Synopsis

Set against a rain-soaked cemetery and a tense nightclub flashback, the video follows Ja Rule as he mourns a fallen friend and reflects on the violence surrounding his life. Lil' Mo's mournful hook reinforces the grief as Ja Rule remembers happier days before the tragedy. After visiting the grave, he appears ready to seek revenge, suggesting that another death follows. The closing images leave his fate deliberately unclear while emphasizing the endless cycle of loss, retaliation, and mourning.

Factoids & Trivia

• "I Cry" was released in 2001 as the fourth and final single from Ja Rule's second album, Rule 3:36.

• The song samples "Cry Together," written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and originally performed by the O'Jays.

• The video was noted for its narrative approach at a time when many hip-hop clips relied more heavily on performance footage. Its story centers on grief, street violence, and the emotional cost of revenge.

• Actor Tyrin Turner, known for his role as Caine in Menace II Society, appears in the nightclub sequence.

• The single reached No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 25 on the Rap chart, and No. 11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

• "I Cry" was the last collaborative single between Ja Rule and Lil' Mo. Ja Rule later shifted toward working with Ashanti, who became one of Murder Inc.'s defining voices.

• In 2008, LL Cool J used "I Cry" as part of the sample material for his song "Cry," which also featured Lil' Mo.