Ja Rule
Biography
Jeffrey Bruce Atkins, known professionally as Ja Rule, was born on February 29, 1976, in Hollis, Queens, New York City. Raised as a Jehovah's Witness by his mother, he had a strict upbringing. His passion for rap music began in secret, eventually leading him to drop out of high school to pursue a music career. In 1994, he joined the hip-hop group Cash Money Click, which led to a contract with TVT Records before the group disbanded.
Music Career
After Cash Money Click, Ja Rule signed with Def Jam Records in 1998, with help from his friend and producer Irv Gotti. He gained initial recognition for his appearance on Jay-Z's 1998 hit "Can I Get A...". His debut solo album, "Venni Vetti Vecci," was released in 1999, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. The album's lead single, "Holla Holla," became a hit and helped the album achieve platinum status.
The early 2000s marked the peak of Ja Rule's success. His next albums, "Rule 3:36" (2000) and "Pain Is Love" (2001), both reached number one on the Billboard 200. These albums featured a string of hit singles, including "Between Me and You," "Put It on Me," "Always on Time," and a remix of Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real," many of which topped the charts. His subsequent albums, "The Last Temptation" (2002) and "R.U.L.E." (2004), also performed well commercially. During his career, Ja Rule has sold over 30 million records worldwide.
Feuds and Legal Issues
Ja Rule's career was also marked by a high-profile feud with rapper 50 Cent and his associates. In 2003, the offices of his record label, Murder Inc., were raided by federal agents as part of an investigation into its financial ties. Later, Ja Rule served a two-year prison sentence from 2011 to 2013 for gun possession and tax evasion. More recently, in 2024, he was denied entry into the United Kingdom, which resulted in the cancellation of a planned tour.
Other Ventures
Acting
Ja Rule has also pursued an acting career, appearing in several films. His movie credits include "The Fast and the Furious" (2001), "Half Past Dead" (2002), "Scary Movie 3" (2003), "The Cookout" (2004), and "Assault on Precinct 13" (2005).
Business Ventures
Over the years, Ja Rule has launched several business ventures. In 2004, he started a clothing line called ErvinGeoffrey and a liquor company, The Mojito, in 2006. He later co-founded the talent booking agency Fyre Media, Inc. More recently, he has ventured into the tech world with the live-streaming app ICONN Live and an NFT platform called Flipkick. He also has a wine label, Rose Vine Cellars.
Fyre Festival Controversy
In 2017, Ja Rule was involved in the widely publicized and fraudulent Fyre Festival, which he co-founded with Billy McFarland. The luxury music festival in the Bahamas was a disaster, leaving attendees stranded without adequate food, water, or shelter. The event led to multiple lawsuits. While McFarland was sentenced to prison for fraud, Ja Rule was cleared of any legal wrongdoing in 2019.
Personal Life
Ja Rule is married to Aisha Murray, whom he met in high school. They have three children: Brittney, Jeffrey Jr., and Jordan. In 2021, he completed an online business course at Harvard University.