What with his steely glare, filthy mouth and intimidating tattoos, Ja Rule likes to front all hard and thuggish. But the Queens rapper born Jeffrey Atkins is really just a big ole softie at heart on his fourth album The Last Temptation.

Jeffy -- sorry, Ja -- busts out of the gate growling and barking like DMX on most of these propulsive and percussive tracks, but instead of building up into an explosive climax, all that brash confidence usually gives way to a soulful, emotional chorus that blows his gangsta cover like a pair of baby booties hanging from the rearview of a low rider.

He may be a thug, but he still wants a hug.

Track Listing
1. Intro
2. Thug Lovin' feat. Bobby Brown
3. Mesmerize feat. Ashanti
4. Pop Niggas
5. The Pledge Remix feat. Ashanti, Ja Rule, Nas and 2Pac
6. Murder Reigns
7. Last Temptation feat. Charli Baltimore
8. Murder Me feat. Caddillac Tah and Alexi
9. The Warning
10. Connected feat. Eastwood and Crooked I
11. Emerica feat. Young Life and Chink Santana
12. Rock Star
13. Destiny (Outro)