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Ja Rule

 
Who2 Biography: Ja Rule, Rapper
 
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Ja Rule
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  • Born: 29 February 1976
  • Birthplace: Queens, New York
  • Best Known As: Tough-talking rapper of the hit single "Holla Holla"

Name at birth: Jeffrey Atkins

Ja Rule's 1999 solo debut album, Venni, Vetti, Vecci, launched the hit single "Holla Holla" and made the 23-year-old a hot new icon of "thug rap" style. Born Jeffrey Atkins, he grew up in the tough, drug-riddled Hollis neighborhood of Queens, dropped out of high school and began building a music career under the nom de rhyme Ja Rule. His second album, Rule 3:36 (2000), included the hit duets "Between Me and You" (with Christina Milian) and "I Cry" (with Lil' Mo); Pain Is Love (2001) included the hit "Always on Time," a duet with his protege Ashanti. As Ja Rule racked up hit after hit, he became the poster artist for Murder, Inc., the music label overseen by controversial producer Irv Gotti. (Murder, Inc., a sub-label of DefJam Records, was later renamed as simply "Inc.") Ja Rule also stayed in the news thanks to his violent verbal feuds with rappers DMX and 50 Cent. In 2003 Ja Rule released his fourth album, Pain is Love. Onscreen he has appeared with Vin Diesel in the summer hotrod flick The Fast and the Furious (2001) and with action star Steven Seagal in Half Past Dead (2002).

According to a 2003 article in New York magazine, Ja Rule "was raised a Jehovah's Witness and spent much of his young adulthood performing 'field service' (door-to-door proselytizing) for the faith."

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Artist: Ja Rule
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Ja Rule

Similar Artists:

Jay-Z, Fat Joe, DMX, The Game, Jadakiss, Beanie Sigel, Big Punisher, Eve, Nas

Influenced By:

LL Cool J

Formal Connection With:

Irv Gotti, Ashanti, Black Child
  • Born: February 29, 1976, New York, NY [Queens]
  • Active: '90s, 2000s
  • Genres: Rap
  • Instrument: Vocals
  • Representative Albums: "Pain Is Love," "The Last Temptation," "Exodus"
  • Representative Songs: "Put It on Me," "I'm Real," "Livin' It Up"

Biography

As the flagship artist for producer Irv Gotti's Def Jam-affiliated Murder Inc. label, Ja Rule became one of the rap industry's most commercially successful artists during the early 2000s, working closely with the hitmaking producer and his stable of talent. Born Jeffrey Atkins on February 29, 1976, in Queens, NY, Ja Rule established himself with Venni Vetti Vecci (1999), a hardcore debut album similar in style to the rugged thug rap then popularized by DMX and the Ruff Ryder collective. On his second album, Rule 3:36 (2000), he began collaborating with female R&B singers, and a string of radio-friendly hits resulted ("Between Me and You," "Put It on Me," "I Cry"). Pain Is Love (2001) followed the same template, serving up a few rap-R&B hybrids for the singles ("I'm Real," "Livin' It Up," "Always on Time," "Down Ass Chick") and filling out the album with hardcore rap.

Throughout the summer of 2002, Ja Rule was at his most popular, featured on not only his own hits but also as a featured guest on Fat Joe's "What's Luv?" and Mary J. Blige's "Rainy Dayz." Near the end of the year, he released his fourth album, The Last Temptation (2002), which again paired him with R&B vocalists for its singles, this time with Bobby Brown ("Thug Lovin'") and Ashanti ("Mesmerize"). Ja Rule began to be mocked by 50 Cent around this time, and beefs ensued between the two rappers' camps; for instance, over the beat of 2Pac's "Hail Mary," 50 Cent teamed up with his associates Eminem and Busta Rhymes for a stinging mixtape freestyle dissing Ja Rule and Irv Gotti. Increasingly susceptible to the criticism as his music fell out of public favor, Ja Rule returned with as much vengeance as he could muster for Blood in My Eye (2003) and R.U.L.E. (2004). Though the latter spawned a Top Five hit single, "Wonderful," a rap-R&B hybrid featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti, both albums were met with general indifference, becoming the first of Ja Rule's albums to fall short of platinum certification.

Exodus (2005), a best-of collection, brought Ja Rule's tenure with Def Jam to a close. From 2005-2007, as Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. operation fell into shambles, Ja Rule was quiet; he charted no songs on the Billboard Hot 100 during this time period. Toward the end of 2007, he attempted a comeback, first with "Uh-Ohhh!"; featuring Lil Wayne, who was perhaps the hottest rapper of the moment, the song nonetheless stalled at number 106 on the Billboard 200. A couple other singles ("Body," "Sunset") also failed to garner significant airplay, and the planned November 2007 release of The Mirror was pushed back. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
 
Actor: Ja Rule
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  • Born: Feb 29, 1976 in Hollis, Queens, New York
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: 2000s
  • Major Genres: Music, Comedy
  • Career Highlights: The Cookout, Half Past Dead, Turn It Up
  • First Major Screen Credit: Turn It Up (2000)

Biography

Born in the Hollis section of Queens in 1976, deep-voiced rapper Ja Rule had made many allies in hardcore rap by 2000. He was aligned with DMX's Ruff Ryders, Jay-Z's Rock-a-Fella label, and producer Irv Gotti's group Murder Inc. Ja Rule had only started recording in 1995, and by 1999, his single "Holla Holla" went gold and he was on Def Jam's Hard Knock Life Tour. Differentiating himself from his peers, he started a parallel acting career while consistently churning out hit records. His feature film debut was a starring role as the shifty friend of Pras (formerly of the Fugees) in Turn It Up, a film based on the solo debut record from Pras, Ghetto Superstar. He also appeared alongside Pras and superstar rapper Eminem that same year in the Blair Witch parody Da Hip Hop Witch. Ja Rule continued to play himself in films as a rap performer, but he also accepted straight acting roles. In 2001, he appeared in the street-racing action flick The Fast and the Furious, and in 2002, he was Steven Seagal's ally on death row in Half Past Dead. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
 
Black Biography: Ja Rule
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rap musician; actor

Personal Information

Born Jeffrey Atkins on February 29, 1976, raised in Hollis, Queens, NY; married Aisha Murray, 2001; children: Britney, Jeff Jr.

Career

Rapper, musician: signed to Def Jam Records, 1998; performed on Jay-Z record, "Can I Get A," 1998; released Venni, Vetti, Vecci, 1999; released Rule 3:36, 2000; performed on Jennifer Lopez record, "I'm Real," 2001; released Pain is Love, 2001; actor: Turn It Up, 2000; The Fast and the Furious, 2000; Half Past Dead, 2001; spokesperson/model: Fubu Clothing, Calvin Klein, Coca-Cola; Record Producer: Murder Inc. 2 Records, 2002-.

Life's Work

With three multi-platinum albums released in just two years, Ja Rule has become one of the most successful rap artists to rule the charts. Much of his success is due to his ability to transcend rap's gangsta imagery to embrace pop rhythms and universal themes. He has collaborated with heavy hitters of the rap world as well as heavy metal rockers. His street smart style and raw good looks have also landed him roles in several Hollywood films and as a model for Calvin Klein. Though his preferred tagline is "Murda," after his record label Murder, Inc., the happily married Ja Rule is a crossover musician able to croon out a love song as well as a hard-edged rap.

Ja Rule was born Jeffrey Atkins on February 29, 1976, in Hollis, Queens, New York. When he was just five years old, his sister died. Too young to understand the impact of her death, Ja Rule nonetheless carried the loss with him for years. "How could you value a life then? Now that I'm older, I feel the pain," he confessed to www.askmen.com. To acknowledge this pain he got a tattoo on his chest that reads "Pain is Love." The phrase would later give title to his third album.

Though he was raised within the strict religious confines of a Jehovah's Witness household, he found the strength to seek out his own religious understanding. He told www.askmen.com, "I went through a lot of phases and studied many religions. I came to a conclusion: I am not into religion, I am spiritual and have whatever relationship with God, you do not need the middlemen." He also found inspiration from soul music and grew up listening to Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. Being from Queens, home to LL Cool J and Run DMC, he also was influenced by rap and claimed to have written his first song in 1990. Sometime before graduating high school, Jeffrey became Ja Rule. He told MTV, "My rap name is my initials from my actual name, Jeff Atkins. The Rule got slapped on by a friend of mine. Everyone used to call me Ja, and my man just threw on Rule."

Ja Rule told Entertainment Weekly, "I've never had a job in my life other than music. I started making records when I was 17, fresh outta high school and my momma's house." That first appearance was on a 1995 record by Mic Geronimo. The young rapper's style caught the attention of the track's producer--and fellow Hollis native--Irv Gotti who became an informal promoter of Ja Rule. Ja Rule next teamed up with two friends to form The Cash Money Click. They promptly signed with Blunt/TVT Records and released the 1995 single "Get the Fortune" with "For My Click" on the backside.

Early Career Interrrupted

Though the record attracted some industry buzz and was popular on New York radio, Ja Rule's budding career took a sharp turn into a brick wall. One of his partners in Cash Money went to prison and Ja Rule spent the next three years mired in record label red tape and disappointment. He passed time engaging other rappers--including the as yet unknown DMX--in MC battles on the streets of Queens. When Gotti became an artist representative for Def Jam Records he remembered the young rapper and arranged a meeting between Ja Rule and Def Jam. In 1998 he was signed to the label. Ja Rule's first big coup was his performance on rapper Jay-Z's Grammy winning album Volume 2: Hard Knock Life. Ja Rule lent his vocals to the hit single "Can I Get A ... " and became a rap sensation seemingly overnight. He went on to perform with Jay-Z's Rockafella and DMX's Ruff Ryders rap groups. Ja Rule was an instant hit and still reeling from that success, he and Gotti began working on his first album.

1999's Venni Vetti Vecci propelled Ja Rule into rap stardom fueled by the gold hit single "Holla, Holla." Roughly translated from the Latin to mean "he came, he saw, he conquered," the album delivered 17 tracks drawn from rap's stable of gangsta imagery--street violence, sexual dominance over women, inferiority of fellow rappers. It was confrontational and bleak and went multi-platinum. Much was made over the aggressively triumphant title. However, Ja Rule pointed to a more soulful meaning telling www.mtv.com, "People took the 'he conquered' part as conquering the rap game. That's a goal of mine, so you can take it as that, but really what I meant was a conquering of myself. I learned a lot from having a bum deal to getting my deal with Def Jam. I had my daughter. It was a growth period. So that was the theme of the first album." The album also introduced the world to his distinctive voice. Gravelly and gruff, it is often compared to that of the late rapper Tupac.

In 2000 Ja Rule found a new career when he landed a major role in the rap-themed street drama Turn it Up. Though the film was a box-office flop, Ja Rule's performance was hailed as gritty and true and it helped land him a featured role in The Fast and the Furious. In the prison drama Half Past Dead with Steven Seagal, Ja Rule played a street thug--the type of character revered in mainstream rap. To critics who say he is being pigeonholed in these types of roles because he is a rapper, he told the Los Angeles Times, "It's funny how people always say that you get used in the business," he says. "But my thinking is that if nobody can use you, then you're useless. You want to be useful."

Ja Rule stayed useful on the musical front too. He embarked on near non-stop tours including Def Jam's 2000 Hard Knock Life Tour--the highest grossing rap tour in history. He and Gotti established the imprint label Murder, Inc. on Def Jam and together they released his second album, Rule 3:36. He explained the title to www.mtv.com, "That's one of my rules. [It] stands for, 'He who believes in Ja shall have everlasting love. He who does not shall not see life, but the wrath of my vengeance.' It's my message to the world."

Second Album Delivered New Sound

Despite the gangsta posturing of this explanation, the album marked a the beginning of a shift in Ja Rule's style from confrontational rapper to pop-tinged crooner. Debuting at number one on the Billboard charts, the album featured the single, "Between Me and You," a catchy pop hit with hip-hop rhythms and playful lyrics. "After the success of my first album, everybody expected me to come back with a 'Holla, Holla,' or at least a tip," Ja Rule told www.teenpeople.com. "I kinda went left, a whole opposite direction, came back with 'Between Me and You' and now, it's more successful than 'Holla!& rsquo;" His instincts were right, the single went to the top five on the charts and became one of the most played songs on urban radio.

The second hit single off the album moved Ja Rule even further from the gangsta style in becoming an ode to women and love. "Put It On Me" relays the story of a man longing for his wife and family. The song is a far cry from the standard school rap that disrespects women at best, degrades them at worst. Of this new direction, he told Australia's Herald Sun, "It's just a real side of men, rappers, that we don't get to show, because the whole image of being a rapper always has been tough. They don't get to really show the side they show wives at home and girlfriends and stuff, it just hasn't been accepted well. I think I've been fortunate enough to cross barriers and people respect it as paying homage to the ladies and not as being soft."

Again, his instincts paid off. The song soared to the top of the charts and broke records on the Broadcast Data Systems report which tracks how many times a record is played on radio stations. Along with "Between Me and You," it helped keep Rule 3:36 in the Top 100 for over forty weeks following its release and led to its triple-platinum sales.

The following year, Ja Rule paid the ultimate homage to love when he wed his longtime girlfriend Aisha Murray in a private ceremony in Hawaii. Together for over eight years, the couple were already parents to Britney and Jeff Jr. at the time of their wedding. He told Jet of his decision to marry, "You need stability in your life. I'm 25 and running around and seeing a lot. You've got to learn the difference between what's good to you and what's good for you. If you learn the difference, you'll get it." With Aisha he got what he wanted--a family. However, he admitted that his career is a double-edged sword when it comes to them. "Just being in this industry is a sacrifice. I don't get to see my family, and I have two kids," he explained in an article on www.rollingstone.com. "I'm always on the road, but I gotta do it to make sure they get good schooling. It's all about sacrificin'."

Teamed Up With Jennifer Lopez

Ja Rule's musical career continued to grow in 2001. He earned the title of Vibe Magazine Artist of the Year, performed in a highly-publicized USO-style show for U.S. troops overseas following the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11th, and joined Jennifer Lopez on her mega-hit single "I'm Real." He also released his third album in just two years, Pain is Love. It went straight to number one and, thanks to the singles "Livin' It Up" and "Always On Time," scored platinum within three months of its debut.

Again, the album showed the softer side of rap and featured pop hits as well as a couple of love songs. The Boston Herald wrote of the album, "Rule is taking steps toward the brighter and the more emotionally substantive side of life.... When he raps about needing love, he sounds more vulnerable than any thug in recent memory." But Ja Rule didn't forget his background and for the hardcore fan he included the raw-edged raps "Dial M for Murder" and "Worldwide Gangsta." However, those anthems are countered with tunes that question that lifestyle, including "Never Again" and "Lost Little Girl."

In addition to this softening of the gangsta heart, the album drew acclaim for Ja Rule's singing voice which was highlighted throughout the album. It prompted a reviewer in The Houston Chronicle to write, "His ability to sing with clarity in that crusty baritone is the next level in his hit radio career." Of his musical shift, Ja Rule told www.mtv.com, "I want them to look at me and say, 'Yo, he is a rapper and he comes from the rap world, but he can do so many other things.' I think it's in us to do these things, but a lot of artists are scared to explore their musical talents." He continued, "I don't think all of them grasp the real true essence of music. It's really something spiritual. It's universal. It's driven by passion and feeling. I wanna do some things with this album. I wanna break some barriers."

Ja Rule succeeded in breaking expectations and barriers when he collaborated with the heavy metal super group Metallica on their record We Did It Again. In addition to the rockers, Ja Rule has worked with Brandy, Mary J. Blige, and Mariah Carey, and has fielded offers from TLC, Macy Gray, and Latin crooner Enrique Iglesias. He explained his popularity to www.mtv.com saying, "I'm established now, and people respect what I do as an artist now versus just [making] a hot record." The president of Def Jam concurred, saying in the same on-line article, "He's worked tremendously to make sure he defines himself as being more than just a guy who raps. He is becoming his own business, and people want to be in the Ja Rule business." His ability to sell records hasn't hurt him either. He was named the "World's Best-Selling Rap Artist" during the 2002 World Music Awards.

Ja Rule has his future well-mapped out. He told the Herald Sun "I want to do my last two albums and concentrate on then doing my movie thing and working on building up [his new record company Murder Inc. 2], building up these new talented artists we have." He continued laughing, "I'm looking forward to being an old man one day. I'll still make music, but I don't want to make solo albums any more." He explained his drive and determination to the Los Angeles Times, "I want to better myself. I call it the [Michael] Jordan theory. I think he was one of the best self-motivators ever. Even when he was on the top of his game, he found a way to get better. I want to elevate and step up my game."

Awards

Artist of the Year, Vibe, 2001; World's Best-Selling Rap Artist, World Music Awards, 2001; Best Solo Artist, GQ, 2002; Male Artist of the Year, Teen Choice Award, 2002.

Works

Selected discography

  • Venni, Vetti, Vecci, Def Jam Records, 1999.
  • Rule 3:36, Def Jam Records/Murder, Inc., 2000.
  • Pain is Love, Def Jam Records/Murder, Inc., 2001.

Further Reading

Periodicals

  • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 16, 2001, p. C2.
  • The Boston Herald, October 26, 2001, p. 22.
  • Dallas Morning News, October 21, 2001 p. 9C.
  • The Florida Times Union, December 28, 2001 p. WE-11.
  • Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia), January 31, 2002, p. 33.
  • The Houston Chronicle, October 21, 2001, p. 6.
  • Jet, July 16, 2001, p. 36; March 25, 2002, p. 44.
  • Los Angeles Times, January 30, 2001, p. F4.
  • Rolling Stone, July 17, 2001.
On-line
  • http://www.askmen.com/toys/interview/13_ja_rule_interview.html
  • http://www.jarule.net/
  • http://www.mtv.com/bands/j/ja_rule/news_feature_092501
  • http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=15166&cf=8259
  • http://www.teenpeople.com/teenpeople/stars/tuned/0,8104,90059,00.html

— Candace LaBalle

 
Wikipedia: Ja Rule
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Ja Rule
Ja Rule performing in Fort Hood, Texas on May 13, 2005.
Ja Rule performing in Fort Hood, Texas on May 13, 2005.
Background information
Birth name Jeffrey Atkins
Born February 29, 1976 (1976-02-29) (age 33)
Origin Queens, New York, United States
Genre(s) East Coast hip hop, Pop rap, Hip Hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, singer, actor
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 1994–present
Label(s) Universal, The Inc., Def Jam, Mpire
Associated acts Murder Inc.
Website www.jarule.net

Jeffrey Atkins (born February 29, 1976),[1] better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper and actor signed to The Inc. and Universal Records, formerly of Def Jam Recordings. A Hollis, New York native, Ja Rule is best-known for major hits such as "Holla, Holla", "Put It On Me", "Between Me And You", "I'm Real", "Livin' It Up", "Always On Time", "Mesmerize", and "Wonderful", Ja Rule has released six albums.

Contents

Early life

Atkins was born in Queens, New York. He was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses by his mother, health care worker Debra Atkins,[2] and grandparents. At the age of five his sister died from breathing complications, leaving him as an only child.[3] He attended PS 186, a mixed school, but was later transferred to MS 172, another mixed school, due to daily fights he would be involved in.[3]

Music career

Atkins began his rap career in 1994 with Cash Money Click. He told Curtis Waller of MTV News that his stage name "Ja Rule" came from an friend who addressed him by that name; other friends called him "Ja".[4]

Venni Vetti Vecci (1999)

His debut album Venni Vetti Vecci was released in 1999. Singles included "Holla Holla" and "It's Murda" with Jay-Z and DMX. The final single was "Daddy's Little Baby", a duet with Ronald Isley. Venni Vetti Vecci was certified platinum by the RIAA on July 12, 1999. According to Nielsen Soundscan, Venni Vetti Vecci has sold an estimated 5 million copies as of August 2008. [5]

Rule 3:36 (2000)

Ja Rule returned quickly during the summer of 2000, with his new single "Between Me and You", which featured Def Soul act Christina Milian. The single was quickly followed by Ja's second but very successful effort, Rule 3:36, which was released on October 10, 2000. 3:36 also featured singles "Put It On Me", "I Cry" and, "Fuck You" from the Fast and the Furious Soundtrack. The album featured guest appearances from Lil Mo, Vita, Christina Milian, label mates Jayo Felony, and Black Child. Rule 3:36 debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts selling 302,000 copies in its first week and eventually going 3x Platinum and selling over 11 million copies worldwide according to Nielsen Soundscan as of August 2008.[5]

Pain Is Love (2001)

Soon after the release of Rule 3:36, Irv Gotti signed R&B singer Ashanti to the label, which led to Lil Mo ending her collaborations with the label. During the late summer of 2001, Ja Rule released "Livin' It Up", the lead single from his third studio album, Pain Is Love, which proved to be a very successful album. The second single was the "I'm Real (remix)", and the third was "Always On Time", and the last was "Down Ass Bitch". Pain Is Love featured guest appearances from Case, The Murder Inc. Family, Missy Elliott, Jodie Mack, Tweet, Jennifer Lopez and a recording from the late Tupac Shakur. Along with its critical success it was also a commercial success, reaching #1 on the Billboard 200. It has reached 3x Platinum certification in the U.S. and it has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide.[5]

The Last Temptation (2002)

The Last Temptation. His fourth album was released on November 19, 2002. It featured the singles "Thug Lovin'" and "Mesmerize." 341,000 copies were sold in the first week of release. Although it did not sell as well as his previous album, The Last Temptation was certified Platinum by December 25, 2002. According to Nielsen Soundscan, the album has sold 4 million copies worldwide.[5] It was after this album that the '50 Cent & G Unit' era began, which would negatively affect Ja's future project's and career in general.

Blood In My Eye (2003)

Blood In My Eye although intended to be a mixtape, was his fifth album and the last released under the "Murder Inc." label, which renamed itself "The Inc." several days after the album release. It spawned the one and only hit "Clap Back" that won him the Source Awards'"Fat Tape" song of the year.[6] It peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[7] In October 2003, Ja Rule met with Minster Louis Farrakhan, who wanted to intervene and prevent escalating violence in the feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent.[8]

R.U.L.E. (2004)

Ja Rule's sixth studio album R.U.L.E. was released in November 2004. Its lead single was "Wonderful" featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti, followed by the street anthem "New York" featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss and the love song "Caught Up" featuring Lloyd and Ashanti. The track "The Manual" was also a single in the UK. The RIAA certified R.U.L.E. Gold on January 14, 2005.[5]

Hiatus, departure from The Inc. (2005-2007)

On December 6, 2005, The Inc. released Exodus, a greatest hits album, which contained the new songs "Exodus (Intro)", "Me" and "Exodus (Outro)". Exodus was the last album on Ja Rule's contract with The Inc. After the release of this compilation, Ja Rule took a hiatus from recording music.[1]

In 2005, The Inc. Records came under investigation because of drug trades by Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, who was associated with Irv Gotti.[9] This led to Def Jam Recordings refusing to renew The Inc.'s contract. From 2005 to 2006, Gotti searched for other labels until finally reaching a deal with Universal Records (ironically part of the same company as Def Jam).

The Mirror: Reloaded (2007-present)

The first single of his eighth album The Mirror, "Uh-Ohhh!", featuring Lil Wayne, came out in August 2007. It peaked at #69 on the U.S Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and #107 on the Billboard 200. Two other singles released after were "Body" featuring Ashley Joi, which peaked at #71 on the U.S Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and "Sunset" featuring The Game.[1] Originally, The Mirror was to be released on September 12, 2007,[10] then delayed to November 13.[11] That release date was delayed, and further delayed for an October 14 release. That too, was delayed.[1] Ja Rule's official Myspace page states a "Coming Soon!" release for the album, and the JaRule.net website later listed a 2008 release time frame for The Mirror. Addressing the leak of tracks from his original version of The Mirror, Ja Rule announced in a 2009 interview with HipHopDX that he would record an entirely new album, The Mirror: Reloaded.[12]

In 2009, Ja Rule recorded a new song with Brazilian singer Wanessa Camargo in two different versions, with Camargo singing in Portuguese in the version named "Meu Momento" and singing in English in the version named "Fly".[13] "Fly" was released as a single in Brazil in April; no word has surfaced yet about whether Ja intends or not to release the song in the U.S. or if he plans to add the song or not to his The Mirror: Reloaded tracklist. The song is ranked number #1 on Crowley/Brazil.[14]

Personal life

Family

In April 2001, Ja Rule married Aisha Murray;[15] whom he met in high school. [16] They have two sons, Jeffrey Jr. (born 2000) and Jordan (born 2004), and daughter Britney (born 1995).[15][17]

Criminal charges

In 2003, he had punched a man in Toronto, who later sued Ja Rule, but they settled out of court. He has since been banned entry into Canada indefinetely.[18] In 2004, police investigated whether a feud involving The Inc. led to fatal shooting outside a nightclub party hosted by Ja Rule.[19][20] In July 2007, Ja Rule was arrested for gun and drug possession charges along with Lil Wayne.

Controversial Comments on homosexuals

When interviewed for an article in the September 2007 issue of Complex magazine, Ja Rule spoke against media depiction of homosexuality:

“ And if it is, then we need to go step to Paramount, and fucking MGM, and all of these other motherfuckers that's making all of these movies and we need to go step to MTV and Viacom, and lets talk about all these fucking shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can't watch this shit," he continued. "Dating shows that's showing two guys or two girls in mid-afternoon. Let's talk about shit like that! If that's not fucking up America, I don't know what is.[21] ”

For the latter comment he was publicly impugned by the GLAAD:

“ No fair-minded person can look at Ja Rule’s interview with Complex Magazine and believe for one second that his children could be more harmed by what they might see on television than by the vulgarity and prejudice that comes out of their father’s mouth. Now that media have seen Ja Rule's intolerance unmasked by his own words, they have a responsibility not to provide in the future a platform for his ugly, vulgar displays of prejudice.[22] ”

During an interview with online MySpace interview channel The Hook Up on October 24, 2007, Ja Rule claimed that Complex magazine had misquoted him, and that he is "not at all" homophobic.[23] He went on in a January 2008 issue of XXL magazine to state his words were taken out of context. He is quote as stating:

“ What I was saying in that article is everyone has that same responsibility. They're absolutely right: Rappers have a responsibility to the kids. But don't just pin it on the hip-hop. If I gotta curb my lyrics or censor what I say, no problem. But if you gonna show sexual images during the daytime for children, that should be censored as well... And I'm not just talking about homosexuality. I'm talking about any sexuality. If it's too sexy for kids, it's too sexy for kids...[24] ”

Philanthrophy

Ja Rule founded the L.I.F.E Foundation, which opens its doors to underprivileged children through various programs such as art, music, poetry and sports.[25]

Discography

Main article: Ja Rule discography

Albums

Compilations


Awards and nominations

Year Award/Nomination
2001 Source Hip-Hop Music Award Won for Single of the Year - "Put It on Me"
MTV Video Music Awards nomination for Best Rap Video - "Put It on Me"
2002 MTV Video Music Awards Won for Best Hip-Hop Video - "I'm Real (Murder Remix)"
MTV Video Music Awards nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video - "Always on Time"
American Music Award nominated for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
Grammy Awards nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group - "Put It on Me"
Grammy Awards nominated for Best Rap Album - Pain Is Love
Grammy Awards nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - "Livin' It Up"
World Music Awards Won for World's Best-Selling Rap Artist
BET Awards Won for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Artist
GQ Men of the Year Award Won for Musician of the Year
Teen Choice Awards Won for Male Artist of the Year
NAACP Image Awards Won for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best Rap/Soul or Rap Album of the Year - Pain Is Love
2003 Source Award Won for R&B/Rap Collboration of the Year - "Thug Lovin'"
American Music Award nomination for Favorite Hip-Hop/R&B Male Artist
Grammy Awards nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - "Always on Time"
2004 Source Award Won for Phat Tape Song of the Year - "Clap Back"

Acting career

During his break from rapping, Ja Rule had an appearance as another street racer in The Fast and the Furious with Vin Diesel. He appeared in the 2004 movie Back in The Day along with Ving Rhames and Pam Grier. He also starred in the movie The Cookout with Queen Latifah. He is currently working on his bio-pic.

Filmography

Year Title Role
2000 Da Hip Hop Witch Himself
Turn it Up David 'Gage' Williams
Backstage Himself
2001 Crime Partners Hitman
The Fast and the Furious Edwin
2002 Half Past Dead Nicolas 'Nick' Frazier
2003 Scary Movie 3 Agent Thompson
Pauly Shore Is Dead Himself
2004 The Cookout Bling Bling
Shall We Dance? Hip Hop Bar Performer
2005 Back in the Day Reggie Cooper
Assault on Precinct 13 Smiley
2009 Don't Fade Away Foster

References

  1. ^ a b c d Birchmeier, Jason (2007). "Ja Rule > Biography". allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gvfuxqtjldhe~T1. Retrieved on 2008-08-17. 
  2. ^ Hughes, Zondra (2002-04), "Ja Rule: rap star rules hearts & charts - Jeffrey Atkins", Ebony: p. 140, http://books.google.com/books?id=o9kDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPA140,M1 
  3. ^ a b Farrakhan, Louis. "Ja Rule on 50 Cent, God and Hip-Hop". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/bands/j/ja_rule/news_feature_031103/index2.jhtml. Retrieved on 2008-12-01. 
  4. ^ Waller, Curtis (2001-02-17). "Ja Rule: Rules of the Game". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/j/jarule01/index2.jhtml. Retrieved on 2008-08-17. 
  5. ^ a b c d e "Ja Rule - Search Results". RIAA. http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Ja%20Rule&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved on 2008-08-31. 
  6. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2003-11-14). "Murder Inc. Drops The Murder". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480422/20031114/murder_inc_records.jhtml. Retrieved on 2008-08-17. 
  7. ^ "Ja Rule > Charts & Awards (Billboard Albums)". allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gvfuxqtjldhe~T5. Retrieved on 2008-08-17. 
  8. ^ "Farrakhan warns hip-hop artists: Clap-back will only lead to coffins". The Final Call. 2003-11-04. http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_1091.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-04-150. 
  9. ^ Rashbaum, Matthew; Sweeney (2005-12-03). "Hip-Hop Producers Get Acquittal, Then Hugs, From Jurors". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/03/nyregion/03gotti.html?_r=1&sq=&pagewanted=all. 
  10. ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (2007-07-12). MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1564678/20070712/ja_rule.jhtml. Retrieved on 2008-08-17. 
  11. ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (2007-10-15). "Ja Rule Looks In The Mirror -- And Sees Who 50 Cent Wishes He Could Be". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571974/20071015/ja_rule.jhtml. Retrieved on 2008-08-18. 
  12. ^ Kuperstein, Slava (2009-04-29). "Ja Rule Explains Hip Hop Vs. Rock Music". HipHopDX. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9046/title.ja-rule-explains-hip-hop-vs-rock-music. Retrieved on 2009-05-17. 
  13. ^ "Wanessa Camargo faz dueto com o rapper Ja Rule". Virgula. http://virgula.uol.com.br/ver/noticia/musica/2009/04/02/120620-wanessa-camargo-faz-dueto-com-o-rapper-ja-rule. Retrieved on 2009-04-05. 
  14. ^ "Sucesso de Wanessa Camargo chega no topo das paradas". MSN Entretenimento. http://entretenimento.br.msn.com/famosidades/noticias-artigo.aspx?cp-documentid=20437239. Retrieved on 2009-07-05. 
  15. ^ a b Hughes 2002, p. 142
  16. ^ Borow, Zev. "33 Things You Should Know About Ja Rule". Blender. August 2002. http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=361. Retrieved on 2009-03-14. 
  17. ^ "Life with Rapper Ja Rule, Wife, and Kids". BlackCelebrityKids. 2009-02-04. http://www.blackcelebkids.com/2009/02/04/life-with-rapper-ja-rulewife-and-kids/. Retrieved on 2009-05-24. 
  18. ^ "Ja Rule apologizes for punching the man". USA Today. 2005-03-07. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-03-07-ja-rule-apology_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA. Retrieved on 2007-09-12. 
  19. ^ "Police probing nightclub shooting". USA Today. 2004-12-29. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-12-29-nightclub-shooting_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA. Retrieved on 2007-09-12. 
  20. ^ Weiss, Murray (2005-07-18). "Ja Rule Target of Shooting Investigation". New York Post. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,162810,00.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-12. 
  21. ^ La Puma, Joe (September 2007). "Man in the Mirror - Page 3". Complex. http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Web-Exclusive/Man-In-The-Mirror/Page-3. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  22. ^ Robertson, Jessica (2007-09-26). "Ja Rule Looks in 'The Mirror,' Comes Clean on Homophobia". Spinner. AOL. http://www.spinner.com/2007/09/26/ja-rule-looks-in-the-mirror-comes-clean-on-homophobia/. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  23. ^ "Ja Rule's statement denying that he is homophobic and stating that he was falsely quoted". The Hook Up. 2007-10-34. http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=20724172. Retrieved on 2007-11-09. 
  24. ^ Stay Around by Anslem Samuel. XXL magazine. January 2008. Page 63
  25. ^ "Bio". JaRule.com. http://www.jarule.com/bio.htm. Retrieved on 2008-08-17. 

External links

v • d • e
Ja Rule
Albums
Singles
"Holla Holla" · "Between Me and You" · "Put It On Me" · "I Cry" · "I'm Real" · "Livin' it Up" · "Ain't It Funny (remix)" · "Always on Time" · "Down Ass Chick" · "Thug Lovin" · "Mesmerize" · "Clap Back" · "Wonderful" · "New York" · "Caught Up" · "Uh-Ohhh!" · "Body"
Featured articles
Related articles
Discography · The Inc. Records · Mpire Records

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