Ja Rule is a faded hip-hop legend

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Ja Rule has nothing to do with rastafarian culture. Ja is short for the real name Jeffrey Atkins. The guy was born in the New York slums of Queens. Ja Rule went through a harsh school of life, in which there were wars of drug dealers for territory. He was a prominent representative of the thug life movement, which originated under Tupac. Collaborated with Irving Lorenzo - this is a beatmaker who later became a legend of criminal America.

Creative path

1990 - Ja Rule has an idea to create a band and invite DMX and Jay-Z to join it. It all started well, together they even recorded the soundtrack for the film. However, further cooperation did not work out, and it was decided to retrain the failed group into the Murder Inc. label, which now consisted only of Ja Rule and Lorenzo. As a reminder of the once existing trio, the song It's Murder remained, which was included in Jah's debut album and became a hit.

Ja Rule's first record called VenniVetti Vecci reminded listeners of rapper DMX in every way - music, themes and even voice. Recording the second album Rule 3:36, Jah decides on some changes in music. And this step allows him to break into the radio. Since the "thieves' ballads" were well received, on the third album, Jha continues to move in this direction. The record called Pain is Love is still considered the best creation of the rapper.

Followed by collaborations with Nas, who at that time was in conflict with Jay-Z and was looking for support from fellow countrymen from Murder Inc. There were rumors on the streets that Nas would release their next album on this label. However, their collaboration resulted in a single Pledge track, and that was the end of their partnership.

After the release of The Last Temptation in 2002, rapper Ja Rule continues to seek his footing in film. He gained his first popularity as an actor after the film "Fast and the Furious". No outstanding acting skills were found in him.

Films with Ja Rule

Ja started his career as an actor back in 2000 and was last active in 2013. During this period, he starred in 18 films, among which are the following:

• "Hip Hop Witch" (2000);
• Scary Movie 3 (2003);
• "Assault on the 13th Precinct" (2005);
• "Risen from the Ashes" (2007).

Conflict with 50 Cent

Since 2003, a "black streak" begins for Jah. First, the label's credibility was severely undermined by FBI raids. Because of this, I even had to changethe label's name on The Inc., which for the listeners meant loss and retreat. Secondly, Fifty's album, as they say, "shot", and in the eyes of the public Jah was trampled.

50 Cent started laughing publicly at Ja Rule's image and songs after listening to Murda Inc.'s songs. 50 said that he did not see Jha as a thug, and also accused him of imitating Tupac and "pop songs". There was no need to wait for an answer from Jah, and in 2003 he recorded the album Blood in My Eye, where he went through all the representatives of the Shady label, except for Dr. Dre. Even Eminem got it. However, the record with cruel and harsh songs could not surprise the listeners, they considered it boring and tasteless.

Conflict subsides until 2004. This year, with the support of Cool & Dre, Jha is recording the album R. U. L. E., which helps him briefly rehabilitate his career as a rapper and return to the big game. But after 50's answer with the Piggy Bank track, Jah's success fades away.

In 2007, the beef bored both performers. Ja Rule has been working on his album The Mirror for a long time. And in 2009, he finally finished the work and uploaded the material to the Internet for free download. By that time, Jah had already lost his grip and weight in hip-hop. Yes, and the songs were performed in an outdated style. They might have been hits in the 2000s, but not now. Fighting 50 drowned Jah's career. As a result, for the whole beef there were two fights, a huge number of sharp phrases from both, accusations, insults and open threats of reprisal.

In 2012, due to problems with the law, Jha was servingterm in prison. Everything that was possible was hung on him - from tax evasion to possession of illegal weapons. Despite this, he managed to record the PIL2 album while behind bars.

The sunset of a rap career

Ja was released in 2013. In the same year, his last two singles Everything and Fresh Out Da Pen appeared. Jah also starred in the film "I fell in love with a nun."

The once multi-platinum artist hasn't appeared in rap for 5 years. It would seem that it costs an experienced rapper, who pulled all the artists of the label on his name, to record several hits or even a full-fledged album and revive his rap career?

Ja was successful in his business, but the conflict with 50 Cent, problems with the law and FBI searches greatly undermined the rapper's status and self-confidence. Will it be an overwhelming task for Jah to return to the big game again? History will show.