Always on Time

"Always on Time"
Single by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
from the album Pain Is Love
B-side	"I Cry"
Released	November 27, 2001 (2001-11-27)
Studio	The Crackhouse (New York City)
Length	4:05
Label	Def Jam Murder Inc.
Songwriter(s)	Jeffrey Atkins 7 Aurelius Irving Lorenzo
Producer(s)	Irv Gotti
Ja Rule singles chronology
"Livin' It Up" (2001) "Always on Time" (2001) "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" (2002)
Ashanti singles chronology
"Just Like a Thug" (2001) "Always on Time" (2001) "What's Luv?" (2002)
Music video
"Always on Time" on YouTube

"Always on Time" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule from his third studio album, Pain Is Love (2001). Produced by Irv Gotti, it was written by Ja Rule, 7 Aurelius, and Gotti. Originally set to feature Brandy,^[1] it features guest vocals from singer-songwriter and labelmate Ashanti. The song was released as the album's second 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 at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in February and March of 2002, becoming Ja Rule's highest-charting single as lead artist. It was Ashanti's first mainstream #1, and Ja Rule's second, after he was featured on the chart-topping summer hit "I'm Real (Remix)" with Jennifer Lopez, from her sophomore album J. Lo (2001). Ironically, the remixed lyrics of "I'm Real" were penned by Ashanti, and the track features her vocals on the chorus. Several months later, Ja Rule was again featured with Lopez on the #1 song "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)", which (coincidentally) was written by Ashanti, as well, and also features vocals from the singer.

In 2009, "Always on Time" was named the 33rd most-successful song of the 2000s on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and the 82nd most-successful song of the 2000s on the mainstream Hot 100.