"Wonderful" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on September 27, 2004, as the lead single from his sixth studio album, R.U.L.E. (2004), through Irv Gotti's The INC record label. The song features American pop-R&B singers R. Kelly and Ashanti. "Wonderful" topped the UK Singles Chart, reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaked at number six in both Australia and New Zealand, and became a top-20 hit in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
A remix was made available on Ashanti's fourth studio album, Concrete Rose (2004), featuring an extended verse from the singer and omitting Kelly's verse. A video directed by Hype Williams was made for this single.
Commercial performance In the United States, "Wonderful" peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 2004, making it Ja Rule's fourth top-five hit on the chart as well as the last top-10 hit for Ja Rule, R. Kelly, and Ashanti as of . The song ended 2005 at number 94 on Billboards year-end chart and has been certified gold in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In the United Kingdom, the song topped the UK Singles Chart, making it Ja Rule's first number-one hit in Britain, though it was the country's lowest-selling number-one debut at the time, selling 23,706 copies during its release week.
Track listings UK CD single "Wonderful" – 4:32 "Livin' It Up" – 4:17 "Always on Time" – 4:03
European CD single "Wonderful" – 4:32 "Caught Up" – 4:29
Australian maxi-CD single "Wonderful" – 4:33 "Caught Up" – 4:29 "Wonderful" – 4:33 "Always on Time" – 4:03
Credits and personnel Credits are taken from the R.U.L.E. album booklet.
Studios Recorded at C.H. Studios (New York City) Mixed at Circle House Studios (Miami, Florida) and Right Track Studios (New York City) Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)
Personnel
Ja Rule – writing (as Jeffrey Atkins) Irv Gotti – writing (as Irving Lorenzo), production Kendred Smith – writing R. Kelly – writing (as Robert Kelly), featured vocals Ashanti – featured vocals Demetrius "Demi-Doc" McGhee – bass guitar, organ, strings, additional keyboards Jimi Kendrix – production Milwaukee "Protools King" Buck – recording Supa Engineer DURO – mixing Terry "T-Mac" Herbert – assistant engineering Tom Coyne – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2004–2005)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)4Romania (Romanian Top 100)78
Chart (2013)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2004)PositionUK Singles (OCC)90US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)81US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)93 Chart (2005)PositionAustralia (ARIA)42Australian Urban (ARIA)19Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)82US Billboard Hot 10094US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)39US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)89US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)49
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesSeptember 27, 2004The Inc.October 25, 2004Contemporary hit radioUnited KingdomCD
References