Ja Rule
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
.jpg)
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 |