The album features guest appearances from Jay-Z, DMX, Case, Memphis Bleek, Black Child, Ronald Isley and Erick Sermon, among others.

Irv Gotti was hired as an A&R while working as an executive producer for Def Jam, and convinced Ja Rule to sign a deal with the label.

Irv promoted and Ja Rule in 1997, founding Murder Inc. Records, placing him on songs amongst rappers Jay-Z, LL Cool J, DMX, Method Man and Redman.

[citation needed] The album title, Venni Vetti Vecci, refers to the Latin phrase "veni, vidi, vici", which means "I came, I saw, I conquered".

[5] The album cover of Venni Vetti Vecci features Ja Rule with his head turned upward, eyes closed and hands clasped together, standing in front of a white statue of Jesus.

[9] Los Angeles Times critic Soren Baker noted that "on his debut , Ja Rule sticks largely to current rap lyric staples –confrontational rhymes about the inferiority of other rappers and his own sexual prowess [...] Producers Irv Gotti, Self, Tyrone Fyffe and others keep their beats spare, with pounding drums, undulating bass lines and wicked synthesizer tweaks serving as the foundation for soundscapes that contain as much bounce as bite.

"[6] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found that Venni Vetti Vecci "isn't the stunner some may have expected, but it nevertheless is a strong opening salvo.

"[1] Writing for Vibe, Shaheem Reid felt that the majority of the album was "hampered by colorless production", stating that Ja Rule "desperately needs tighter tracks to complement his MC skills".