology
Everything You Want (1997) This Ain't a Game (2001) Raydiation (2005)
Singles from This Ain't a Game
"Wait a Minute" Released: May 1, 2001 "Formal Invite" Released: February 5, 2002 "Keep Your Head Up" Released: December 4, 2001

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[2]
NME	[3]

Allmusic editor Jon Azpiri found that the album "is full of macho posturing that is more than a little tedious. The best of the tracks on the album feature production from The Neptunes [...] Since This Ain't a Game has so little to offer, that line is what listeners will remember most about Ray J."[1] In a positive review, Craig Seymour from Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Brandy’s little brother Ray-J matures nicely on this sophomore set, with production by R&B hotshots Rodney Jerkins and The Neptunes. The singing/acting biz kid, who evokes Bobby Brown and Off the Wall-era Jacko, sounds surprisingly credible on the hard-knock-life odes."[2] NME found tha This Ain't a Game "is Ray J’s big chance. [He] might sound like he researched the role as "playa" following Jay-Z around and watching from behind a newspaper with two eye holes cut in it but the track smokes, and that’s that. [...] Again, Jerkins’ beats are what draw your attention. The stand-outs are few. The trademark Jerkins skittery beats are many."[3]

Chart performance

In the United States, the album debuted and peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200 and at number nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with first week sales of 18,321 copies.[4] This Ain't a Game produced the top 40 hit single "Wait a Minute", featuring rapper Lil' Kim. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Second single, "Formal Invite" peaked at number 54 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.[4]

Track listing

Charts

Chart (2001)	Peak position
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[5]	39
US Billboard 200[6]	21
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4]	9

References

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