Ja Rule

Ja Rule, Rapper

Born: 29 February 1976
Birthplace: Queens, New York
Best Known As: Tough-talking rapper of the hit singles "Holla Holla" and "Clap Back"

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 "The Inc.") Ja Rule also stayed in the news thanks to his violent verbal feuds with rappers DMX and 50 Cent, and in 2007 he was brought up on gun charges after partying with Lil Wayne (Ja Rule reached a plea agreement in late 2010 and was sentenced to about 16 months in jail). Ja Rule's other albums include Pain is Love (2003), Blood in My Eye (2004, with the hit "Clap Back") and R.U.L.E. (2004). 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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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.

Ja Rule

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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, Rovi

Gale Musician Profiles:

Ja Rule

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For The Record...

Born Jeffrey Atkins on February 29, 1976, in New York, NY; son of Debra Atkins; married Aisha Murray; children: Britney, Jeffrey "L'il Rule" Jr.

Recorded with Mic Geronimo and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter; member of the Cash Money Click; signed with TVT Records, 1995; signed with Def Jam, 1998; released debut solo album, Venni, Vetti, Vecci, 1999; released follow-up album, Rule 3:36, 2000; released Pain Is Love, 2001; leader of the Murderers and Murda Inc.; released Blood in My Eye, 2003; released R.U.L. E., 2004; released The Mirror, 2007; founded Rule Global Media, 2007.

Awards: Vibe magazine, Solo Artist of the Year, 2001.

Addresses: Record company—Def Jam Records, Universal Music Group, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608. Web site—Ja Rule Official Web site: http://www.defjam.com/jarule.

Rap musician, songwriter

His slick image onstage and unabashed charm offstage have propelled Ja Rule to the forefront of rap, beginning with the release of his first solo album, Venni, Vetti, Vecci, in 1999. The East Coast rapper with big dreams and an unmistakable pout delivered heart-wrenching songs in a deep and throaty voice that belied his five-foot, six-inch stature. The intensely emotive quality of Ja Rule's work has positioned him squarely in the spotlight as one of the modern music industry's hottest commodities—not only as a hip-hop artist, but also as an R&B composer. Since his emergence in 1995, he has carved a niche for himself as a singer, actor, and songwriter. Many of his projects, whether recordings or musical compositions, have topped the charts.

Ja Rule was born Jeffrey Atkins on February 29, 1976, in the Hollis district of Queens, New York, the only child of Debra Atkins. According to his mother, Ja Rule's potential as an entertainer was first manifest in a grade school presentation of Dickens's A Christmas Carol, in which young Atkins stole the show with his performance as Ebenezer Scrooge. By the time he finished high school, Ja Rule was determined to become a recording artist.

In his first recorded work, Ja Rule made a low-profile guest appearance on a Mic Geronimo single called "Time to Build." The recording impressed TVT record executives and they signed him and a group of his associates, known as the Cash Money Click. Under TVT management, the musicians completed a single, "Get the Fortune," by the year's end. The release gave Ja Rule some exposure, and he went on to contribute a cameo on Jay-Z's wildly successful "Can I Get A." Ja Rule was later heard on the Streets Is Watching and Belly soundtracks.

Began Solo Career
Ja Rule released his first full-length solo effort, Venni, Vetti, Vecci, in 1999 under a new contract with Def Jam Records. Although the album's official release was upstaged by the appearance of an unauthorized street version several days ahead of schedule, the subsequent legitimate version debuted at number three on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The bootleg recording hit number 57 on the R&B chart. Among the album's highlights was the hit single "Holla Holla," and a collaborative effort featuring Jay-Z and DMX called "It's Murda."

Within a week of its official release, the legitimate album was number one on the R&B chart. The album went platinum by the end of the calendar year, making Ja Rule a major hip-hop star at the age of 23 and paving the way for a second solo album, Rule 3:36, late in 2000. Ja Rule, working with producer Irv Gotti, successfully launched three hit singles from the album: "Between Me and You," "Put It on Me," and "I Cry." The popularity of these songs, including a video version of "Put It on Me," helped spur sales of the album, which went platinum three times over by the end of 2001.

In between these two solo efforts, Ja Rule and his group "The Murderers"—artists Black Child, O-1, Vita, and Tah Murdah—produced Irv Gotti Presents the Murderers. The album, originally scheduled for release in January of 2000, was delayed for nearly three months because its controversial lyrics defamed police and homosexuals. On March 24, 2000, three days after the recording was released, Ja Rule and a group of his colleagues were involved in a stabbing incident at the Hit Factory, a recording studio in New York City. The details of the incident were blurry, and both Ja Rule and the Def Jam record label refused to comment on the situation; some observers speculated that the skirmish may have been a publicity stunt coordinated to coincide with the release of the Murderers album.

Gathered Gold and Platinum
Early in October of 2001, Ja Rule released a third album, Pain Is Love (named for his tattoo), which sold 360,000 units during its first week on the charts. The numbers added up to a debut at number one, the second chart-topping debut for Ja Rule in just under 12 months. During the second week of release, the album sold an additional 221,000 copies, earning it gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Within a month, Pain Is Love was certified platinum, with over one million units sold.

On the album's promotional tour, launched in late September of 2001, critics hailed Ja Rule and his well-earned success. ABC News online dubbed him "the undisputed King of the street anthem." Others also rated Ja Rule's work highly, including Entertainment Weekly's David Browne, who applauded Ja Rule's "blunt precision" in expressing the depraved imagery characteristic of rap.

In 2003 Ja Rule released Blood in My Eye. The album came out after many critics, particularly other rappers, had accused Ja Rule of selling out and creating rap that was too pop, too easy, too commercial. The album, intended to be an answer to these critics, had a tougher, more "gangsta" feel, yet as a reviewer commented in All Music Guide, Ja Rule was "no match" for the truly gangsta rappers: "He's much better as a singles artist, making catchy pop-rap tracks with grimy posturing and singalong hooks."

Blood in My Eye was followed by R.U.L.E., which was a poor seller. In contrast to the 3.6 million copies sold of Pain Is Love, R.U.L.E. only sold 658,000 in the three years after its release.

In 2007 Ja Rule released The Mirror. He told Gail Mitchell in Billboard that the album reflected the turbulent period of the preceding years, when he became embroiled in a public feud with another rapper, 50 Cent. He said, "It wasn't really a beef, just something he was doing on record. It didn't phase me except when the public reacted. Then it was like, ‘I've got to talk back.’" Rule told Mitchell that after this album, he planned to shift to "player-coach mode," and spend his time working on his new company, Rule Global Media, managing other artists, pursuing film ventures, and even working on a line of clothing.

Composed for Films, Other Artists
Ja Rule's naturally photogenic appearance and camera-friendly demeanor soon led to film roles. He appeared with Pras (of Fugees fame) in Turn It Up (2000), and as street racer Edwin Bishop in director Bob Cohen's 2001 feature The Fast and the Furious. A self-professed workaholic, Ja Rule also contributed songs to both of these films, as well as 1998's Rush Hour, 2001's Rush Hour 2, and State Property. He performed his first R&B composition, "If We," with singer Mariah Carey and Nate Dogg, on Carey's Glitter album in 2001.

Ja Rule, who has also written for Brandy, Shorty 101, Mary J. Blige, and TLC, arranged both music and lyrics for "I'm Real," a duet he recorded with Latina hip-hop diva Jennifer Lopez. The song topped Billboard's Hot 100 Singles in September of 2001.

Among his early regrets, Ja Rule admitted in Vibe, was his failure to secure publication rights to the songs that he wrote for his first two albums, an oversight that allowed TVT Records to retain ownership of the works. He learned from the costly mistake, however, and thereafter published his own compositions under the name of Slavery Music. "It's a beautiful thing to own your own publishing. Not a lot of rappers can say that," declared Ja Rule.

The Real Jeff Atkins
Under the legal name of Jeff Atkins, the singer-turned-actor and composer makes his home in New Jersey. He and his wife, Aisha (Murray) Atkins, who were high school sweethearts, have two children: daughter Britney and a son, Jeffrey Jr. His role as an involved husband and father is a natural counter to the grit and violence of his music.

When Ja Rule was named Vibe magazine's Solo Artist of the Year in 2001, he admitted in an interview with Lola Ogunnaike that he had sold drugs as a youth and continued to use marijuana.

In 2004 Ja Rule got into a fight in a Toronto bar after being called a "wanksta," or "wanna-be gangster." The assault trial resulting from this took place in 2005. On his lawyer's advice, Ja Rule pled guilty to a lesser charge and paid a $1,500 fine.

He had another skirmish with the law in 2007, when he was charged with possessing a loaded .40 caliber handgun in his vehicle. He was released from Manhattan Criminal Court after spending a night in jail and posting $150,000 bail. He put up his house as collateral for the bail.

Selected discography
Venni, Vetti, Vecci, Def Jam, 1999.
(With others) Irv Gotti Presents the Murders, Murder Inc./Def Jam, 1999.
Rule 3:36, Def Jam, 2000.
Pain Is Love, Murder Inc./Def Jam, 2001.
Blood in My Eye, Murder Inc./Def Jam, 2003.
R.U.L.E., Def Jam, 2004.
The Mirror, Def Jam, 2007.

Sources
Periodicals
Billboard, June 19, 1999, p. 21; January 28, 2006, p. 24; August 18, 2007, p. 57; October 13, 2007, p. 66.
Entertainment Weekly, October 12, 2001, p. 86; December 21, 2001, p. 57.
Jet, July 16, 2001, p. 36.
New York Post, July 24, 2007, p. 9.
Record (Bergen County, NJ), February 28, 2008, p. A4.
Toronto Life, May 2005, p. 25.
Vibe, January 2002, p. 86.

Online
"Ja Rule Blood in My Eye," Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2003/nov/07/popandrock.shopping6 (November 25, 2008).
"Ja Rule Expanding His Resume to Include Songwriting," Yahoo! Music, http://www.music.yahoo.com/music/news/launch/story.ht…20/2/p1&b'n/music/news/launch/urban/20010920/2/p2 (December 26, 2001).
"Ja Rule, Murderers, and Fifty Cent Involved in Stabbing," Yahoo! Music, http://www.urban.yahoo.com/urban/musicnews/launch/…html?s'n/launch/urban/news/20000324/20000324002 (December 26, 2001).
"Nominees Bios: Ja Rule," ABC News, http://www.abc.go.com/primetime/specials/rma/bios/Ja_Rule_song2.html (December 26, 2001).
"Review Blood in My Eye," AllMusic, http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311102142403183&sql=Aehu36j737190 (November 25, 2008).

AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:

Ja Rule

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Genres: Rap

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, Rovi

Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Ja Rule

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Ja Rule
Ja Rule with Jaid Barrymore
Background information
Birth name	Jeffery Atkins
Born	February 29, 1976 (1976-02-29) (age 35) Queens, New York, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop, east coast hip hop
Occupations	Rapper, Actor, Songwriter
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Def Jam, The Inc., Mpire Music Group, Fontana Distribution
Associated acts	Ashanti, Jay-Z, DMX, Irv Gotti, Fat Joe, Memphis Bleek
Website	ruleyork.com

Jeffrey Atkins (born February 29, 1976),^[1] better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor from Queens, New York City.

Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla". From 2000 to 2004, Ja Rule had several hits that made the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, including "Between Me and You" with Christina Milian, "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" with Jennifer Lopez, "Always on Time" with Ashanti, "Mesmerize" also with Ashanti, and "Wonderful" with R. Kelly and Ashanti. During the 2000s, Ja Rule was signed to The Inc. Records, which was formerly known as Murder Inc. and was led by Irv Gotti. Ja Rule has sold over 30 million records worldwide and was the fastest selling rapper in 2001. He is also known for some well-publicized feuds with other rappers (in-particular 50 Cent and Eminem)

Early life

Atkins was born in the Queens borough of New York City.^[1] He was raised as a Jehovah's Witness 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. He attended Public School 134 in Hollis, a school he has described as having a predominantly black student body. He has said got into many fights at the school because of his small size, so his mother transferred him to Middle School 172 in Glen Oaks, which he has described as a "white school".^[3]

Music career

Atkins began his rap career in 1994 with his classic hip hop group Cash Money Click. told Curtis Waller of MTV News that his stage name "Ja Rule" came from a friend who addressed him by that name; other friends called him "Ja".^[4] In 1995, he made his first appearance on Mic Geronimo's "Time to Build" which featured Jay-Z and DMX, who were also in their early stages of their careers. In 1998, he was a featured guest on Jay-Z's hit single "Can I Get A..." along with Amil which Ja Rule also wrote the hook, and was going to be a Ja Rule solo song, until Jay heard the track.

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. "Holla Holla" reached #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #2 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.^[5] Venni Vetti Vecci was certified platinum by the RIAA on July 12, 1999.^[6]

Rule 3:36 (2000)

Ja Rule returned in 2000 with his new single "Between Me and You", which featured Christina Milian. "Between Me and You" reached #11 on the Hot 100, and "Put It On Me" reached #8 on the Hot 100.^[5] Ja's second album, Rule 3:36, was released on October 10, 2000. Rule 3:36 debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified triple platinum.^[6]

Pain Is Love (2001)

During the late summer of 2001, Ja Rule released his third studio album, Pain Is Love. "Living It Up", featuring Case, reached #11 on the Hot 100, and "Always on Time", which featured Ashanti, reached #1 on the Hot 100.^[5] Like its predecessor, Pain Is Love topped the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum.^[6] By 2007, 3.6 million copies of Pain Is Love had been sold.^[7] Ja Rule could also be heard on Artists against AIDS Worldwide's single "What's Going On."

The Last Temptation (2002)

The Last Temptation, Ja Rule's fourth album, was released on November 19, 2002. It featured the two Billboard Top 10 singles "Thug Lovin'" (#8) and "Mesmerize" (#2), another duet with Ashanti.^[5] The Last Temptation debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200.^[8] The Last Temptation was certified platinum in December 2002.^[6]

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" which reached #5 on the Top 100 and won him the Source Awards'"Fat Tape" song of the year. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard 100 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart selling 139,000 copies in its first week of release. It has since sold over 468,000 copies in the U.S.^[8] In October 2003, Ja Rule met with Minister Louis Farrakhan, who wanted to intervene and prevent escalating violence in the feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent.^[9]

R.U.L.E. (2004)

Ja Rule's sixth studio album R.U.L.E. was released in November 2004 debuting at number 7 selling 166,000 copies in its first week of release. Its lead single was "Wonderful" featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti which peaked on the Billboard Top 100 Singles at #5. The single was followed by the street anthem New York featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss which charted at #27. The third single was the love song "Caught Up" featuring Lloyd and Ashanti which charted at #15. The track "The Manual" was also a single in the UK where it peaked at #9. The RIAA certified R.U.L.E. Gold on January 14, 2005,^[6] and by October 2007, the album had sold 658,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.^[7]

Hiatus, departure from Def Jam (2005–2009)

Ja Rule performing in Fort Hood, Texas, May 13, 2005

On December 6, 2005, The Inc. released Exodus, a greatest hits album whose only new tracks were the song "Me" and intro and outro tracks. 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.^[10] 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).

In 2009, Ja Rule recorded a new song with Brazilian singer Wanessa, "Fly", sung entirely in English despite the singer's nationality. The song also received a version named "Meu Momento", also featuring Ja Rule, in which Wanessa sings in Portuguese.^[11] "Fly" was released as a single in Brazil in April. The song was ranked number #1 on Crowley/Brazil,^[12] and it was nominated in the "Hit do Ano" ("Hit Song of the Year") category at the 2009 MTV Video Music Brasil awards show, where Ja Rule and Wanessa performed together for the first time.^[13]

Ja Rule also ended his long running feud with his former Def Jam labelmate DMX at VH1's 2009 Hip Hop Honors in September.^[14] Ja Rule announced that he was no longer signed to The Inc. Records, the label he has been with since its beginnings in 1997.^[15]

Pain Is Love 2 (2011-Present)

In February 2011, It was announced that Ja Rule is working on another album called Pain Is Love 2, naming it after the original 2001 triple platinum album (Pain Is Love). It will feature production from the producers on the original Pain Is Love album in order to "recreate magic". He had planned on releasing it June 7, although later decided to delay the release date in order to allow more time to perfect the "level and quality of the records" and to avoid "doing an injustice to his fans."^[16]^[17]^[18]
Pain Is Love 2 was slated for an October 11, 2011 release date but had been pushed back yet again, this time to February 28, 2012.^[19] To make up for the delay Ja Rule released a new track called "Falling to Pieces" which was produced by 7 Aurelius. The song samples The Script's "Breakeven".^[20]^[21] On October 2, 2011, another track off the EP was released called "Spun a Web" which was also produced 7 Aurelius and samples Coldplay's "Trouble". The following day a teaser music video premiered on YouTube and the official music video was released on October 11.^[22] Ja Rule's P.I.L. 2 album is scheduled to be released on February 28, 2012.

Acting career

During his break from rapping, Ja Rule had an appearance as a street racer in The Fast and the Furious. In 2004 He appeared in several movies including Back in The Day with Ving Rhames and Pam Grier and Half Past Dead as Steven Segal's co-star. He also starred in the movie The Cookout with Queen Latifah.

Personal life

Family

In April 2001, Ja Rule married Aisha Murray ^[23].^[24].^[25]^[26]

Legal issues

In 2003, he allegedly punched a man in Toronto, who later sued Ja Rule. The issue was settled out of court.^[27]

In 2004, police investigated whether a feud involving The Inc. led to fatal shooting outside a nightclub party hosted by Ja Rule and Leon Richardson where they thought he shot Proof of D12.^[28]^[29]

On July 1, 2004, Ja Rule was arrested with Don Rhys for driving with a suspended license and possessing marijuana.^[30]

In July 2007, Ja Rule was arrested for gun and drug possession charges along with Lil Wayne, and Don Rhys who served eight months in prison during 2010 for attempted possession of a weapon stemming from the arrest.^[31]^[32]^[33] New York Supreme Court judge Richard Carruthers rejected Ja Rule's argument that the gun was illegally obtained evidence.^[34]^[35] On December 13, 2010, Ja Rule received a two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to attempted possession of a weapon after the aforementioned 2007 concert. On March 8, 2011 Ja Rule's surrender date for his two year prison sentence was set for June 8.^[36] His publicist said that Ja Rule will turn himself into authorities. He will go to Rikers Island first, then be sent to a state facility in Upstate New York.^[37]

In July 2011, Ja Rule received an additional 28-month prison sentence for tax evasion, failing to pay taxes on more than $3 million in earnings between 2004–2006.^[38]

Feuds

50 Cent/G-Unit Records

Before signing with Interscope Records, 50 Cent engaged in a well-publicized feud with Ja Rule and his label Murder Inc. Records. 50 Cent claimed that the feud began in 1999 after Ja Rule spotted him with a man who robbed him of his jewelry.^{[citation needed]} However, Ja Rule claimed the conflict stemmed from a video shoot in Queens because 50 Cent did not like Ja Rule "getting so much love" from the neighborhood.^[39] A confrontation occurred in a New York studio where rapper Black Child, a Murder Inc. artist, stabbed 50 Cent, which resulted in him having three stitches. .^[3]

In his book, 50 Cent details how Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff tried to resolve the conflict between him and Ja Rule. Allegedly, McGriff asked 50 Cent to leave them alone because of the money involved. 50 Cent insinuated the conflict had something to do with the shooting where he was ambushed and shot.

Since then, Black Child publicly insulted 50 Cent twice in, "There's a Snitch in the Club", and "You the Wanksta". In both songs, Black Child details violent actions directed toward 50 Cent ^[3] The exchange of insult tracks released from both parties culminated in Ja Rule releasing Blood in My Eye, which was an album that returned additional insults to 50 Cent. Ja Rule eventually tried to squash the feud with 50 Cent by using minister Louis Farrakhan in a televised interview. However, the attempt at peace lost credibility as the interview was scheduled a day before Blood in My Eye was released. As a result, most fans, along with 50 Cent, dismissed the interview as a blatant publicity stunt. Because of the ongoing feud between the two, 50 Cent's labelmates Eminem, Dr. Dre, Obie Trice, D12, DMX, and Busta Rhymes have also become involved and have also released tracks which insult Ja Rule.^[3]

Ja Rule later released R.U.L.E. with the successful single, "New York", featuring Jadakiss and Fat Joe in which Ja Rule took subliminal shots at 50 Cent. This single prompted 50 Cent to enter a feud with the two featured artists (see article on "Piggy Bank" for details).

Although it seemed that the feud was over, Ja Rule returned with a track entitled "21 Gunz".^[40] In response, Lloyd Banks and 50 Cent released the track "Return of Ja Fool" on Lloyd Banks' mixtape Mo Money in the Bank Pt. 4, Gang Green Season Starts Now.^[40]

In an interview with MTV, Ja Rule acknowledged his defeat against 50 Cent and stated that his new album, The Mirror, will not be continuing any past feuds that he has engaged in. He said:

There was a lot of things I wanted to say, and I didn't want there to be any bitter records on the album. Because I'm not bitter about anything that happened [in the past few years].^[41]

Eminem

The conflict started after 50 Cent signed to Shady Records and Aftermath. Ja Rule stated that he had a problem with Eminem and Dr. Dre for signing someone he disliked.^[42] On November 19, Ja Rule and Irv Gotti were special guests on Star and Bucwild's morning show on Hot 97 NYC. Irv Gotti had some legal documents stating the order of protection 50 has on him.^[43]

Ja Rule threatened that, if 50 Cent released any songs with defamatory or insulting lyrics directed at him, he would take legal action towards both of them.^[42]^[43] However, Dr. Dre was the one who produced 50 Cent's track "Back Down" in 2003 from the album Get Rich Or Die Tryin', which made derogatory comments toward Murder Inc., and Ja Rule's immediate family members. "^[44]^{[dead link]}

Busta Rhymes joined the conflict when he was featured on the track "Hail Mary 2003", with Eminem and 50 Cent. The song, a remake of Tupac Shakur's song "Hail Mary", was done partially as a response to Ja Rule's remake of another Tupac song, "Pain" (retitled "So Much Pain"). The rappers felt that Rule could never amount to Tupac, and so made the track, mocking him for trying to "imitate" the deceased rap icon. Eminem prevented Ja Rule from appearing on any of the "new" Tupac songs he produced, including those on Loyal to the Game.^[43]

The conflict escalated when Ja Rule released, "Loose Change" (actually released before "Hail Mary"), in which he insulted 50 Cent, called Eminem by the name "Feminem", falsely announced Dr. Dre as "bisexual", and claimed that Suge Knight knew of Dre "bringing transvestites home".^[44] The song also includes lyrics that insulted Eminem's mother, Debbie, his then ex-wife, Kim, and even referenced his then 8-year-old daughter, Hailie. "^[42]

These lyrics offended Eminem deeply, causing him to immediately get his rap group D12 involved, as well as the major part of his label, including Obie Trice, his close friend.^[44] Eminem then made the track Bully, and together, he and Trice responded with a song titled "Doe Rae Me" (aka "Hailie's Revenge"). Eminem also made a reference to Ja Rule's insult toward Hailie in "Like Toy Soldiers", by saying:

"I need to be the leader, my crew looks for me to guide 'em, if some shit ever does pop off, I'm supposed to be beside 'em. That Ja shit I tried to squash it, it was too late to stop it. There's a certain line you just don't cross and he crossed it. I heard him say Hailie's name on a song and I just lost it."

Since then the feud has cooled down.^[42]

DMX

Ja Rule started off as friends with DMX, as well as Jay-Z. DMX, Jay-Z and Ja Rule were part of a group at the time named Murder Inc. (The name was later used by Ja's producer Irv Gotti for his record label.) They recorded songs under the name together. DMX and Jay-Z also guest starred on Ja Rule's first album on the track "It's Murda". Eventually Ja Rule's feuds with Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, and Eminem went away.

The two rappers waged a war of words for years after DMX accused Ja Rule of copying his hardcore style on records.^[45] DMX admitted that he initially wanted to end with his rap rival when he was released from jail in 2005 before making peace: "Gotti came to me in jail and said I want to make peace with you and him", said DMX, "I was like, 'Alright Gotti, let's do it. But I need five minutes in a room with your man. I got to put my hands on him.'"^[45]

DMX and Ja Rule finally ended their feud at VH1's 2009 Hip Hop Honors.^[46]

Discography

Main article: Ja Rule discography

Studio albums

1999: Venni Vetti Vecci
2000: Rule 3:36
2001: Pain Is Love
2002: The Last Temptation
2003: Blood in My Eye
2004: R.U.L.E.
2012: Pain Is Love 2 ^[47]
2012: Renaissance Project ^[47]

Other albums

2005: Exodus
2008: The Mirror

Awards and nominations

Year	Award/Nomination
2001	Source Hip-Hop Music Award Won for Single of the Year – "Put It on Me"
2001	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/Song 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"
2009	MTV Video Music Brasil nomination for Hit do Ano (Song of the Year) – "Fly"

Filmography

List of film and television credits
Year	Title	Role	Notes
2000	Turn It Up	David "Gage" Williams
2000	Backstage	Himself
2001	Crime Partners	Hitman
2001	The Fast and the Furious	Edwin
2002	Half Past Dead	Nicolas 'Nick' Frazier
2003	Scary Movie 3	Agent Thompson
2003	Pauly Shore Is Dead	Himself
2004	The Cookout	Bling Bling
2004	Shall We Dance?	Hip Hop Bar Performer
2005	Back in the Day	Reggie Cooper
2005	Assault on Precinct 13	Smiley
2006	Furnace	Terrence Dufresne
2009	"Just Another Day	himself
2009	Don't Fade Away	Foster
2009	Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jumpoff	himself^[48]
2010	Wrong Side of Town	Razor
2011	I'm in Love with a Church Girl	Miles Montego	His real son plays the younger version of himself, Miles.
2012	The Cookout 2	Bling Bling	Sequel to The Cookout
2013	Goat	Willie

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Birchmeier, Jason (2007). "AllMusic Biography". allmusic. http://allmusic.com/artist/ja-rule-p366173/biography. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
^ Hughes, Zondra (2002-04). Ja Rule: rap star rules hearts & charts – Jeffrey Atkins. p. 140. http://books.google.com/?id=o9kDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPA140,M1
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d 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 2008-12-01. "The first school I went to was all-black, PS 134. I used to fight every day, and got my ass kicked everytime, so my mom figured I should be bused out — you know the busing thing in Boston? So they bused me on out to a white school, MS 172, where it was a little bit better. I didn't have any black friends there, but I learned how to deal with that situation and get along."
^ Waller, Curtis (2001-02-17). "Ja Rule: Rules of the Game". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/j/jarule01/index2.jhtml. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Ja Rule: Billboard Singles". allmusic. http://allmusic.com/artist/ja-rule-p366173/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Gold & Platinum: Ja Rule". 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=2010&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
^ ^a ^b Mitchell, Gail (October 7, 2007). "Rapper Ja Rule releasing first album in 3 years". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0720752020071007. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Ja Rule – Charts & Awards (Billboard Albums)". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p366173. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
^ "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 2008-04-150.
^ 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.
^ "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 2009-04-05.
^ "Sucesso de Wanessa Camargo chega no topo das paradas". MSN Entretenimento. http://entretenimento.br.msn.com/famosidades/noticias-artigo.aspx?cp-documentid=20437239. Retrieved 2009-07-05. ^{[dead link]}
^ "Wanessa Camargo e Ja Rule tocarão no VMB". Rolling Stone Brasil. http://www.rollingstone.com.br/secoes/novas/noticias/6133/. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
^ http://www.sohh.com/2009/09/ja_rule_declares_dmx_rap.html DMX Officially Ends Feud With Ja Rule
^ Tardio, Andres (2009-08-06). "Ja Rule Says No '09 Album, Talks Film". http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9590/title.exclusive-ja-rule-speaks-on-upcoming-projects. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
^ Ja Rule Working On ‘Pain Is Love Pt. 2′ « GetWrite Mixtapes And R.E.A.L. Music LLC. Official Blog Site. Getwritegossip.com (2011-02-08). Retrieved on 2011-04-25.
^ Ja Rule working on "Pain is Love 2". Hip Hop Vibe(2011-02-09). Retrieved on 2011-04-25.
^ Ja Rule Delays "Pain Is Love 2"
^ http://www.amazon.com/Pil-2-Ja-Rule/dp/B006EMSNN4/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1326381032&sr=1-2
^ http://www.soulculture.co.uk/blogs/music-blog/newmusic/ja-rule-falling-2-pieces-new-music/
^ http://hiphopwired.com/2011/09/23/ja-rule-releases-falling-to-pieces-audio/
^ http://hiphop-n-more.com/2011/10/ja-rule-spun-a-web/
^ Hughes, Zondra (2002-04). Ja Rule: rap star rules hearts & charts – Jeffrey Atkins. p. 142. http://books.google.com/books?id=o9kDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPA142,M1
^ Borow, Zev. "33 Things You Should Know About Ja Rule". Blender. August 2002. http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=361. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
^ Hughes, Zondra (2002-04). Ja Rule: rap star rules hearts & charts – Jeffrey Atkins. p. 142. http://books.google.com/books?id=o9kDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPA142,M1
^ "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 2009-05-24.
^ "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 2007-09-12.
^ "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 2007-09-12.
^ 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 2007-09-12.
^ Tavernise, Sabrina (2004-07-02). "Rapper and Tap Dancer Arrested". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/02/nyregion/metro-briefing-new-york-manhattan-rapper-and-tap-dancer-arrested.html. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
^ Shepherd, Julianne (July 23, 2007). "Lil Wayne, Ja Rule Arrested After NY Performance". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080415212128/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/07/wayne_ja_rule_arrested/.
^ Brunswick, Deborah (July 23, 2007). "2 hip-hop stars arrested in New York after concert". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/23/rappers.arrested/index.html. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
^ Grace, Melissa (December 13, 2010). "Rapper Ja Rule gets two year jail sentence after pleading guilty to weapon possession". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/12/13/2010-12-13_rapper_ja_rule_gets_twoyear_jail_sentence_after_pleading_guilty_to_attempted_wea.html. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
^ "Judge: Gun Stays as Evidence in Ja Rule's NYC Case". ABCNews.com. Associated Press. January 20, 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=9615288. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
^ Grace, Melissa (January 20, 2010). "Judge tosses rapper Ja Rule's 'weed' plea in gun case". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/01/20/2010-01-20_judge_tosses_rapper_ja_rules_weed_plea_in_gun_case.html. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
^ "Ja Rule to go to prison in June in NYC gun case." MSNBC. March 9, 2011. Retrieved on June 8, 2011.
^ CNN Wire Staff. "Rapper Ja Rule to turn himself in for prison sentence Wednesday." CNN. June 8, 2011. Retrieved on June 8, 2011.
^ Theo Bark (19 July 2011). "Ja Rule Receives Additional Jail Time for Tax Evasion". http://www.theboombox.com/. http://www.theboombox.com/2011/07/19/ja-rule-receives-28-month-sentence-for-tax-evasion/. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
^ MTV News (3 November 2003). "Ja Rule on 50 Cent, God and Hip-Hop". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/bands/j/ja_rule/news_feature_031103/index.jhtml. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
^ ^a ^b Illseed (April 2006). "Hip-Hop Rumors: Kay Slay Doll, Ja Rule, Happy 1,000Th To Illseed!". Allhiphop. http://web.archive.org/web/20060504185544/http://www.allhiphop.com/rumors/?ID=1002. Retrieved 25 July 2007.
^ Rodriguez, Jayson (12 July 2007). "Ja Rule Leaves Bitterness — and 50 Cent Beef — Behind on New Album". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1564678/20070712/ja_rule.jhtml. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d http://www.eminemlab.com/eminemenemies/jarule.html
^ ^a ^b ^c "Eminem's Enemies, Rivals and Beefs: Ja Rule". EminemLab.com. http://www.eminemlab.com/eminemenemies/jarule.html. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c http://hiphop.sh/minc?page=0%2C1
^ ^a ^b "DMX ENDS FEUD WITH JA RULE". http://news.superiorpics.com/2006/09/28/DMX_ENDS_FEUD_WITH_JA_RULE.html.
^ "Daily News - : DMX Officially Ends Feud With Ja Rule". Allhiphop.com. http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2009/09/24/21952137.aspx. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
^ ^a ^b Kuperstein, Slava. (2011-03-19) DX News Bits: Lil Wayne Signs Porcelain Black, Ja Rule Plans 2 Albums In 1 Day, Rev. Run Signs Watch Deal | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales. HipHop DX. Retrieved on 2011-04-25.
^ Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jumpoff (Video 2009), IMDB.com

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ja Rule

v d e Ja Rule

Studio albums	Venni Vetti Vecci Rule 3:36 Pain Is Love The Last Temptation Blood in My Eye R.U.L.E. Pain Is Love 2 Renaissance Project

Other albums	Exodus The Mirror

Singles	"Holla Holla" "Between Me and You" "Put It on Me" "I Cry" "Livin' It Up" "Always on Time" "Down Ass Bitch" "Down 4 U" "Thug Lovin'" "Mesmerize" "Clap Back" "Wonderful" "New York" "Caught Up" "Uh-Ohhh!" "Body" "Real Life Fantasy"

Featured artist	"Can I Get A..." "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" "Damn (Should've Treated U Right)" "Get Da Money" "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" "What's Going On" "Rainy Dayz" "What's Luv?" "Fly" "I'm Here"

Related articles	Discography The Inc. Records

v d e Def Jam Recordings

Founders	Russell Simmons Rick Rubin

Current artists	Ace Hood Ameriie Asher Roth Big Boi Big Sean Brutha Chrisette Michele DJ Clue? The-Dream Electrik Red Fabolous Fast Life Yungstaz Ghostface Killah Jadakiss Jennifer Lopez Jeremih Juelz Santana Kanye West Karina LL Cool J Ludacris Method Man Method Man & Redman Nas Ne-Yo Patti LaBelle Pusha T Redman Rick Ross Rihanna Ron Isley Sheek Louch Shyne The Roots Triple C's U.S.D.A YG Young Jeezy

Former artists	3rd Bass Alyson Williams Ashanti Beanie Sigel Beastie Boys B.G. Knocc Out Bobby V Boss Cam'ron Capone-N-Noreaga Case Chingy Cormega Cru Davy D Def Squad The Diplomats DJ Richie Rich DMX Domino Downtown Science The Dove Shack Dresta Dru Hill EPMD Fam-Lay Flatlinerz Foxy Brown Funkmaster Flex Flesh-n-Bone I-20 Ja Rule Jay-Z Jayo Felony Joe Budden · Jonell Keith Murray Kelly Price Lady Gaga Lady Luck Lil Ru Lil Scrappy Lloyd LovHer Megan Rochell MoKenStef Montell Jordan Musiq Soulchild Nikki D N.O.R.E. Nice & Smooth Nicole Wray N-Dubz Onyx Oran "Juice" Jones Peedi Peedi Pete Nice Playa Rell Rev Run Richie Rich Scarface Selan Lerner Shareefa Shawnna Sisqó Slayer Slick Rick South Central Cartel Terminator X Terri Walker Unladylike Warren G WC Y?N-Vee

Persondata
Name	Ja Rule
Alternative names	rule, jamal
Short description	rapper, actor
Date of birth	February 29, 1976
Place of birth	New York City, New York, United States
Date of death
Place of death

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		AMG AllMovie Guide. Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved. Read more
		Gale Musician Profiles. Contemporary Musicians © 1989-2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists. Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia on Answers.com. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Ja Rule. Read more

	John Goodman: Saturday Night Live (TV Episode) (2001 Comedy TV Episode)
	The Murderers (Rap Band, 2000s)
	R.U.L.E. (2004 Album by Ja Rule)

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