Ja Rule

Jeffery Atkins (born February 29, 1976 in Hollis, Queens, New York), better known as Ja Rule, is an American rapper and actor. Ja Rule is one of the best selling rap artists of all-time with 20 million albums sold worldwide, numerous awards and Grammy nominations.

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. 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".

In 2000 Ja Rule released 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.

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 López. 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 6x 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; however, a backlash from upcoming multi-platinum pop singer 50 Cent hindered his success.

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.

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.

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 López 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 Final Chapter, Ja Rule made an appearance on the track "Want That Old Thing Back", with Ralph Tresvant. ^*

Voice

Ja Rule is especially noted for his gruff, gravelly voice, garnering numerous comparisons to the similar-sounding DMX. His rough vocals are often used in a more flowing, less rapping style alongside female R&B singers in what has led some to nickname Ja Rule "the rap singer."

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 and other label mates from The Inc (see www.myspace.com/jarule). The song was, in effect, a diss towards 50 cent and G-Unit, with numerous threats on the rapper's lives. The song '21 Gunz' managed to decrease 50 cent's and G-Unit's street credibility. 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks responded to The Inc. with the unsuccessful track "Return of Ja Fool" on the mixtape "Mo Money in da Bank Pt 4"

Eminem

Eminem became involved with Ja Rule over Rule's involvement with The Source, a popular hip-hop magazine, with Eminem's involvement with 50 Cent, and Ja Rule disgracing himself by mentioning 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 Ryhmes, 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.

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."

Discography

Albums

Image:Ja Rule.jpg|Venni Vetti Vecci
(August 6 1999)
Platinum
(#3 US), 2.5 million worldwide Image:Rule 3.jpg|36
(October 10 2000)
3x Platinum
(#1 US), 5 million worldwide Image:Pain.jpg|Pain Is Love
(October 2 2001)
6x Platinum
(#1 US), 6 million worldwide Image:TheLast.jpg|Last Temptation
(November 19 2002)
Platinum
(#4 US), 3 million worldwide Image:Blood IN.jpg|Blood in My Eye
(November 4 2003)
Gold 1 million worldwide Image:RULE.jpg|R.U.L.E.
(November 8 2004) 2.4 million worldwide Image:Exoda.jpg|Exodus Greatest Hits
(December 6 2005) 375,000 copies sold Image:Nocover.gif|My Life In Lyrics
(2006)

Please do NOT give any false information about this article.

Singles

Year	Title	Chart Positions				Album
Year	Title	U.S. Hot 100	U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop	U.S. Rap	UK Singles Chart	Album
1999	"Holla Holla" (Gold)	#35	#11	#2	-	Venni Vetti Vecci
1999	"Daddy's Little Baby"	-	-	-	-	Venni Vetti Vecci
2000	"How Many Wanna"	-	#72	-	-	Light It Up ^*
2000	"6 Feet Underground"	-	-	#25	-	36
2001	"Between Me & You"	#11	#5	#11	#26	36
2001	"Put It On Me"	#8	#2	#11	-	36
2001	"I Cry"	#40	#11	#25	-	36
2001	"Livin' It Up"	#6	#4	#4	#27	Pain Is Love
2002	"Always On Time"	#1 (2 weeks)	#1 (8 weeks)	#4	#6	Pain Is Love
2002	"Never Again"	-	#68	-	-	Pain Is Love
2002	"Down Ass Chick"	#21	#8	#5	-	Pain Is Love
2002	"Thug Lovin'"	#42	#16	#10	#15	Last Temptation
2002	"Mesmerize"	#2	#5	#2	#12	Last Temptation
2003	"The Crown"	-	#67	-	-	Blood In My Eye
2003	"Clap Back"	#44	#17	#12	#9	''Blood In My Eye
2004	"Wonderful" (Gold)	#5	#3	#2	#1	R.U.L.E.
2004	"New York"	#27	#14	#10	-	R.U.L.E.
2005	"Caught Up"	-	#65	-	#20	R.U.L.E.
2006	"Get Up"	-	-	-	-	My Life In Lyrics
2006	"So Hot" (with Tamia)	-	-	-	-	My Life In Lyrics

The new single to be released is called "It's All Hood"

Featured Singles

Year	Title	Chart Positions				Album
Year	Title	U.S. Hot 100	U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop	U.S. Rap	UK Singles Chart	Album
1998	"Can I Get A..."	#26	???	???	#24	Hard Knock Life
2001	"I'm Real (Murder Remix)"	#1 (3 weeks)	#2	-	#4	J. Lo (Bonus Track) / The Remixes / Pain Is Love
2001	"What's Going On"	#27	???	???	#6	-
2002	"Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)"	#1 (6 weeks)	#4	-	#4	The Remixes / Exodus
2002	"Rainy Dayz"	#12	#8	-	#17	No More Drama
2002	"Down 4 U"	#6	#3	#3	#4	Irv Gotti Presents The Inc

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

External links

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Ja Rule