Ja Rule, born Jeffrey Atkins, is a prominent American rapper, singer, and actor who rose to fame in the 2000s. His music blended elements of gangsta rap with a pop-oriented style, contributing to his commercial success. Signed to Murder Inc. Records, a Def Jam Recordings imprint, Ja Rule released his debut album, "Venni Vetti Vecci," in 1999, featuring the hit single "Holla Holla." He achieved significant chart success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 with "Always on Time" and collaborations with Jennifer Lopez on "I'm Real" and "Ain't It Funny." Other notable hits include "Put It on Me," "Mesmerize," "Livin' It Up," and "Wonderful," all reaching the top ten and driving the success of his albums.
February 29, 1976: Birth of Jeffrey Atkins (Ja Rule)
Jeffrey Bruce Atkins Sr., known as Ja Rule, was born on February 29, 1976, in New York City.
1993: Dr. Dre Releases "Fuck wit Dre Day"
Dr. Dre's track "Fuck wit Dre Day," released in 1993, contained lyrics later used by Lil' Mo in her diss track against Ja Rule.
1994: Rap Career Begins with Cash Money Click
Ja Rule's rap career began in 1994 when he formed the hip-hop group Cash Money Click with Chris Black and O-1.
1995: Cash Money Click Disbands
Cash Money Click disbanded in 1995 after Chris Black's imprisonment and being dropped from their label, TVT Records.
1997: Appearance on Mic Geronimo's "Vendetta" Album and Cameo in Onyx Video
In 1997, Ja Rule appeared on Mic Geronimo's "Vendetta" album and made a cameo appearance in the music video for Onyx's "Walk In New York".
1998: Collaboration with Jay-Z on "Can I Get A..."
Ja Rule collaborated with Jay-Z on the hit single "Can I Get A..." in 1998, writing the hook for the song.
March 1999: Release of Debut Single "Holla Holla"
Ja Rule released his debut solo single "Holla Holla" in March 1999, which became a hit, peaking at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1999: Feud with DMX Begins
Following the breakup of Murder Inc. in 1999, DMX accused Ja Rule of copying his style, initiating a feud between them. DMX dissed Ja Rule on his track "Where the Hood At?", referencing accusations of homophobia against Ja Rule.
1999: "Venni Vetti Vecci" Achieves Platinum
In 1999, Ja Rule's debut album, "Venni Vetti Vecci", was certified platinum by the RIAA.
1999: Debut Album "Venni Vetti Vecci" Released
Ja Rule released his debut studio album, "Venni Vetti Vecci", in 1999, marking his official entry into the music industry. It included the hit single "Holla Holla".
1999: Feud with Kurupt Begins
Ja Rule's association with DMX brought him into a feud with Kurupt, who dissed him in 1999 on "Callin' Out Names." Ja Rule responded with the track "Still INC."
1999: Feud with 50 Cent Begins
The feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent reportedly began in 1999. 50 Cent claimed it started after Ja Rule saw him with someone who had robbed Ja Rule of jewelry, and because he felt Ja Rule was imitating Tupac. Ja Rule claimed the conflict originated from a video shoot in Queens due to 50 Cent's resentment of the positive attention Ja Rule received from the neighborhood.
June 2000: Release of "Between Me and You"
"Between Me and You", featuring Christina Milian, was released as a single in June 2000 and became Ja Rule's first major crossover hit.
October 10, 2000: "Rule 3:36" Reaches Number One
Ja Rule's second album, "Rule 3:36", was released on October 10, 2000, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
December 2000: Release of "Put It on Me"
"Put It on Me", featuring Vita and Lil' Mo, was released in December 2000 and became a major hit in 2001, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
2000: Acting Debut in "Turn It Up"
Ja Rule made his acting debut in the film "Turn It Up" in 2000.
2000: Release of "Rule 3:36"
Ja Rule released his second album, "Rule 3:36", in 2000, which peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
2000: Altercation at The Hit Factory
In 2000, another confrontation between Ja Rule and 50 Cent occurred at The Hit Factory recording studio, where 50 Cent was stabbed by Murder Inc. artist Black Child, requiring stitches.
April 2001: Marriage to Aisha Murray
Ja Rule married Aisha Murray in April 2001. They have three children.
July 2001: "Livin' It Up" Released
Ja Rule released "Livin' It Up" featuring Case in July 2001, which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the UK Singles Chart.
September 8, 2001: "I'm Real" Remix Tops Billboard Hot 100
On September 8, 2001, Ja Rule's remix of Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real" began its five non-consecutive week reign atop the Billboard Hot 100.
October 2, 2001: Pain Is Love Released
Ja Rule released his third studio album, Pain Is Love, on October 2, 2001. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.
October 2001: "Always on Time" Released
In October 2001, Ja Rule released "Always on Time" featuring Ashanti, marking Ashanti's first major guest appearance and both artists' first Billboard Hot 100 #1.
2001: "Put It on Me" Video Success
In 2001, the music video for "Put It on Me" achieved significant popularity, topping the MTV Video Countdown and becoming the first music video retired on BET's 106 & Park.
2001: Billboard Hot 100 Success
Ja Rule achieved significant chart success in 2001, topping the Billboard Hot 100 with "Always on Time" and featuring on Jennifer Lopez's hits "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" and "Ain't It Funny".
2001: Appearance in "The Fast and the Furious"
Ja Rule appeared in "The Fast and the Furious" in 2001.
2001: Release of "I Cry" and "Put It on Me"
Ja Rule released the successful singles "I Cry" and "Put It on Me" in 2001, both featuring contributions from Lil' Mo, for which she later claimed she wasn't properly compensated or recognized.
2001: Release of "Pain Is Love"
Ja Rule's third album, "Pain Is Love", was released in 2001, also reaching the top of the Billboard 200.
October 2002: Feud with Foxy Brown Begins
In October 2002, Foxy Brown denied reports of collaborating on a diss track aimed at Jay-Z with Nas and Ja Rule. Ja Rule subsequently expressed dislike for Foxy Brown in a radio interview, prompting a heated response from Brown, who felt offended by the comments, especially as they had never met.
November 19, 2002: The Last Temptation Released
On November 19, 2002, Ja Rule released his fourth studio album, The Last Temptation.
December 2002: The Last Temptation Certified Platinum
In December 2002, The Last Temptation was certified platinum by the RIAA.
2002: Feud with Kurupt Ends
Ja Rule and Kurupt resolved their differences in 2002 while working on the film "Half Past Dead."
2002: Release of "The Last Temptation"
Ja Rule released his fourth studio album, "The Last Temptation," in 2002.
2002: Appearance in "Half Past Dead"
Ja Rule appeared in the film "Half Past Dead" in 2002.
2002: Pain Is Love Nominated for Grammy
In 2002, Pain Is Love was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
2002: Feud Escalates with Shady/Aftermath
After 50 Cent signed with Shady Records and Aftermath in 2002, the conflict escalated. Ja Rule and Irv Gotti expressed disapproval and threatened action if any tracks disparaging Murder Inc. were released.
January 3, 2003: Murder Inc. Offices Raided by FBI
On January 3, 2003, the Murder Inc. offices were raided by the FBI and NYPD due to accusations of money laundering and drug trades.
January 2003: Feud with Lil' Mo Begins
The conflict with Lil' Mo began in January 2003 after she gave a shout-out to 50 Cent on 106 & Park, shortly after premiering a Ja Rule video. This upset Ja Rule, leading him to release "Loose Change," a diss track targeting Eminem, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Chris Lighty, and Lil' Mo.
April 2003: Ja Rule Releases Diss Track "Loose Change"
In April 2003, Ja Rule released "Loose Change", a diss track aimed at 50 Cent, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, and Dr. Dre.
April 2003: Lil' Mo Seeks Recognition and Payment
In April 2003, Lil' Mo publicly expressed her frustration at not receiving proper recognition or payment for her contributions to Ja Rule's hit songs "I Cry" and "Put It on Me," both released in 2001.
May 2003: Lil' Mo Responds with Diss Track
In May 2003, Lil' Mo retaliated against Ja Rule with a freestyle diss track, incorporating lyrics from Dr. Dre's 1993 diss track against Eazy-E.
November 4, 2003: Blood in My Eye Released
Ja Rule released his fifth studio album, Blood in My Eye, on November 4, 2003.
2003: Assault in Toronto
In 2003, Ja Rule allegedly assaulted a man in Toronto, resulting in a lawsuit and a $1,200 fine for assault.
2003: Appearance in "Scary Movie 3"
Ja Rule had a role in the comedy film "Scary Movie 3" in 2003.
2003: Release of "Blood in My Eye"
Ja Rule released his fifth studio album, "Blood in My Eye", in 2003.
2003: Busta Rhymes Enters the Feud
Busta Rhymes joined the conflict in 2003, collaborating with Eminem and 50 Cent on "Hail Mary 2003." This was seen as a response to Ja Rule's remake of Tupac's "Pain" and what they perceived as Ja Rule's imitation of Tupac. Eminem subsequently blocked Ja Rule from appearing on any of the "new" Tupac songs he produced.
July 1, 2004: Arrest for Suspended License and Marijuana Possession
On July 1, 2004, Ja Rule was arrested for driving with a suspended license and possessing marijuana.
November 2004: R.U.L.E. Released
Ja Rule released his sixth studio album, R.U.L.E., in November 2004.
2004: Start of Tax Evasion Period
Ja Rule's tax evasion charges stemmed from unpaid taxes on earnings between 2004 and 2006.
2004: Launch of ErvinGeoffrey Clothing Line
In 2004, Ja Rule and Irv Gotti launched the urban clothing line ErvinGeoffrey.
2004: Appearance in "The Cookout"
Ja Rule appeared in the film "The Cookout" in 2004.
2004: Nightclub Shooting Investigation
In 2004, police investigated a fatal shooting outside a nightclub party hosted by Ja Rule and Leon Richardson, exploring possible connections to a feud involving Murder Inc.
2004: Release of "R.U.L.E."
"R.U.L.E.", Ja Rule's sixth studio album, was released in 2004.
January 14, 2005: R.U.L.E. Certified Gold
On January 14, 2005, Ja Rule's album R.U.L.E. was certified gold by the RIAA.
December 6, 2005: Exodus Released
Ja Rule released his greatest hits album, Exodus, on December 6, 2005. This marked the end of his contract with The Inc.
2005: DMX Seeks Reconciliation
After being released from jail in 2005, DMX expressed his desire to end the feud with Ja Rule. Irv Gotti also approached DMX in jail to make peace between the two rappers.
2005: Brown Records Diss Track; Ja Rule a Suspect in Murder
Following Ja Rule's negative comments, Foxy Brown recorded a diss track "Get Off Me," targeting Ja Rule and Eve. Later in 2005, Ja Rule and his bodyguards became suspects in the murder of Willie "Willie Bang Bang" Clark, potentially linked to a robbery involving Foxy Brown's brother.
2005: Appearances in "Assault on Precinct 13" and "Back in the Day"
In 2005, Ja Rule appeared in two films: "Assault on Precinct 13" and "Back in the Day".
2005: Lil' Mo Sues Ja Rule and Murder Inc.
Lil' Mo escalated the dispute by filing a lawsuit against Ja Rule, Murder Inc., and Def Jam Records for over $15 million in 2005.
2006: The Inc. Seeks New Label Deal
Throughout 2006, The Inc. searched for a new label deal after their contract with Def Jam was not renewed.
2006: Launch of The Mojito Liquor Company
In 2006, Ja Rule launched The Mojito, a liquor company.
2006: End of Tax Evasion Period
The period for which Ja Rule was charged with tax evasion ended in 2006.
July 2007: Arrest for Gun and Drug Possession
In July 2007, Ja Rule and Lil Wayne were arrested for gun and drug possession.
October 2007: R.U.L.E. Sales Reach 658,000
By October 2007, R.U.L.E. had sold 658,000 copies.
2007: Pain Is Love Sales Reach 3.6 Million
By 2007, Pain Is Love had sold 3.6 million copies.
2007: Ja Rule Founds Mpire Music Group
Ja Rule founded his own record label, Mpire Music Group, in 2007.
2007: Original Arrest for Weapon Possession
In 2007, Ja Rule was arrested for attempted possession of a weapon, leading to his later prison sentence.
2007: Appearance in "Furnace"
Ja Rule acted in the film "Furnace" in 2007.
2008: Blood in My Eye Sales Exceed 468,000
By 2008, Blood in My Eye had sold over 468,000 copies in the U.S.
September 2009: Feud with Foxy Brown Ends
The feud between Ja Rule and Foxy Brown concluded in September 2009 at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors during a Def Jam Recordings anniversary celebration. Their reconciliation was publicized through a shared photo with DMX and Ludacris.
2009: Feud with DMX Ends
DMX and Ja Rule officially ended their feud at the 2009 VH1 Hip Hop Honors.
2009: "I'm Real" Named One of the Most Successful Songs of the 2000s
In 2009, Ja Rule's remix of "I'm Real" was recognized as the 30th most successful song of the 2000s by Billboard.
December 13, 2010: Two-Year Prison Sentence
On December 13, 2010, Ja Rule received a two-year prison sentence for attempted weapon possession from his 2007 arrest.
2010: Appearance in "Wrong Side of Town"
Ja Rule appeared in the film "Wrong Side of Town" in 2010.
2010: Reconciliation with Lil' Mo
Ja Rule and Lil' Mo reconciled in 2010, with Lil' Mo citing the decline in Ja Rule's career and the brevity of life as reasons for ending the feud.
2010: Lil Wayne's Prison Sentence
In 2010, Lil Wayne served eight months in prison for attempted possession of a weapon stemming from the 2007 arrest with Ja Rule.
February 2011: Work Begins on Pain Is Love 2
Ja Rule began working on Pain Is Love 2 in February 2011.
March 8, 2011: Prison Surrender Date Set
Ja Rule's surrender date for his two-year sentence was set for June 8, 2011, after his December 2010 sentencing.
May 2011: Feud with 50 Cent Ends
In May 2011, Ja Rule and 50 Cent publicly ended their long-standing feud. Ja Rule clarified that while they were no longer actively feuding, they would not be collaborating and would remain distant, like two countries that don't get along but aren't at war.
June 7, 2011: Pain Is Love 2 Initially Scheduled for Release
Pain Is Love 2 was initially scheduled for release on June 7, 2011, but was delayed.
July 2011: Additional Prison Sentence for Tax Evasion
In July 2011, Ja Rule received a 28-month sentence for tax evasion, running concurrently with his state term.
October 2, 2011: "Spun a Web" Released
Ja Rule released the track "Spun a Web" on October 2, 2011.
October 11, 2011: Pain Is Love 2 Release Delayed Again, "Spun a Web" Video Released
The release of Pain Is Love 2 was delayed again on October 11, 2011. The music video for "Spun a Web" was released on the same day.
2011: Collaboration with Lil' Mo
Following their reconciliation, Ja Rule and Lil' Mo collaborated on a track titled "U & Me" in 2011.
February 2012: GED Earned
Ja Rule earned his GED while in prison in February 2012.
February 28, 2012: Pain Is Love 2 Released
Pain Is Love 2 was finally released on February 28, 2012.
2012: Commissioning of Fyre Media Logo Painting
In 2012, Ja Rule commissioned a painting of the Fyre Media logo by artist Tripp Derrick Barnes.
February 21, 2013: Release from State Prison and Transfer to Federal Custody
Ja Rule was released from state prison on February 21, 2013, but immediately entered federal custody for tax evasion.
May 7, 2013: Ja Rule Released from Prison
Ja Rule was released from prison on May 7, 2013.
July 28, 2013: Scheduled Release Date from Federal Custody
Ja Rule's release date from federal prison for tax evasion was set for July 28, 2013.
September 2013: Reflection on the Feud
In September 2013, Ja Rule and Irv Gotti admitted that 50 Cent, combined with their federal indictment, significantly impacted both Ja Rule's career and Murder Inc.'s success as a label. They also mentioned being excluded from award shows where 50 Cent performed due to their feud. Despite this, they expressed respect for 50 Cent's business acumen and stated they no longer had issues with him.
September 2013: Murder Inc. Records Relaunched
In September 2013, Ja Rule and Irv Gotti relaunched Murder Inc. Records.
September 18, 2013: "Fresh Out Da Pen" Released
On September 18, 2013, Ja Rule released the track "Fresh Out Da Pen".
September 27, 2013: "Fresh Out Da Pen" and "Everything" Released on iTunes
On September 27, 2013, Ja Rule released "Fresh Out Da Pen" and "Everything" on iTunes.
2013: Baptism and Reconnection with God
Ja Rule and his wife were baptized in 2013 after he "reconnected with God" while promoting "I'm in Love with a Church Girl."
2013: Film Appearances
In 2013, Ja Rule starred in "I'm in Love with a Church Girl" and had previously appeared in films such as "Turn It Up," "The Fast and the Furious," "Back in the Day," "Half Past Dead," "The Cookout," and "Assault on Precinct 13."
July 2014: Announcement of Eighth Studio Album and Reality Show
In July 2014, Ja Rule announced his eighth studio album and MTV announced his family's reality show, "Follow the Rules."
September 2014: "Follow the Rules" Trailer Release
In September 2014, a sneak peek trailer for Ja Rule's reality show, "Follow the Rules," was released online.
May 2015: Partnership with Magnises
In May 2015, Ja Rule partnered with Billy McFarland, CEO of Magnises, to be its creative head and spokesman.
August 2015: Maven x Madden Sneaker Line
In August 2015, Ja Rule collaborated with Steve Madden on a new sneaker line, Maven x Madden, released in Fall 2015.
October 2015: Partnership with Paramount Pictures
In October 2015, Ja Rule and Irv Gotti partnered with Paramount Pictures for a TV drama series based on Murder Inc.'s history.
October 26, 2015: "Follow the Rules" Premieres
On October 26, 2015, Ja Rule's reality show, "Follow the Rules," co-produced by Queen Latifah, premiered after a sneak peek trailer was released the previous month.
February 2016: "Coup De Grâce" Announced as Final Album
In February 2016, Ja Rule announced his upcoming eighth studio album, "Coup De Grâce," would be his last.
December 2016: Appearance on "The Hamilton Mixtape"
In December 2016, Ja Rule appeared on "The Hamilton Mixtape," rapping in Ashanti's performance of "Helpless."
2016: Co-founding of Fyre Media, Inc.
In 2016, Ja Rule co-founded Fyre Media, Inc., a talent booking agency, with Billy McFarland.
April 2017: Fyre Festival Disaster
In April 2017, the Fyre Festival, touted as a luxury event, turned out to be fraudulent, leading to a $100 million lawsuit against Ja Rule and Billy McFarland.
July 1, 2017: Lawsuits Filed Against Ja Rule and Fyre Festival
By July 1, 2017, Ja Rule faced multiple lawsuits related to the failed Fyre Festival.
June 26, 2018: Collaboration with Ashanti Confirmed
On June 26, 2018, Ashanti confirmed that she and Ja Rule were working on a collaborative album.
2018: Feud Reignites
After a period of relative calm, 50 Cent reignited his feud with Ja Rule in 2018 by publicly dissing him, which prompted a retaliatory response from Ja Rule on Twitter.
2018: 30 Million Records Sold Worldwide
By 2018, Ja Rule had sold 30 million records worldwide, marking a significant achievement in his career.
November 2019: Cleared of Fyre Festival Wrongdoing
In November 2019, Ja Rule was cleared of any legal wrongdoing related to his involvement in the Fyre Festival.
November 2019: Charges Dropped Against Ja Rule
In November 2019, charges against Ja Rule related to the Fyre Festival lawsuits were reportedly dropped.
2020: Development of Iconn Live App
In 2020, Ja Rule developed the live-streaming app Iconn Live.
February 2021: Harvard Business School Online Course Completion
In February 2021, Ja Rule completed an online course at Harvard Business School.
October 15, 2021: Release of "Sincerely, Jeffrey"
On October 15, 2021, Ja Rule released the single "Sincerely, Jeffrey" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his album "Pain is Love."
2021: Launch of Flipkick Platform
In 2021, Ja Rule launched Flipkick, a platform for selling physical art as NFTs.
November 2022: Iconn Live App Debut
Ja Rule's live-streaming app, Iconn Live, debuted on Apple TV in November 2022.
June 2023: Launch of Rose Vine Cellars
In June 2023, Ja Rule launched Rose Vine Cellars, a premium wine label.
February 28, 2024: Denied Entry into the UK
On February 28, 2024, Ja Rule was denied entry into the United Kingdom due to his criminal record, days before his scheduled UK tour.