Rainy Dayz

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For the song by Raekwon, see Rainy Dayz (Raekwon song).
"Rainy Dayz"
Single by Mary J. Blige featuring Ja Rule
from the album No More Drama
ReleasedMarch 11, 2002 (2002-03-11)
Length4:36
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Irv Gotti
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Dance for Me"
(2002) 		"Rainy Dayz"
(2002) 		"Love @ 1st Sight"
(2003)

"Rainy Dayz" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige featuring additional vocals from rapper Ja Rule. Taken from Blige's re-release of her fifth studio album, No More Drama, the track was released to coincide with the release of the album's reissue, serving as its final single. The Irv Gotti-produced duet became another hit for both, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 in the United Kingdom.

Background[edit]

Ja Rule wrote "Rainy Dayz" in response to the September 11 attacks in his home city of New York. He told Complex, "I went in my basement in my studio and put that record together because that’s how I was feeling about the situation. I felt like the nation—us as a country, us as people—we were going through a rainy day. It will pass but today this is what it is. Speaking to TRL, he said, "It’s basically about how we feel going through life. But [in] these times, especially right now [with] what’s going on, it kind of fits. On the record, I’m basically saying that it’s these rainy days that we spend a lifetime trying to wash away. Just waiting for the sun to come and shine again. But until then, come smile for me. So that’s the kind of vibe that [the song] is on.[1]

The track was originally written for TLC for their fourth studio album 3D, but the group turned the track down.[2] Group member Tionne Watkins commented on this, saying "It wasn't that I didn't like the song, it was more so that I felt like I've already been there, done that, and I was just on another page at the time". References to TLC being the group in mind when the track was written can be heard in the lyrics "We’re always livin’ so crazy and sexy and cool" (in reference to their album CrazySexyCool) and "Baby didn’t we tell you before about chasin’ those waterfalls" (in reference to their 1995 single "Waterfalls"). The track also has a reference to the Marvin Gaye song "What's Going On."

Critical reception[edit]

BET.com wrote of the song: "Mary more than makes it her own, turning pain into hope in the course of a four-minute song—a major theme of both this song's album and Mary's career arc."[3] Jason MacNeil, writing for PopMatters, noted that "Rainy Dayz" begins "with a horrid pace and structure, but thankfully moves into a much better vibe as some dense layering and keyboards gives it a decent tune."[4]

Track listings[edit]

CD/digital single[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Rainy Dayz" (radio edit featuring Ja Rule)
Irv Gotti4:04
2."Let No Man Put Asunder" (Maurica Joshua remix)
  • Bruce Gray
  • Bruce Hawes
5:21
3."Sexy" (featuring Jadakiss)
  • Floyd Howard
  • Kiyamma Griffin
4:44

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

Release history and formats for "Rainy Dayz"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States March 11, 2002 Urban radio MCA [29]
May 7, 2002 Contemporary hit radio [30]
United Kingdom August 12, 2002
  • CD
  • cassette
 [31][32]
August 19, 2002 12-inch vinyl [33]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Fu, Eddie (February 19, 2018). "Ja Rule Wrote Mary J. Blige's 'Rainy Dayz' After The Twin Towers Fell On 9/11". Genius. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  2. ^ Gale, Alex. "Ja Rule Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs". Complex Magazine. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  3. ^ "Mary J. Blige's 50 Best Songs – MJB's What's the 411? was released 22 years ago today". BET.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  4. ^ MacNeil, Jason. "Mary J. Blige – Dance for Me". PopMatters. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Mary J. Blige – Rainy Dayz (Single)". Spotify. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  6. ^ "Mary J Blige feat. Ja Rule – Rainy Dayz" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  7. ^ "Mary J Blige feat. Ja Rule – Rainy Dayz" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 36. August 31, 2002. p. 9. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "Mary J Blige feat. Ja Rule – Rainy Dayz" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Rainy Dayz". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mary J Blige feat. Ja Rule" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  12. ^ "Mary J Blige feat. Ja Rule – Rainy Dayz" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Mary J Blige feat. Ja Rule – Rainy Dayz". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "Mary J Blige feat. Ja Rule – Rainy Dayz". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  16. ^ "Mary J Blige feat. Ja Rule – Rainy Dayz". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  17. ^ "Mary J Blige feat. Ja Rule: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  18. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  19. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  20. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  21. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  22. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  23. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  25. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  26. ^ "Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2002" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 2003. p. 32. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  27. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2002". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  28. ^ "Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 22.
  29. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1443. March 8, 2002. p. 32.
  30. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1451. May 3, 2002. p. 30.
  31. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 12 August 2002: Singles". Music Week. August 10, 2002. p. 27. Formats misprinted as the 12-inch vinyl, which was released the following week.
  32. ^ "Rainy Dayz". Amazon. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  33. ^ "Rainy Dayz". Amazon. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
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