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Ja Rule

Jeffrey Atkins (born February 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper and actor signed to The Inc. and Universal Records formerly of Def Jam Recordings. A Hollis, New York native best-known for hits such as "Put It On Me", "Between Me And You", and "Wonderful," Ja Rule has released six albums to date and sold over 20 million albums worldwide.

On June 1, 1999, Ja Rule released his highly-anticipated debut album, Venni Vetti Vecci. The album marked not only Ja's debut, but the debut album from his label, Murder Inc. Records. Venni Vetti Vecci instantly made Ja Rule a star within the hip hop world as he became a staple on hip hop and pop networks like MTV, VH1, and BET. The album featured the summer smash "Holla Holla" along with "Its Murda" with Jay-Z and DMX. The final single was "Daddy's Little Baby", a duet with Ronald Isley. These three singles and the production coming from Irv Gotti along with performances from Memphis Bleek, Erick Sermon, Case, Black Child, Nemisis, and Caddillac Tah, then known as Tah Murdah, along with a notabel performance from his mentor, Jay-Z led to the album going platinum. Through this album Ja Rule made himself a household name and a major superstar of the time.

Ja Rule would return during the summer of 2000, with his new single "Between Me and You", which featured Def Soul act Christina Milian. The single was quickly followed by Ja's second effort, Rule 3:36, which was released on October 10, 2000. 3:36 also featured singles "Put It On Me", and "I Cry". The album featured guest appearances from Lil Mo, Vita, Christina Milian, label mates Jayo Felony, and Black Child. The album was ridiculed by critics for its commercial sound, which completely abandoned the dark street sound of his debut. Despite this, the album fared well on the charts and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts. The album would be a huge success going 3x Platinum. After the release of his second album, Ja Rule's popularity was more than the likes of Jay-Z and it earned him a guest verse on LL Cool J's G.O.A.T. album. The release of this album marked a huge turn in Ja Rule's style of music from a more hardcore edge to a pop crossover oriented sound.

Soon after the release of Rule 3:36, Irv Gotti would sign R&B singer Ashanti to the label, which led to Lil Mo ending her collaborations with the label. During the late summer of 2001, Ja Rule released the lead single from his third studio album, Pain Is Love, which was "Livin It Up". The second single was the "I'm Real (remix)", and the third was "Always On Time", and the last was "Down Ass Bitch". This album is noted for two things the first is introducing a young Ashanti to the music business and the second is bringing Charli Baltimore back to the music business. This album is widely considered one of Ja Rule's best albums and a classic in its own right as it was somewhat of a critical success and many said it was his best yet. Pain Is Love featured guest appearances from Case, The Murder Inc. Family, Missy Elliott, Jodie Mack, Tweet, Jennifer Lopez and a recording from the late Tupac Shakur. Along with its critical success it was also a commercial success it, like its predecessor went 3x Platinum. At the time, this album was considered the best album in Ja Rule's discography. Still many consider it the second-best album in his collection and has been called a classic by some. Pain Is Love marked the signing of new artists Ashanti, and that of Charli Baltimore. Both would appear on the album, Baltimore's return after a short haitus. It was after the release of this album that a feud would ignite with Lil Mo after she commented negatively about not being featured on the album due to Ashanti and this led to an all out was between her and Murder Inc.

Since Ja Rule was so successful during this period, he was recruited by then-newcomer, Fabolous to appear on his debut album on the track "Ride For This."

Ja Rule would shave his head during the promotion of his fourth studio album, The Last Temptation; this would lead to criticism from other recording artists, mainly 50 Cent and DMX. His fourth album was released on November 19 2002. Although the album was fairly successful (it was certified platinum), it failed to carry the momentum brought by his previous album, criticized for being too commercial. Despite the heavy criticism, it would still be fairly popular and is noted for bringing Bobby Brown back to the music scene and it it the last album by Ja Rule before he really got deeply engaged in arguments with Flipmode, Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, DMX, and 50 Cent. The album features guest appearances from new signees, Young Life, Alexi, Chink Santana, Eastwood, Crooked I, and Nas, who almost signed to the label during that period. Appearances also come from long time-Inc. artists Charli Baltimore, Ashanti, Caddillac Tah, and Bobby Brown. Other guests were Pharrell, and the late Tupac Shakur. In 2002, Atkins appeared on Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc. and Irv Gotti Presents: The Remixes. Both albums were successful, spawning such hits as "Down 4 U" and "Ain't It Funny Remix." Ja was very popular during the summer of 2002, featured on Fat Joe's "What's Luv", and Mary J. Blige's "Rainy Dayz" aside from his own singles. During late 2002 and early 2003, his popularity fell off dramatically, due to the rise of 50 Cent and his disses aimed at Ja Rule and The Inc. Dr. Dre, Busta Rhymes, and Eminem were included in the argument when Ja Rule dissed them all on Rap City. All but Dre would respond on the 2Pac-sampled "Hail Mary". Busta said that he was shocked when Ja dissed him because of his signing to Aftermath Entertainment, because they had been frequent collaborators.

Blood In My Eye is the fifth album from Ja Rule. The content of this album led to a dramatic fall in his popularity. This album is also noted as the last Ja Rule album released by The Inc. Records under the moniker Murder Inc. This was partially due to Ja's disses and death threats to adversaries, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes (a former associate), Eminem, Dr. Dre, DMX, and G-Unit. One of the reasons that the album is considered Ja Rule's worst is because it was planned to be a mixtape, but former label Def Jam Recordings forced him to release an album in 2003 to honor the contract, where he released an album every year. Blood In My Eye was a commercial flop, but peaked at #6, but only managed to go gold, his lowest selling to date, and widely accepted as his worst ever. On this album, Ja sparked rivalries with the whole Interscope Records roster and it would be the hip hop artists signed to Interscope Records that would respond. Also on featured on the album were disses to former associate, Lil Mo where he states that Lil Mo never had a hit without him and how he launched her career. This album is considered Ja Rule's worst material and was key in his fall from popularity as it only certified Gold. In later years Ja has spoke alot about this album, he said that he had intended for The Last Temptation to be his final album and this to be just a mixtape, but Def Jam forced him to release an album in 2003 because of his known popularity. He said that the album wasn't a street album, but that instead it was a hate album that he needed to record and release to get his feelings out there mainly just to vent. He said that he really didn't care how people felt about the album, because he was already rich Ja just had get some stuff off of his chest. Ja Rule said that after that all you have to do is move on and go back to the formula that works.

After the critical and commercial flop of his previous album, Ja Rule would return to form on his sixth studio album, R.U.L.E. released on November 9, 2004. This album would serve as a comeback of sorts for Ja as he saw a return to mainstream success. The lead single was "Wonderful" which was followed by the street anthem, "New York", the third and last single was "Caught Up". All three of these singles were major hits in the US. The album featured guest appearances from Ashanti, Lloyd, Trick Daddy, R. Kelly, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Claudette Ortiz, Black Child, Caddillac Tah and many more. R.U.L.E. is considered one of the best albums of 2004 and the best album of Ja Rule's career and many fans and critics alike call this album a classic. The album was certified Platinum in the United States in 2006, and it is the fifth of his six released albums to go platinum. Soon after the release of this album Ja had announced that he was returning in the summer of 2005 with a double album which was to be entitled Loki. It was going to be a double album the first disc which would feature the typical Ja Rule songs and the second disc which would be solely dedicated to dissing 50 Cent. It was during this period where he ended his beefs with Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Busta Rhymes.

On December 6, 2005, Ja Rule released his seventh album, which is nothing more than a greatest hits album. It features only one new song "Exodus (Intro)" which is co-produced by Irv Gotti and Dr. Dre. It features all of the hit singles throughout his career. The album was released to honor the contract with Def Jam so that The Inc. could get a fresh start with a new distributor. Despite the album being nothing special it went platinum in early 2006. It featured the hits "New York", "Wonderful", "Between Me And You", "Put It On Me", and many more. Appearances came from Jay-Z, DMX, Irv Gotti, LLoyd, Ashanti, Lil Mo, Christina Milian and Bobby Brown. After the release of this compilation, Ja Rule took a hiatus from recording music.

In 2005, The Inc. Records would come under investigation because of the drug trades by Kenneth "Supreme" Mc Griff, who is associated with Irv Gotti. This would all lead to Def Jam Recordings refusing to renew The Inc.'s contract. They were willing to let go of the label, despite the fact that they were giving up Ja Rule, who had been the label's flagship since 2000 even if he wasn't recording music he was keeping the label in the news. From 2004 to 2006, Irv would search for other labels, and reached a deal with Universal Records.

On February 4, 2008, Ja Rule plans to release his Universal Records debut and eighth studio album, The Mirror. The first single, "Uh Oh" was released on July 31, 2007 and premiered on music video shows the following day. Ths second single, "Body" was released in September. The album contains a collaboration with former G-Unit artist, The Game, whom he had once had an altercation with. They will appear on the track "Sunset". The album was originally supposed to be titled Love Is Pain as a sequel to his album Pain Is Love. Aside from Ashley Joi, The Game, and Lil Wayne, there will be no guest appearances on this album and will mark the last time that he ever mentions 50 Cent, DMX, or Common. The reasoning towards the title of the album is that it is " the only place where you can't lie to yourself."

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