Jump to content

Ja Rule: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[pending revision][pending revision]
Content deleted Content added
Luna Santin (talk | contribs)
m JS: Reverted edits by 67.182.128.182 to last version by Pixel23.
Gorgeousp (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox musical artist
'''Jeffery Atkins''' (born [[February 29]] [[1976]]), also known as '''Ja Rule''' is an american rapper from [[Hollis]], [[Queens]], [[New York City]], [[New York]], [[USA]]. He rose to fame in the late 90s and early 2000's with a string of successfull albums and singles bringing his album sales of 20 million. His frequent feuds with other popular rap artists has made him one of the most notorious rap artists in the industry.
|Name = Ja Rule
{{Infobox_band
|Img = rule.jpg
| band_name = Ja Rule
|Background = solo_singer
| image = [[Image:rule.jpg|200px]]
|Birth_name = Jeffrey Atkins
| caption = Ja Rule in ''[[Half Past Dead]]''
|Alias =
| years_active = Group - 2003-present; Cash Money Click
|Origin = [[Queens]], [[New York City]]
Solo - [[1994]]- present
|Born = February 29, 1976
| origin = [[Hollis, Queens]], [[New York City]], [[New York]], [[USA]]
| music_genre = [[Hip hop music|Rap]]
|Genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
|Years_active = 1998–Present
| record_label = [[The Inc. Records]] / [[Mpire Records]]}}
|Label = [[The Inc. Records]]<br>[[Mpire Records]]}}
|Associated_acts = [[Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti]]<br>[[Irv Gotti]]<br>[[Cadillac Tah]]<br>[[Black Child]]<br>[[Vita (rapper)|Vita]]<br>[[The Inc.]]
}}


'''Jeffery Atkins''' (born [[February 29]] [[1976]]), also known as '''Ja Rule''' is an american rapper from [[Hollis]], [[Queens]], [[New York City]], [[New York]], [[USA]]. He rose to fame in the late 90s and early 2000's with a string of successfull albums and singles bringing his album sales of 20 million. His frequent feuds with other popular rap artists has made him one of the most notorious rap artists in the industry.


==Early career==
==Early career==

Revision as of 15:29, 14 August 2006

Ja Rule

|Associated_acts = Ashanti
Irv Gotti
Cadillac Tah
Black Child
Vita
The Inc. }}

Jeffery Atkins (born February 29 1976), also known as Ja Rule is an american rapper from Hollis, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He rose to fame in the late 90s and early 2000's with a string of successfull albums and singles bringing his album sales of 20 million. His frequent feuds with other popular rap artists has made him one of the most notorious rap artists in the industry.

Early career

Ja Rule first appeared on the song, "Time to Build" with fellow rappers Jay Z and DMX on Mic Geronimo's debut album, "The Natural." Rule later appeared with 0-1 and Chris Black as part of Cash Money Click (not to be confused with Cash Money Records). In 1998, he was signed to Def Jam Recordings, with his first major appearace alongside Jay-Z on the song "Can I Get A...". In 1999, he released his solo debut, Venni Vetti Vecci, and had a hit with the single "Holla Holla". The album went on to be a platinum hit.

In 2000 Ja Rule released Rule 3:36, his second album. The first released single was "Between Me and You" featuring Christina Milian, which proved to be a hit and was followed up by another successful single, "Put It On Me" featuring Vita. The last single, "I Cry" featured Lil Mo. The album recieved an unexpected level of success, it has been certified 3x platinum. During early 2000 Ja Rule was also Featured on Irv Gott's successfull album, "Irv Gotti Presents... The Murderers)This album featured other Murda Inc record label artists as well as DMX, Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes.

On October 2, 2001, Ja Rule released his third album, Pain Is Love. The first single, "Livin' It Up" was a hit which featured guest vocals by R&B singer Case and sampled Stevie Wonder's "Do I Do". The follow up single, "Always On Time", was released in December of the same year and was yet another success for the rapper. The song was notable as it introduced the public to singer Ashanti, who performed on the songs chorus. The album also featured the successful remix "I'm Real" with Jennifer Lopez. Finally, the album included the song "So Much Pain", a tribute to Tupac Shakur, in which Ja Rule mixed his own lyrics with Shakur's. Pain Is Love was certified 3x Platinum.

Ja Rule released The Last Temptation, his fourth studio album in November of 2002. Although the album was fairly successful (it was certified platinum), it failed to carry the momentum brought by Rule's previous album. Lead singles, "Thug Lovin" (featuring Bobby Brown) and "Mesmerize" (featuring Ashanti) were successful hits. Ja Rule also featured on "Irv Gotti Presents... The Inc" and "Irv Gotti Presents the... Remixes" both albums were successfull spawning such hits as "Down 4 U" and "The Pledge Remix".

Blood In My Eye was Rule's fifth album and is most notable for its extensive "diss" tracks aimed at rapper 50 Cent, Eminem, Dr. Dre and others. It was certified gold in the U.S., a relative disappointment compared to his previous record sales.

Ja Rule released "R.U.L.E." in late 2004, and had minor hits with "Wonderful" (featuring R. Kelly), "New York" (featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss), and "Caught Up" (featuring Lloyd). The album was certified gold in the U.S and has gone on to sell 2.4 million copies world wide making R.U.L.E. a successfull return to the music industry after his feud with various other rap artists.

In December of 2005, a compilation album was released, titled "Exodus." Rule has stated that this may be his last album as he has fulfilled his contract with The Inc., his record label, and wants to concentrate on other aspects of his career.

This has been proven to be false. Ja recently released new tracks from his upcoming mixtape MI3 on his myspace page, the mixtape features contributions from other artists such as Ashanti, Lil' Wayne, Nas, Black Child, Caddillac Tah and 01 and brand new signees Harry O, Young Life and The Gift. He also is releasing his first single from his upcoming album "Love is Pain" titled "Get Up".

Film Appearences

Ja Rule has featured and starred in the following films:

  • Da Hip Hop Witch (2000)
  • Turn it Up (2000)
  • Crime Partners (2001)
  • The Fast and the Furious (2001)
  • Half Past Dead (2002)
  • Scary Movie 3 (2003)
  • The Cookout (2004)
  • Shall We Dance (2004)
  • Back in the Day (2005)
  • Assult on Precinct 13 (2005)
  • Kenny (2006)
  • Furnace (2006)

Guest appearances

Ja Rule appeared on the celebrity remake of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On", with proceeds going to Artists Against AIDS Worldwide and to help with the tragedy of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In early 2002, Rule again collaborated with Jennifer Lopez on her single, "Ain't It Funny."

Ja Rule appeared on the song, "Rainy Dayz", which was included on a 2002 re-release of Mary J Blige's most recent album, 2001's No More Drama.

On a bonus disc on The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter, Ja Rule made an appearance on the track "Want That Old Thing Back", with Ralph Tresvant. [1]

Voice

Ja Rule is especially noted for his gruff, gravelly voice, garnering numerous comparisons to the similar-sounding DMX. Because of the similarity between the two MCs, a feud escalated between them. However, the beef was finally squashed when Ja Rule's producer and CEO of The Inc. Irv Gotti met with DMX and made a peace between the former fellow gangsta rappers.

50 Cent

While it is not certain how the rap feud began, Ja Rule and rapper 50 Cent have engaged in numerous "diss" tracks aimed at each other and each others associates. A common story told throughout the hip hop community is that Ja Rule spotted 50 Cent alongside a man who had supposedly robbed Ja Rule of a necklace. 50 Cent alleges that, at the time, he did not know this fact. However Ja Rule claimed that 50 Cent started the feud himself because he didn't like that Ja Rule was getting "too much love" in New York city according to his interview with the minister of the Nation of Islam. On 50 Cent's debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', the rapper traded insults with Ja Rule on numerous tracks involving Murder Inc. and Rule's mentor Irv Gotti along with labelmate Black Child. Ja Rule later retaliated with songs "Loose Change" and "Snitch In Da Club". The battle between the two garnered a significant amount of attention from the media.

In early 2006 a new track titled '21 Gunz' surfaced on the internet featuring Ja Rule, Tah Murder and Young Merc from The Inc (see [2]). The song was, in effect, a diss towards 50 cent and G-Unit, with numerous threats on the rapper's lives. Ja Rule has also dissed 50 cent subtly in the song 'So Hot'.

Eminem

Eminem became involved with Ja Rule for several reasons: over Rule's involvement with The Source (a popular hip-hop magazine), with Eminem's involvement with 50 Cent, and with Rule's mention of Eminem's daughter Hailie in the track "Loose Change". (On the track, Ja Rule raps "Em, you claim your mother's a crackhead, and Kim is a known slut, so what's Hailie going to be when she grows up?") Numerous "diss" tracks were traded back and forth by both rappers such as a remix of Tupac's hit song, Hail Mary, which featured 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes, but as of 2005, it appears that the feud has ended with both rappers claiming that they want no more problems. Eminem has discussed his feelings concerning the feud with his single, "Like Toy Soldiers."

Trivia

  • Married Aisha Murray in April of 2001.
  • Has a daughter (Britney) born in 1995 and two sons (Jeffrey Jr.) born in August 2000 and (Jordan) born in April 2003.
  • He is a Leap Year baby.
  • Did a collaboration with rock band Metallica titled, "We Did It Again."
  • Had a sister that died when he was five years old, due to respiratory problems.
  • Ja Rule's rap name is an acronym for, "Jeffery Atkins Represents Unconditional Loves Exist."
  • Ja Rule recently made a cameo appearance on Three 6 Mafia's video "Side 2 Side" featuring Bow Wow.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Song U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap UK singles Album
1998 "Can I Get A..." (Jay-Z featuring Amil and Ja Rule) 19 - - 24 Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life
1999 "Holla Holla" 35 11 2 - Venni Vetti Vecci
1999 "Daddy's Little Baby" (featuring Ronald Isley) - - - - Venni Vetti Vecci
2000 "How Many Wanna" - 72 - - Light it Up Soundtrack
2001 "Between Me and You" (featuring Christina Milian) 11 5 11 26 Rule 3:36
2001 "Put it on Me" (featuring Lil' Mo and Vita) 8 2 11 - Rule 3:36
2001 "I Cry" (featuring Lil' Mo) 40 11 25 - Rule 3:36
2001 "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" (featuring Jennifer Lopez) 1 2 - 4 Pain Is Love, J To Tha L-O!: The Remixes
2001 "Livin' it Up" (featuring Case) 6 4 4 27 Pain Is Love
2002 "Always on Time" (featuring Ashanti) 1 1 4 6 Pain Is Love
2002 "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" (Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule) 1 4 4 - J To Tha L-O!: The Remixes
2002 "Rainy Dayz" (Mary J. Blige featuring Ja Rule) 12 8 - 17 No More Drama
2002 "Down Ass Chick" (featuring Carli "Chuck" Baltimore) 21 8 5 - Pain Is Love
2002 "Down 4 U" (Irv Gotti presents The Inc. featuring Ashanti, Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore, & Vita) 6 3 3 4 Irv Gotti Presents... The Inc.
2002 "Thug Lovin'" (featuring Bobby Brown) 42 16 10 15 The Last Temptation
2003 "Mesmerize" (featuring Ashanti) 2 5 2 12 The Last Temptation
2003 "Reign" - - - 9 The Last Temptation
2004 "Clap Back" 44 17 12 9 Blood in My Eye
2004 "New York" (featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss) 27 14 10 - R.U.L.E.
2004 "Wonderful" (featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti) 5 3 2 1 R.U.L.E.
2005 "Caught Up" (featuring Lloyd) - 65 - 20 R.U.L.E.
2005 "Exodus (Intro)" - - - - Exodus
2006 "Get Up" - - - - My Life in Lyrics

Awards history

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