Jeffrey Atkins better known by his
stage nameA stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.
Born in
Hollis, QueensHollis is a neighborhood within the southeastern section of the New York City borough of Queens. A predominantly African American community, the boundaries are considered to be the Far Rockaway Branch of the Long Island Rail Road to the west, Hillside Avenue to the north, Francis Lewis Boulevard to...
, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with
Venni Vetti VecciVenni Vetti Vecci is the debut studio album by American recording artist Ja Rule, released through Murder Inc. Records. The album title alludes to the Latin phrase "veni, vidi, vici", meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered". The album was also the first release on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records imprint...
and its single "
Holla Holla"Holla Holla" is the debut single by American rapper Ja Rule from his debut studio album Venni Vetti Vecci. It was produced by Irv Gotti and Tyrone Fyffe...
". From 2000 to 2004, Ja Rule had several hits that made the top 20 of the US
Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, including "
Between Me and You"Between Me and You" is the first single from Ja Rule's second album, Rule 3:36. The single features Christina Milian and was released on June 16, 2000, to radio. The song was his first hit, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It also reached #26 on the UK Singles Chart. The song...
" with
Christina MilianChristine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....
, "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" with
Jennifer LopezJennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, "
Always on Time"Always on Time" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule, featuring Ashanti, and produced by Irv Gotti. The music was written by 7 Aurelius, Ja Rule and Irving Lorenzo. The song became both Ashanti's first Hot 100 number one single and Ja Rule's second....
" with Ashanti, "Mesmerize" also with Ashanti, and "
Wonderful"Wonderful" is the lead single from rapper Ja Rule's 2004 album R.U.L.E.. The song features American pop-R&B singers R. Kelly and Ashanti. Hype Williams directed the music video....
" with
R. KellyRobert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
and Ashanti. During the 2000s, Ja Rule was signed to
The Inc. RecordsThe Inc. Records , is an American record label, owned by Irv Gotti.In 1999, Murder Inc. released its first album, Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule. The album featured the hit single "Holla Holla". The album was executively produced by Irv Gotti and moved on to go platinum, which rose Ja Rule and...
, which was formerly known as Murder Inc. and was led by Irv Gotti.Ja rule has sold over 30million records worldwide and was the fastest selling rapper in 2001.
Early life
Atkins was born in the Queens borough of
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was raised as a Jehovah's Witness by his mother, health care worker Debra Atkins, and grandparents. At the age of five his sister died from breathing complications, leaving him as an only child. He attended
Public School 134The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
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".
Music career
Atkins began his rap career in 1994 with his classic hip hop group Cash Money Click. told Curtis Waller of
MTV NewsMTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
that his stage name "Ja Rule" came from a friend who addressed him by that name; other friends called him "Ja". In 1995, he made his first appearance on Mic Geronimo's "Time to Build" which featured
Jay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
and
DMXEarl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
, 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..."Can I Get A..." is a 1998 single by rapper Jay-Z that features Amil and Ja Rule. It was released on Def Jam's Rush Hour Soundtrack in promotion of the film Rush Hour, but also appears on Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. The song is produced by Irv Gotti and Lil' Rob...
" along with Amil.
Venni Vetti Vecci (1999)
His debut album
Venni Vetti VecciVenni Vetti Vecci is the debut studio album by American recording artist Ja Rule, released through Murder Inc. Records. The album title alludes to the Latin phrase "veni, vidi, vici", meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered". The album was also the first release on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records imprint...
was released in 1999. Singles included "
Holla Holla"Holla Holla" is the debut single by American rapper Ja Rule from his debut studio album Venni Vetti Vecci. It was produced by Irv Gotti and Tyrone Fyffe...
" and "It's Murda" with Jay-Z and DMX. "Holla Holla" reached #35 on the
Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart and #2 on the
Hot Rap TracksRap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
chart.
Venni Vetti Vecci was certified platinum by the RIAA on July 12, 1999.
Rule 3:36 (2000)
Ja Rule returned in 2000 with his new single "
Between Me and You"Between Me and You" is the first single from Ja Rule's second album, Rule 3:36. The single features Christina Milian and was released on June 16, 2000, to radio. The song was his first hit, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It also reached #26 on the UK Singles Chart. The song...
", which featured
Christina MilianChristine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....
. "
Between Me and You"Between Me and You" is the first single from Ja Rule's second album, Rule 3:36. The single features Christina Milian and was released on June 16, 2000, to radio. The song was his first hit, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It also reached #26 on the UK Singles Chart. The song...
" reached #11 on the Hot 100, and "
Put It On Me"Put It on Me" is a single by Dr. Dre and DJ Quik from the Training Day soundtrack. The song is produced by Dr. Dre. It was later on DJ Quik's 2002 album Under tha Influence.Around this time, Ja Rule had a single by the same title out...
" reached #8 on the Hot 100. Ja's second album,
Rule 3:36-Chart positions:-References:...
, was released on October 10, 2000.
Rule 3:36-Chart positions:-References:...
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart and was certified triple platinum.
Pain Is Love (2001)
During the late summer of 2001, Ja Rule released his third studio album,
Pain Is Love-Chart positions:...
. "
Living It UpLiving It Up is a 1954 film comedy starring the team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and released by Paramount Pictures.The film was directed by Norman Taurog and produced by Paul Jones. The screenplay by Jack Rose and Melville Shavelson was based on the 1953 musical Hazel Flagg by Ben Hecht, in...
", featuring
CaseCase Woodard, stage name Case, is an American R&B singer who was born in New York City.-Music career:After stints with R&B group Future and a duo called Black, Case got work co-writing and singing background for artists including Usher, Christopher Williams and Al B. Sure. Case finally felt close...
, reached #11 on the Hot 100, and "
Always on Time"Always on Time" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule, featuring Ashanti, and produced by Irv Gotti. The music was written by 7 Aurelius, Ja Rule and Irving Lorenzo. The song became both Ashanti's first Hot 100 number one single and Ja Rule's second....
", which featured
AshantiAshanti Shequoiya Douglas is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, and model. She rose to fame in the early 2000s. Ashanti is most famous for her eponymous debut album, which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold over 503,000 copies in its first week of release...
, reached #1 on the Hot 100. Like its predecessor,
Pain Is Love topped the
Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum. By 2007, 3.6 million copies of
Pain Is Love had been sold. Ja Rule could also be heard on Artists against AIDS Worldwide's single "
What's Going On"What's Going On" is a song written by Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Al Cleveland, and Marvin Gaye. It was the title track of Gaye's groundbreaking 1971 Motown album What's Going On, and it became a crossover hit single that reached #2 on the pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts...
."
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'Thug Lovin is a single by rapper Ja Rule featuring singer Bobby Brown, released in late 2002 as the first single from the album The Last Temptation...
" (#8) and "Mesmerize" (#2), another duet with Ashanti.
The Last Temptation debuted at #4 on the
Billboard 200.
The Last Temptation was certified platinum in December 2002.
Blood in My Eye (2003)
Blood in My Eye- Chart positions :...
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 AlbumsTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart selling 139,000 copies in its first week of release. It has since sold over 468,000 copies in the U.S. In October 2003, Ja Rule met with Minister
Louis FarrakhanLouis Farrakhan Muhammad, Sr. is the leader of the African-American religious movement the Nation of Islam . He served as the minister of major mosques in Boston and Harlem, and was appointed by the longtime NOI leader, Elijah Muhammad, before his death in 1975, as the National Representative of...
, who wanted to intervene and prevent escalating violence in the feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent.
R.U.L.E. (2004)
Ja Rule's sixth studio album
R.U.L.E.-Chart positions:...
was released in November 2004 debuting at number 7 selling 166,000 copies in its first week of release. Its lead single was "
Wonderful"Wonderful" is the lead single from rapper Ja Rule's 2004 album R.U.L.E.. The song features American pop-R&B singers R. Kelly and Ashanti. Hype Williams directed the music video....
" featuring
R. KellyRobert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
and
AshantiAshanti Shequoiya Douglas is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, and model. She rose to fame in the early 2000s. Ashanti is most famous for her eponymous debut album, which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold over 503,000 copies in its first week of release...
which peaked on the Billboard Top 100 Singles at #5. The single was followed by the street anthem
New York"New York" is a 2004 single by rapper Ja Rule, featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss, from his album R.U.L.E.. The track was produced by Cool & Dre, and the chorus is based around Boogie Down Productions' 1990 song, "100 Guns" The song peaked at #27 on the US Hot 100 chart, #14 on U.S...
featuring
Fat JoeJoseph Antonio Cartagena , better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....
and
JadakissJason Phillips , better known as Jadakiss, is an American rapper. He is a member of the group The LOX. Jadakiss is one of the three owners of the imprint known as D-Block. In early 2007, Jadakiss signed to Roc-a-Fella Records / Def Jam Records.-Early life:By the age of 16, Jadakiss was a freestyle...
which charted at #27. The third single was the love song "
Caught Up"Caught Up" is the third single by American rapper Ja Rule from his sixth studio album R.U.L.E. and was released on May 25, 2005 by The Inc./Def Jam. It features labelmate Lloyd.-Charts:...
" featuring
LloydLloyd Polite, Jr. , who performs under the mononym Lloyd, is an American R&B recording artist, who experienced as a member of the group N-Toon before embarking on a solo career in 2004....
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, and by October 2007, the album had sold 658,000 copies, according to
Nielsen SoundScanNielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
.
Hiatus, departure from Def Jam (2005–2009)
On December 6, 2005, The Inc. released
ExodusExodus is a 2005 compilation album by rapper Ja Rule. He had released an album every year since 1999, but in 2005, with no new album planned The Inc. released this greatest hits album featuring songs such as "Mesmerize" and "Wonderful"....
, 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.
In 2005,
The Inc. RecordsThe Inc. Records , is an American record label, owned by Irv Gotti.In 1999, Murder Inc. released its first album, Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule. The album featured the hit single "Holla Holla". The album was executively produced by Irv Gotti and moved on to go platinum, which rose Ja Rule and...
came under investigation because of drug trades by Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, who was associated with Irv Gotti. 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 RecordsUniversal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
(ironically part of
the same companyUniversal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
as Def Jam).
In 2009, Ja Rule recorded a new song with Brazilian singer
WanessaWanessa Godói Camargo Buaiz , or simply as Wanessa, a Brazilian pop singer-songwriter...
, "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. "Fly" was released as a single in Brazil in April. The song was ranked number #1 on Crowley/Brazil, 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.
Ja Rule also ended his long running feud with his former Def Jam labelmate DMX at VH1's 2009 Hip Hop Honors in September. Ja Rule announced that he was no longer signed to
The Inc. RecordsThe Inc. Records , is an American record label, owned by Irv Gotti.In 1999, Murder Inc. released its first album, Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule. The album featured the hit single "Holla Holla". The album was executively produced by Irv Gotti and moved on to go platinum, which rose Ja Rule and...
, the label he has been with since its beginnings in 1997.
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."
Pain Is Love 2 was slated for an October 11, 2011 release date but had been pushed back yet again, this time to January 17, 2012. To make up for the delay Ja Rule released a new track called "Falling to Pieces" which was produced by
7 AureliusMarcus Vest better known by his stage name Channel 7, formerly 7 Aurelius, is a singer, songwriter, and producer most noted for his work with The Inc. Records....
. The song samples The Script's "
Breakeven"Breakeven" is a song by Irish band The Script, taken from their eponymous debut album.-Music video:...
" and it serves as the first cut for his upcoming EP titled
Pre-Pil2. On October 2, 2011, another track off the EP was released called "Spun a Web" which was also produced 7 Aurelius and samples
ColdplayColdplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
's "Trouble". The following day a teaser music video premiered on YouTube and the official music video was released on October 11.
Acting career
During his break from rapping, Ja Rule had an appearance as a street racer in
The Fast and the FuriousThe Fast and the Furious is a 2001 street racing action film starring Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. Directed by Rob Cohen, The Fast and the Furious was the first mainstream film to feature the Asian automotive import scene in North America. It is the first film...
. In 2004 He appeared in several movies including
Back in The Day with
Ving RhamesIrving Rameses "Ving" Rhames is an American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series.-Early life and education:...
and
Pam GrierPamela Suzette "Pam" Grier is an American actress. She became famous in the early 1970s, after starring in a string of moderately successful women in prison and blaxploitation films such as 1974's Foxy Brown. Her career was revitalized in 1997 after her appearance in Quentin Tarantino's film...
and
Half Past Dead as Steven Segal's co-star. He also starred in the movie
The CookoutThe Cookout is a 2004 comedy film, directed by Lance Rivera. It is co-written by and features Queen Latifah, and is also the feature film debut for her mother Rita Owens.-Plot:...
with
Queen LatifahDana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
.
Family
In April 2001, Ja Rule married Aisha Atkins whom he met in junior high school. They have a daughter, Brittney, and two sons, Jeffrey, Jr. and Jordan.
Legal issues
In 2003, he allegedly punched a man in Toronto, who later sued Ja Rule. The issue was settled out of court.
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
ProofDeShaun Dupree Holton better known as Proof his stage name, was an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. During his career, he was a member of the groups Goon Squad, 5 Elementz, Promatic, and most notably D12...
of
D12D12, an acronym for The Dirty Dozen, is an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. D12 has had chart-topping albums in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia...
.
On July 1, 2004, Ja Rule was arrested with Don Rhys for driving with a suspended license and possessing marijuana.
In July 2007, Ja Rule was arrested for gun and drug possession charges along with
Lil WayneDwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, and Don Rhys who served eight months in prison during 2010 for attempted possession of a weapon stemming from the arrest.
New York Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
judge Richard Carruthers rejected Ja Rule's argument that the gun was illegally obtained evidence. 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. His publicist said that Ja Rule will turn himself into authorities. He will go to
Rikers IslandRikers Island is New York City's main jail complex, as well as the name of the island on which it sits, in the East River between Queens and the mainland Bronx, adjacent to the runways of LaGuardia Airport. The island itself is part of the borough of the Bronx, though it is included as part of...
first, then be sent to a state facility in
Upstate New YorkUpstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
.
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.
50 Cent/G-Unit Records
Before signing with
Interscope RecordsInterscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
,
50 CentCurtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
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. However, Ja Rule claimed the conflict stemmed from a video shoot in
QueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
because 50 Cent did not like Ja Rule "getting so much love" from the neighborhood. 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. 50 Cent filed a so-called "fake" order of protection against Black Child & Irv Gotti.
In his book 50 cent details how Kenneth "Supreme" Mcgriff tried to resolve the conflict between him and Ja Rule.
Supposedly Mcgriff asked 50 to leave them alone because they were making money for Mcgriff.
50 insinuates that the conflict had something to do with the shooting where he was ambushed and shot 9 times.
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 The exchange of insult tracks released from both parties culminated in Ja Rule releasing
Blood in My Eye- Chart positions :...
, 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 FarrakhanLouis Farrakhan Muhammad, Sr. is the leader of the African-American religious movement the Nation of Islam . He served as the minister of major mosques in Boston and Harlem, and was appointed by the longtime NOI leader, Elijah Muhammad, before his death in 1975, as the National Representative of...
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
EminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
,
Dr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
,
Obie TriceObie Trice III is an American rapper and songwriter. He began rapping at the age of 11, and is most known for his time spent signed to Shady Records. Obie Trice has formed his own record label, Black Market Entertainment.-Biography:...
,
D12D12, an acronym for The Dirty Dozen, is an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. D12 has had chart-topping albums in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia...
and
Busta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
have also become involved and have also released tracks which insult Ja Rule.
Ja Rule later released
R.U.L.E.-Chart positions:...
with the successful single, "New York", featuring
JadakissJason Phillips , better known as Jadakiss, is an American rapper. He is a member of the group The LOX. Jadakiss is one of the three owners of the imprint known as D-Block. In early 2007, Jadakiss signed to Roc-a-Fella Records / Def Jam Records.-Early life:By the age of 16, Jadakiss was a freestyle...
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"Piggy Bank" is the fifth track from 50 Cent's second album, The Massacre. It was not released as a single, but charted at eighty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100 due to controversy over its attack on long-time rival Ja Rule, as well as Jadakiss and Fat Joe, who had worked with Ja Rule on his song...
" for details).
Although it seemed that the feud was over, Ja Rule returned with a track entitled "21 Gunz". In response,
Lloyd BanksChristopher Charles Lloyd , better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper and member of the rap group G-Unit. Raised in South Jamaica, Queens, he dropped out of high school in 1998. G-Unit released two albums, Beg for Mercy in 2003 and T.O.S. in 2008...
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.
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:
Eminem
The conflict started after
50 CentCurtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
signed to
Shady RecordsShady Records is an American record label specializing in hip hop music. Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg founded the label in 1999 after the release of The Slim Shady LP.Since the formation, the label has signed nine acts...
and
AftermathAftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by Dr. Dre. It operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records. Current acts include Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent and Slim da Mobster, with former acts including Busta Rhymes, Game, Raekwon,...
. Ja Rule stated that he had a problem with
EminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
and
Dr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
for signing someone he disliked.
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.
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. However, Dr. Dre was the one who produced 50 Cent's track "Back Down" in 2003 from the album
Get Rich Or Die Tryin'Get Rich or Die Tryin is the name of several projects by American rapper 50 Cent:*Get Rich or Die Tryin , 2003 album*Get Rich or Die Tryin , 2005 crime drama*Get Rich or Die Tryin , the film's soundtrack...
, which made derogatory comments toward Murder Inc., and Ja Rule's immediate family members. "
Busta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
joined the conflict when he was featured on the track "Hail Mary 2003", with Eminem and
50 CentCurtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
. The song, a remake of
Tupac ShakurTupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
's song "
Hail Mary"Hail Mary" is Makaveli 's last single from his final album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory featuring Kastro, Young Noble and Yaki Kadafi of The Outlawz & Prince Ital Joe. A music video was shot for the song....
", 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 GameSample credits* "Ghetto Gospel" contains a sample of "Indian Sunset" by Elton John* "Don't You Trust Me?" contains a sample of "Do You Have a Little Time" by Dido-Reception:...
.
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 KnightMarion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
knew of Dre "bringing transvestites home". 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. "
These lyrics offended Eminem deeply, causing him to immediately get his rap group
D12D12, an acronym for The Dirty Dozen, is an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. D12 has had chart-topping albums in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia...
involved, as well as the major part of his label, including
Obie TriceObie Trice III is an American rapper and songwriter. He began rapping at the age of 11, and is most known for his time spent signed to Shady Records. Obie Trice has formed his own record label, Black Market Entertainment.-Biography:...
, his close friend. Eminem then made the track Bully, and together, Trice and Eminem 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"Like Toy Soldiers" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fifth album Encore. The song samples 1989 song "Toy Soldiers" by Martika and the title theme from 1972 film The Hot Rock...
", 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.
DMX
Ja Rule started off as friends with
DMXEarl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
, as well as
Jay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
. DMX, Jay-Z and Ja Rule were part of a group at the time named
Murder Inc.The Inc. Records , is an American record label, owned by Irv Gotti.In 1999, Murder Inc. released its first album, Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule. The album featured the hit single "Holla Holla". The album was executively produced by Irv Gotti and moved on to go platinum, which rose Ja Rule and...
(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 RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
,
Dr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, and
EminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
went away.
The two rappers waged a war of words for years after DMX accused Ja Rule of copying his gruff style on records. 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.'"
DMX and Ja Rule finally ended their feud at VH1's 2009 Hip Hop Honors.
Discography
- Venni Vetti Vecci
Venni Vetti Vecci is the debut studio album by American recording artist Ja Rule, released through Murder Inc. Records. The album title alludes to the Latin phrase "veni, vidi, vici", meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered". The album was also the first release on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records imprint...
(1999)
- Rule 3:36
-Chart positions:-References:...
(2000)
- Pain Is Love
-Chart positions:...
(2001)
- The Last Temptation (2002)
- Blood in My Eye
- Chart positions :...
(2003)
- R.U.L.E.
-Chart positions:...
(2004)
- Renaissance Project
Renaissance Project is the upcoming eighth studio album by American rapper Ja Rule. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily at Mpire Studios in NYC Studio during 2008 to 2011. Production was handled by Rule and several other record producers, including Benzino, 7 Aurelius, and Buck...
(2012)
- Pain Is Love 2 (2012)
Music videos
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 An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
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) "I'm Real" is the name of two songs by Jennifer Lopez. One is the song taken from her second studio album, J.Lo , and the other is "I'm Real ", which features rapper Ja Rule of The Inc. Records "I'm Real" is the name of two songs by Jennifer Lopez. One is the song taken from her second studio...
" |
| MTV Video Music Awards nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video – "Always on Time "Always on Time" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule, featuring Ashanti, and produced by Irv Gotti. The music was written by 7 Aurelius, Ja Rule and Irving Lorenzo. The song became both Ashanti's first Hot 100 number one single and Ja Rule's second....
" |
| American Music Award nominated for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist |
Grammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group – "Put It on Me" |
| Grammy Awards nominated for Best Rap Album – Pain Is Love -Chart positions:...
|
| Grammy Awards nominated for Best Rap/Song Collaboration – "Livin' It Up" |
| World Music Awards The World Music Awards is an international awards show founded in 1989 that annually honors recording artists based on worldwide sales figures provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . John Martinotti is an executive producer and co-founder of the show...
Won for World's Best-Selling Rap Artist |
| BET Awards The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
Won for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Artist |
| GQ Men of the Year Award Won for Musician of the Year |
| Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
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 Turn It Up is a 2000 drama–musical film. It was directed by Robert Adetuyi and stars Ja Rule, Pras, Faith Evans and Jason Statham. The film grossed $1,247,949 during its brief theatrical run.-Cast:*Pras as Diamond*Ja Rule as David "Gage" Williams...
|
David "Gage" Williams |
| 2000 |
Backstage Backstage is a 2000 documentary film directed by Chris Fiore, chronicling the 1999 Hard Knock Life tour that featured several of hip hops top acts including Jay-Z, DMX, Method Man and Redman...
|
Himself |
| 2001 |
Crime Partners |
Hitman |
| 2001 |
The Fast and the Furious The Fast and the Furious is a 2001 street racing action film starring Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. Directed by Rob Cohen, The Fast and the Furious was the first mainstream film to feature the Asian automotive import scene in North America. It is the first film...
|
Edwin |
| 2002 |
Half Past DeadHalf Past Dead is a 2002 action movie in which a criminal infiltrates a prison to interrogate a prisoner about the location of a fortune in gold while an undercover FBI agent has to stop him. The film stars Steven Seagal, Morris Chestnut, Ja Rule, Nia Peeples, Kurupt, and Claudia Christian...
|
Nicolas 'Nick' Frazier |
| 2003 |
Scary Movie 3Scary Movie 3 is a 2003 American science fiction comedy film, which parodies the horror, sci-fi, and mystery genres, directed by David Zucker. It is the third film of the Scary Movie franchise, as well as the first to have no involvement from the Wayans family...
|
Agent Thompson |
| 2003 |
Pauly Shore Is Dead-Additional notes:The film did see a release to theaters in Sacramento, California, and has found/developed a following on DVD.Music from the band Staind's album "Break the Cycle" is used in the movie. Aaron Lewis, vocalist of Staind, also has an appearance in the DVD. Eminem and now deceased...
|
Himself |
| 2004 |
The Cookout The Cookout is a 2004 comedy film, directed by Lance Rivera. It is co-written by and features Queen Latifah, and is also the feature film debut for her mother Rita Owens.-Plot:...
|
Bling Bling |
| 2004 |
Shall We Dance? Shall We Dance? is a 2004 American film. It is a remake of the award-winning Masayuki Suo 1996 Japanese film, Shall We Dance?. The film made its US premier at the Hawaii International Film Festival.-Plot:...
|
Hip Hop Bar Performer |
| 2005 |
Back in the Day Back in the Day is a 2005 Crime drama starring Ja Rule and Ving Rhames and directed by James Hunter. The film was introduced on May 15, 2004 at the Cannes Film Festival and was released a year later in the U.S.A...
|
Reggie Cooper |
| 2005 |
Assault on Precinct 13 Assault on Precinct 13 is a 2005 action thriller film directed by Jean-François Richet, starring Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishburne. The cast also includes John Leguizamo, Maria Bello, Ja Rule and Drea de Matteo...
|
Smiley |
| 2006 |
Furnace Furnace is a 2006 horror film written and directed by William Butler. It stars Danny Trejo, Michael Pare, Tom Sizemore, Ja Rule, and Paul Wall.-Premise:A group of prisoners are assigned to assist in the re-opening of an old prison's closed wing...
|
Terrence Dufresne |
| 2009 |
"Just Another Day |
himself |
| 2009 |
Don't Fade Away Don't Fade Away is a 2009 coming-of-age drama film starring Mischa Barton and Ryan Kwanten. The film has been produced by Origin Entertainment Group and was shot in Los Angeles and North Carolina.It was released on DVD in Australia on April 6, 2011.-Plot:...
|
Foster |
| 2009 |
Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jumpoff |
himself |
| 2010 |
Wrong Side of Town Wrong Side of Town is a 2010 American action crime comedy film written, produced and directed by David DeFalco, starring former ECW, WWE and current TNA superstar Rob Van Dam, former WWE superstar and current mixed martial arts Dave Batista, martial artist Marrese Crump, rapper Ja Rule, and former...
|
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 The Cookout is a 2004 comedy film, directed by Lance Rivera. It is co-written by and features Queen Latifah, and is also the feature film debut for her mother Rita Owens.-Plot:...
|
| 2013 |
Goat |
Willie |
External links