Editing Ja Rule (section)

==Career==
===Cash Money Click (1994–95)===
Atkins began his rap career in 1994 with the hip hop group Cash Money Click alongside members Chris Black and O-1. He took the stage name "Ja Rule", telling [[MTV News]] that the name came from a friend who addressed him by that name; other friends simply called him "Ja".<ref name="Rules of the Game 2">{{cite web|last=Waller|first=Curtis|title=Ja Rule: Rules of the Game|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/j/jarule01/index2.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=February 17, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010820065650/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/j/jarule01/index2.jhtml|archive-date=August 20, 2001|access-date=August 17, 2008}}</ref> Together they worked with producer [[Irv Gotti|DJ Irv]] to produce a number of songs, releasing their debut single "Get Tha Fortune" independently in 1994. After the group signed with [[TVT Records]], the song was re-released through the label later that year as the B-side to their second single, "4 My Click". "4 My Click" featured [[Mic Geronimo]] and became popular on [[pirate radio]], eventually receiving airplay on [[Yo! MTV Raps]]. Plans for the release of the group's eponymous debut studio album were brought to a halt in 1995 after Chris Black was sentenced to five years in prison and the group was dropped from TVT, which led to their third single "She Swallowed It" never officially being released, however it was later bootlegged. With no label, the group disbanded shortly after being dropped.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1451354/ja-rule-re-teams-with-cash-money-click-for-lp/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530232828/http://www.mtv.com/news/1451354/ja-rule-re-teams-with-cash-money-click-for-lp/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 30, 2015|title=Ja Rule Re-Teams With Cash Money Click For LP|first=Shaheem|last=Reid|website=MTV News}}</ref>

===Solo career and ''Venni Vetti Vecci'' (1995–1999)===
After being dropped from TVT, Ja Rule maintained a close relationship with DJ Irv, who was working as an executive producer for [[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]] at the time. DJ Irv, now known as [[Irv Gotti]], was hired as an [[artists and repertoire|A&R]] for the label and was able to get Ja Rule a contract with Def Jam.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ogg |first=Alex |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Men_Behind_Def_Jam_The_Radical_Rise/2U7z6o163CwC |title=The Men Behind Def Jam: The Radical Rise of Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin |publisher=[[Music Sales Group#Omnibus Press|Omnibus Press]] |year=2002 |isbn=0-7119-8873-0 |page=227}}</ref> In 1995, he made his first solo appearance on Mic Geronimo's "Time to Build" alongside [[Jay-Z]] and [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]], who were also in the early stages of their careers. He later appeared on the song "Usual Suspects" from Mic Geronimo's second album ''[[Vendetta (Mic Geronimo album)|Vendetta]]'' in 1997, alongside [[The Lox]], DMX and [[Tragedy Khadafi]]. He also had a brief cameo in the video for "Walk in New York" by Queens hardcore rap group [[Onyx (hip hop group)|Onyx]]. Later in 1997, Irv Gotti was granted his own imprint from Def Jam, known as [[Murder Inc. Records]]. Ja Rule was promoted as the label's flagship artist, and he continued to make guest appearances on songs by other artists, including [[Method Man]], [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]], [[Nas]], DMX, [[LL Cool J]] and [[Dru Hill]]. He later appeared on Jay-Z's 1998 hit single "[[Can I Get A...]]", for which he wrote the hook. It was originally planned to be Ja Rule's debut single until Jay-Z heard the track and requested it for himself. During this time, he rapped under the slightly modified stage name '''Jah'''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gale |first=Alex |date=August 21, 2013 |title=Ja Rule Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/ja-rule-best-songs-interview/ |website=Complex.com}}</ref>

Returning to the Ja Rule name, his debut single "[[Holla Holla]]" was released in March 1999 and became a hit, peaking at number 35 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="singles charts">{{cite web|title=Ja Rule: Billboard Singles|url=https://allmusic.com/artist/ja-rule-p366173/charts-awards/billboard-singles|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=December 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ja Rule - Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ja-rule/chart-history/ |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Fueled by the success of "Holla Holla", Ja Rule's debut album, ''[[Venni Vetti Vecci]]'', was released in 1999, peaking at number 3 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] with 184,000 copies sold in its first week. It eventually reached platinum status in the US due to the popularity of "Holla Holla".<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|title=Gold & Platinum: Ja Rule|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=ja%20rule&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50|publisher=RIAA|access-date=December 13, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151606/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> A remix of "Holla Holla" was later released, featuring Jay-Z, [[Vita (rapper)|Vita]], [[Caddillac Tah (rapper)|Cadillac Tah]], [[Black Child]], [[Memphis Bleek]] and [[Busta Rhymes]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

===''Rule 3:36'', ''Pain Is Love'', and ''The Last Temptation'' (2000–2002)===
[[File:Vita&Ja.jpg|thumb|214x214px|Ja Rule and [[Vita (rapper)|Vita]] in 2001]]
Ja Rule's second single, "[[Between Me and You]]", featuring [[Christina Milian]], was released in June 2000 as the first single from his second studio album and became his first major crossover hit, earning Top 40 airplay and reaching number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The album's next single, "[[Put It on Me (Ja Rule song)|Put It on Me]]", featuring [[Vita (rapper)|Vita]] and [[Lil' Mo]], was released in December 2000 and became one of the biggest hits of 2001, reaching number 8 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and becoming the first top-10 hit for both Ja Rule and Vita.<ref name="singles charts"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Ja Rule Talks Creation of 'Put It on Me'|url=http://www.hip-hopvibe.com/2012/02/29/ja-rule-talks-creation-of-put-it-on-me-in-vibe-interview/|website=Hip-hopvibe.com|date=February 29, 2012|access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> The video for "Put It on Me" also topped the MTV Video Countdown for a week, and became the first music video to be retired on [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]]'s ''[[106 & Park]]'' after spending more than 60 days on the countdown. The video also ranked number 1 on BET's ''Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2001''.<ref>{{cite web|title=BET: Notarized – Season 1, episode 3: 2001|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/bet-notarized/2001-1298170/|publisher=[[TV.com]]|access-date=January 17, 2014|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002010436/http://www.tv.com/shows/bet-notarized/2001-1298170/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ja Rule's second album, ''[[Rule 3:36]]'', was released on October 10, 2000, and went in a much different stylistic direction from ''Venni Vetti Vecci'', changing his almost trademark hardcore hip-hop sound to mainstream-oriented [[pop-rap]], debuting at number 1 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] with 276,000 copies sold in its first week, making it Ja Rule's first number-one album. The album later went on to be certified triple platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).<ref name="RIAA"/> A week later, Ja Rule featured on [[Cuban Link]]'s song "Murda Murda" from Cuban's ''24K'' album. It was released on October 22, 2000, by [[Atlantic Records]] and [[Terror Squad Entertainment]] as the B-side to Cuban's "Still Telling Lies" single.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cuban Link – Still Telling Lies|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2281032-Cuban-Link-Still-Telling-Lies|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

The success of ''Rule 3:36'' promoted Ja Rule to international status, and made Murder Inc. one of the biggest labels in the United States. The same success followed with his third album, which spawned three top-10 singles, two of them reaching number 1. The first, "[[Livin' It Up (Ja Rule song)|Livin' It Up]]", featuring [[Case (singer)|Case]], was released in July 2001 and reached number 6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ja-rule/chart-history/hsi/|title=Ja Rule|website=Billboard.com}}</ref> It also achieved success in the United Kingdom, reaching number 5 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20020728/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 {{pipe}} Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com}}</ref> The second single, "[[Always on Time]]", was released in October 2001 and marked the first major guest appearance for Murder Inc's youngest artist [[Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti]], and became both Ja Rule and Ashanti's first song to top the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="singles charts"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/05/ashanti-tbt-complex-tv|title=Watch Ashanti Talk About Her Career Highlights and Working with Ja Rule and Fat Joe |work=[[Complex magazine|Complex]]|date=May 1, 2014|access-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref> The remix of [[Jennifer Lopez]]'s "[[I'm Real (Jennifer Lopez song)|I'm Real]]" featuring Ja Rule was included on the album and topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for five non-consecutive weeks, beginning September 8, 2001, and also topped the Hot 100 Airplay chart. The song was a staple of [[contemporary R&B|R&B]]/[[hip hop music|hip hop]] and [[pop music|pop]] radio during the summer and fall of 2001, spending fifteen weeks total in the top five of the Hot 100. In 2009 the single was named the 30th most successful song of the 2000s, on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Songs of the Decade.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=Greece#/charts-decade-end/hot-100-songs?year=2009&begin=21&order=position |title=Hot 100 Decade Songs |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 4, 2012}}</ref> The album's fourth single, "[[Down Ass Bitch]]" featuring [[Charli Baltimore]] was also successful, reaching number 21 on the Hot 100.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/276599/ja+rule/chart |title=Ja Rule – Chart history {{pipe}} Billboard |website=www.billboard.com |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206205955/http://www.billboard.com/artist/276599/ja+rule/chart |archive-date=6 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ja Rule released his third studio album, ''[[Pain Is Love]]'', on October 2, 2001. Like its predecessor, ''Pain Is Love'' topped the ''Billboard'' 200 with first-week sales of 361,000 copies and is certified triple platinum by the RIAA.<ref name="RIAA"/> The album also received a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] nomination in 2002 for [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|Best Rap Album]]. By 2007, 3.6 million copies of ''Pain Is Love'' had been sold.<ref name=reuters />

''[[The Last Temptation (Ja Rule album)|The Last Temptation]]'', Ja Rule's fourth album, was released on November 19, 2002. It spawned two hit singles, "[[Thug Lovin']]", featuring [[Bobby Brown]], which peaked at number 42 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and "[[Mesmerize (Ja Rule song)|Mesmerize]]", a duet with Ashanti that peaked at number 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="singles charts"/> ''The Last Temptation'' debuted at number 4 on the ''Billboard'' 200 with first-week sales of 237,000 copies and was certified platinum by the RIAA in December 2002.<ref name="RIAA"/><ref name="album charts"/>

===50 Cent feud, ''Blood in My Eye,'' and ''R.U.L.E.'' (2003–2004)===
[[File:KexEdit-0.8.6.jpg|thumb|Ja Rule (left) in 2000 with [[Kenneth McGriff|Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff]], a notorious [[Queens, New York|Queens]] gangster closely affiliated with [[Irv Gotti]] and [[Murder Inc. Records]]]]

Shortly after the release of his fourth studio album, Ja Rule's ongoing beef with fellow Queens rapper [[50 Cent]] reached its peak, with both artists taking to radio stations almost daily to trade insults and diss tracks.<ref name="http://hiphopdx.com">{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2422/title.50-cents-10-most-infamous-beefs|title=50 Cent's 10 Most Infamous Beefs|website=HipHopDX.com|date=June 3, 2014}}</ref><ref name="MTV News">{{cite web|last=MTV News|author-link=MTV|date=November 3, 2003 |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/j/ja_rule/news_feature_031103/index.jhtml |title=Ja Rule on 50 Cent, God and Hip-Hop |publisher=MTV |access-date=July 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820000603/http://www.mtv.com/bands/j/ja_rule/news_feature_031103/index.jhtml |archive-date=August 20, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="xxlmag.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2006/07/50-cent-games-haters-play/|title=50 Cent Games Haters Play – XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=July 27, 2006 }}</ref><ref name="hiphopdx.com">{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.29625/title.ja-rule-details-50-cent-altercation-in-2000|title=Ja Rule Details 50 Cent Altercation In 2000|date=July 7, 2014|website=HipHopDX.com}}</ref><ref name=MTV>{{cite web|first=Reid|last=Shaheem |date=April 25, 2003|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471546/20030425/story.jhtml |title=DJ Tells 50 Cent, Ja Rule: One More Dis Record, Then Quit It|publisher= MTV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030501124439/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471546/20030425/story.jhtml|archive-date=May 1, 2003|url-status=dead|access-date=July 25, 2007}}</ref> On January 3, 2003, the Murder Inc. offices were raided by [[FBI]] agents and [[NYPD]] officers due to accusations of money laundering and drug trades toward [[Kenneth McGriff|Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff]], who was associated with Irv Gotti.<ref name="billboard.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/72794/report-feds-raid-murder-inc-in-irv-gotti-probe|title=Report: Feds Raid Murder Inc. In Irv Gotti Probe|website=Billboard.com}}</ref> Due to the federal investigation, Ja Rule had a late response in his beef with 50 Cent.<ref>[http://empiremediakings.com/2018/02/15/flashback-ja-rule-on-why-he-didnt-clap-back-at-50-cent-sooner] {{Dead link|date=February 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> By association, 50 Cent's labelmates [[Eminem]], [[Obie Trice]], [[D12]], and Ja Rule's former friends and associates [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]] and [[Busta Rhymes]] were brought into the feud too. Ja Rule released the diss track "Loose Change" in April 2003, where he attacks 50 Cent, as well as Eminem, Busta Rhymes and [[Dr. Dre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/05/ja-rule-boasts-eminem-50-cent-loose-change-most-disrespectful|title=Ja Rule Boasts His Eminem/50 Cent "Loose Change" Diss Was the Most Disrespectful|website=Complex.com}}</ref> 50 Cent eventually responded with "Hail Mary", which used the beat from [[2Pac]]'s [[Hail Mary (2Pac song)|song of the same name]] and featured Eminem and Busta Rhymes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/50-cent-ja-rule-beef-history-timeline-what-cause-rap-instagram-latest-a8621631.html|title=The history of 50 Cent and Ja Rule's long-running feud|date=November 7, 2018|newspaper=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> The beef continued to be highly publicized throughout 2003, and eventually led to Ja Rule meeting with Minister [[Louis Farrakhan]] in October, who wanted to intervene and prevent escalating violence in the feud.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_1091.shtml | title = Farrakhan warns hip-hop artists: Clap-back will only lead to coffins | publisher = [[The Final Call (newspaper)|The Final Call]] | date = November 4, 2003 | access-date = April 15, 2008 }}</ref>

Ja Rule's fifth studio album, ''[[Blood in My Eye]]'', was released on November 4, 2003, under the Murder Inc. label, which renamed itself "The Inc." several days after the album release. The material was intended simply as a mixtape, but was released as an album to fulfill Ja Rule's contractual commitment to Murder Inc. to release one annually. The album was described as a "hate" album directed at various rappers, including 50 Cent, [[G-Unit]], Eminem, [[Proof (rapper)|Proof]], Dr. Dre, DMX, Busta Rhymes and others, and marked a return to the [[hardcore hip-hop|hardcore style]] Ja Rule had used in his earlier career. It spawned one hit single, "Clap Back", which reached number 44 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and won a Source Award for "Fat Tape" song of the year. It peaked at number 6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 200, selling 139,000 copies in its first week of release, and had sold over 468,000 copies in the U.S. by 2008.<ref name="album charts">{{cite web|title=Ja Rule – Charts & Awards (Billboard Albums)|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p366173|pure_url=yes}}|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=August 17, 2008}}</ref>

Ja Rule's sixth studio album, ''[[R.U.L.E.]]'', was released in November 2004, debuting at number 7 and selling 166,000 copies in its first week of release. Its lead single, "[[Wonderful (Ja Rule song)|Wonderful]]", featuring [[R. Kelly]] and [[Ashanti (entertainer)|Ashanti]], peaked at number 5 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The single was followed by the street anthem "[[New York (Ja Rule song)|New York]]", featuring [[Fat Joe]] and [[Jadakiss]], which charted at number 27 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The third single was the love song "[[Caught Up (Ja Rule song)|Caught Up]]", featuring [[Lloyd (singer)|Lloyd]], which failed to make an impact on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The RIAA certified ''R.U.L.E.'' Gold on January 14, 2005,<ref name="RIAA"/> and by October 2007 the album had sold 658,000 copies.<ref name=reuters>{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Gail|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0720752020071007|title=Rapper Ja Rule releasing first album in 3 years|work=Reuters|date=October 7, 2007|access-date=December 13, 2010}}</ref>

===Hiatus, departure from Def Jam, decline of The Inc. Records (2005–2009)===
[[File:Ja Rule Fort Hood.JPEG|thumb|right|Ja Rule performing in [[Fort Hood]], [[Texas]], May 13, 2005]]
On December 6, 2005, The Inc. released ''[[Exodus (Ja Rule album)|Exodus]]'', a greatest hits album whose only new tracks were the song "Me" and intro and [[outro (music)|outro]] tracks. ''Exodus'' was the last album on Ja Rule's contract with The Inc. After its release, Ja Rule took a hiatus from recording music.<ref name="allmusic"/> Meanwhile, [[The Inc. Records]] was still under investigation because of alleged drug trades with Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff.<ref name="billboard.com"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rashbaum|first1=William K.|last2=Sweeney|first2=Matthew|title=Hip-Hop Producers Get Acquittal, Then Hugs, From Jurors|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/03/nyregion/03gotti.html?_r=1&sq=&pagewanted=all|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 3, 2005}}</ref> This led to Def Jam Recordings refusing to renew The Inc.'s contract. From 2005 to 2006, Gotti searched for other labels, finally reaching a deal with [[Universal Records]] (part of the same company as Def Jam). A few years later The Inc. left Universal Records due to business issues and failure to secure funds for projects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.25501/title.ja-rule-admits-losing-to-50-cent|title=Ja Rule Admits Losing To 50 Cent|website=HipHopDX.com|date=September 20, 2013}}</ref> In 2007, Ja Rule founded record label '''Mpire Music Group'''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

===''Pain Is Love 2'', prison, and release (2011–2013)===
In February 2011, it was announced that Ja Rule had started working on a new album, ''[[Pain Is Love 2]]'', to be produced by the producers of the original ''Pain Is Love'' album to "recreate magic". Most of the production was to be done by [[Channel 7 (musician)|7 Aurelius]] (who co-produced "[[Down Ass Bitch]]"), while Irv Gotti was to be executive producer. Ja Rule had planned on releasing it on June 7, 2011, but decided to delay the release in order to allow more time to perfect the "level and quality of the records" and to avoid "doing an injustice to [his] fans".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://getwritegossip.com/2011/02/08/ja-rule-working-on-%E2%80%98pain-is-love-pt-2%E2%80%B2/ |title=Ja Rule Working On 'Pain Is Love Pt. 2' « GetWrite Gossip {{pipe}} New Hip Hop Music, Hip Hop News, Sports, Entertainment Blog |website=Getwritegossip.com |date=February 8, 2011 |access-date=December 13, 2012 |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329143414/http://getwritegossip.com/2011/02/08/ja-rule-working-on-%E2%80%98pain-is-love-pt-2%E2%80%B2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hip-hopvibe.com/2011/02/09/ja-rule-working-on-pain-is-love-2/ |title=Ja Rule working on "Pain is Love 2" |website=Hip-hopvibe.com |date=February 9, 2011 |access-date=December 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15407/title.ja-rule-delays-pain-is-love-2/ |title=Ja Rule Reveals Tracklist For "Pain Is Love 2," Due In 2012 {{pipe}} Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |website=HipHopDX.com |date=December 9, 2011 |access-date=December 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427145106/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15407/title.ja-rule-delays-pain-is-love-2/ |archive-date=April 27, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A revised release date of October 11, 2011, was also pushed back.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Pil-2-Ja-Rule/dp/B006EMSNN4/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1326381032&sr=1-2 |title=Pil 2: Ja Rule: Music |website=Amazon.com |access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> During the delay, Ja Rule released a new track, "Falling to Pieces", produced by 7 Aurelius, which samples [[The Script]]'s "[[Breakeven (song)|Breakeven]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soulculture.co.uk/blogs/music-blog/newmusic/ja-rule-falling-2-pieces-new-music/ |title=Ja Rule – "Falling 2 Pieces" {{pipe}} New Music |website=SoulCulture.co.uk |date=September 23, 2011 |access-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927012351/http://www.soulculture.co.uk/blogs/music-blog/newmusic/ja-rule-falling-2-pieces-new-music/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=» by September 23, 2011, 14:24pm |url=http://hiphopwired.com/2011/09/23/ja-rule-releases-falling-to-pieces-audio/ |title=Ja Rule Releases "Falling To Pieces" [Audio] |publisher=Hip-Hop Wired |date=September 23, 2011 |access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> On October 2, 2011, another track, "Spun a Web", was released, also produced by 7 Aurelius and sampling [[Coldplay]]'s "[[Trouble (Coldplay song)|Trouble]]". The following day a teaser video premiered on YouTube, and the official video was released on October 11.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hiphop-n-more.com/2011/10/ja-rule-spun-a-web/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004135103/http://hiphop-n-more.com/2011/10/ja-rule-spun-a-web/|url-status=dead|title=Ja Rule – 'Spun A Web'|website=Web.archive.org|archive-date=October 4, 2011|access-date=February 6, 2025}}</ref> ''Pain Is Love 2'' was finally released on February 28, 2012, by which time Ja Rule was serving a two-year sentence in prison for gun possession and tax evasion.

Ja Rule was released from prison on May 7, 2013.<ref name="JA RULE RELEASED From Prison">{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2013/05/07/ja-rule-released-prison/|title=JA RULE RELEASED From Prison|website=Tmz.com|date=May 7, 2013 |access-date=May 7, 2013}}</ref> Alongside Lil Wayne and Birdman, he appeared on the remix of the track "She Tried", which appeared on the [[N.O.R.E]] album ''[[Student of the Game]]''. On September 18, 2013, Ja Rule released a track titled "Fresh Out Da Pen". The track had first premiered on [[WQHT|Hot 97]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.25568/title.Ja+Rule-Fresh+Out+Da+Pen|title=Ja Rule|date=September 18, 2013|website=HipHopDX.com|access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/19/ja-rule-fresh-out-da-pen_n_3953246.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Jacobs | last=Matthew | title=Ja Rule Is 'Fresh Out Da Pen' | date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> A few days later he released "Everything". Both tracks were produced by Visionary producers Reefa and Myles William. On September 27, 2013, both tracks were released on iTunes for digital download.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/everything-fresh-out-da-pen-single/716859671|title=iTunes – Music – Everything / Fresh Out da Pen – Single by Ja Rule|work=iTunes|date=September 25, 2013|access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ruleyork.com/2013/09/new-music-ja-rule-eerrthang-fresh-out-the-pen-itunes-download/|title=New Music: JA RULE – 'EerrThang' & 'Fresh Out The Pen' itunes download – RuleYork|first=Anthony|last=Wallace|access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref> In September 2013, it was confirmed that Ja Rule and Gotti had relaunched [[Murder Inc Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/m/index.php?s=news&id=25602|title=Irv Gotti To Relaunch Murder Inc.|access-date=March 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216024711/http://www.hiphopdx.com/m/index.php?s=news&id=25602|archive-date=February 16, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Memoir, reality show and future projects (2014–present)===
In 2014, Ja Rule released a memoir, ''Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man'', in which he reflected on his past struggles with a difficult adolescence in New York City and everything that followed, from breakout success and destructive rivalries to fatherhood and a two-year prison sentence.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/2954051/ja-rule-book-interview/|title=Ja Rule Book: Surprising Facts From the Rapper's Memoir, Unruly|first=Samantha|last=Grossman|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=March 9, 2015|date=July 8, 2014}}</ref> In July 2014, Ja Rule announced his eighth studio album, which was eventually pushed back to a 2016 release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.29631/title.ja-rule-announces-genius-loves-company-album-|title=Ja Rule Announces "Genius Loves Company" Album|date=July 7, 2014|website=HipHopDX.com|access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/article/fvbsmh/ja-rule-announces-new-album-genius-loves-company|title=Ja Rule Announces New Album, Genius Loves Company|date=July 8, 2014|website=BET.com|access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6693349/ja-rule-nfl-picks-fantasy-joe-flacco-eli-manning-giants-tom-brady|title=Ja Rule on His NFL Picks, Playing Fantasy & Why He Doesn't Think Brady's Going Back to the Super Bowl|website=Billboard.com}}</ref> Also in 2014, MTV announced that Ja Rule and his family would star in the upcoming reality show ''Follow the Rules'' which was co-produced by [[Queen Latifah]]. A sneak peek trailer of the show surfaced on the internet in September 2014 and the show premiered on October 26, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wetpaint.com/2015-04-22-ja-rule-reality-show-music/|title=Ja Rule Talks New Music, a Fast & Furious Return, and T.I.'s Reality TV Advice — Exclusive – Wetpaint, Inc.|date=April 22, 2015|website=Wetpaint.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2015/08/05/ja-rule-50-cent-reignite-beef/|title=Ja Rule and 50 Cent Reignite Beef|website=Rap-up.com|date=July 31, 2015 }}</ref> In October 2015, Rule announced that he and Gotti had partnered with [[Paramount Pictures]] on a TV drama series based on the history of Murder Inc., set to premiere in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/ja-rule-says-he-irv-gotti-have-partnered-up-with-paramount-for-a-murder-inc-drama-series-20151027|title=Ja Rule Says He & Irv Gotti Have Partnered Up With Paramount for a Murder Inc Drama Series|first=Tambay A.|last=Obenson|date=October 27, 2015|access-date=December 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222221534/http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/ja-rule-says-he-irv-gotti-have-partnered-up-with-paramount-for-a-murder-inc-drama-series-20151027|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vladtv.com/article/215454/ja-rule-says-murder-inc-drama-series-is-coming-in-2016|title=Exclusive! Ja Rule Says Murder Inc Drama Series Is Coming in 2016|website=Vladtv.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/ja-rule-has-a-murder-inc-drama-series-in-the-works-news.18375.html|title=Ja Rule Has A "Murder Inc." Drama Series In The Works|website=Hotnewhiphop.com|date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> In February 2016, Ja Rule announced that his upcoming eighth studio album would be titled ''Coup De Grâce''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.37593/title.ja-rule-says-his-next-album-will-be-his-last-announces-new-title|title=Ja Rule Says His Next Album Will Be His Last; Announces New Title|website=HipHopDX.com|date=February 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/2016/02/ja-rule-changes-title-final-album/|title=Ja Rule Changes The Title Of His Final Album|date=February 22, 2016|website=Vice.com}}</ref> and would be his last album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radio.com/2016/02/22/ja-rule-final-album/|title=Ja Rule Announces Final Album 'Coup De Grace'|access-date=December 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901043704/http://radio.com/2016/02/22/ja-rule-final-album/|archive-date=September 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2016, he appeared on ''[[The Hamilton Mixtape]]'', rapping Hamilton's verse in [[Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti]]'s performance of "[[Helpless (Hamilton song)|Helpless]]", referencing [[Lin-Manuel Miranda]]'s impression of him in the last line of that verse. On June 26, 2018, Ashanti confirmed that she and Ja Rule are working on a collaborative album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2018/06/ashanti-confirms-joint-album-with-ja-rule-in-the-works/|title=Ashanti Confirms Joint Album With Ja Rule Is in the Works – XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=June 26, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/ashanti-confirms-collaborative-album-with-ja-rule-news.53532.html|title=Ashanti Confirms Collaborative Album With Ja Rule|website=Hotnewhiphop.vom|date=June 25, 2018}}</ref>

On October 15, 2021, in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the release of his third studio album, ''Pain is Love'', Ja Rule released the single, "Sincerely, Jeffrey"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-02 |title=Ja Rule on Twitter: "Since it's the anniversary of Pain is love figured I'd give y'all a lil something new... love y'all!!! ❤️🌊 #ICONN #SincerlyJeffrey..." |url=https://twitter.com/jarule/status/1444351644007866375 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002223557/https://twitter.com/jarule/status/1444351644007866375 |archive-date=2021-10-02 |access-date=2022-04-07 }}</ref> for all streaming platforms.<ref>{{Citation |title=Sincerely Jeffrey – Single by Ja Rule |date=2021-10-15 |url=https://music.apple.com/ag/album/sincerely-jeffrey-single/1590606910 |language=en-GB |access-date=2022-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Sincerely Jeffrey |date=2021-10-15 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/30yvqIQLYYYvaJ89GCHH0V |language=en |access-date=2022-04-07}}</ref>

[[File:Ja Rule 9 25 24.jpg|alt=Ja Rule Performs at Barclays Center, backed up by the NY Liberty Mascot Ellie the Elephant and her dancers|thumb|Ja Rule performs at halftime during the [[WNBA playoffs|WNBA Playoffs]] at Barclays Center in 2024, pictured here with the NY Liberty's [[Ellie the Elephant]]]]

===Acting===
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=May 2023}}
His first film was a buddy movie with [[Pras]], ''[[Turn It Up (film)|Turn It Up]]''; he appeared in a minor role in ''[[The Fast and the Furious (2001 film)|The Fast and the Furious]]''. He appeared in several movies including ''[[Back in the Day (2005 film)|Back in the Day]]'' with [[Ving Rhames]] and [[Pam Grier]] and ''[[Half Past Dead]]'' as [[Steven Seagal]]'s co-star. He also starred in the movies ''[[The Cookout]]'' with [[Queen Latifah]] and ''[[Assault on Precinct 13 (2005 film)|Assault on Precinct 13]]''. In 2013, he starred in ''[[I'm in Love with a Church Girl]]''.

===Other ventures===
In 2004, Ja Rule and Gotti launched an urban clothing line called ErvinGeoffrey. In 2006, Ja Rule launched a liquor company, The Mojito.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/ja-rule/video/jarulex30x11x05|title=Ja Rule – Exodus Audio Stream|website=Contactmusic.com|date=November 30, 2005}}</ref>

In May 2015, Ja Rule partnered with [[Billy McFarland (fraudster)|Billy McFarland]], the CEO of the credit card service company Magnises, to become its creative head and spokesman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nylon.com/articles/the-reawakening-of-ja-rule|title=the reawakening of ja rule|website=Nylon.com|date=May 13, 2015 }}</ref> In August 2015, Ja Rule collaborated with footwear businessman [[Steve Madden]] on a new line of men's sneakers called Maven x Madden,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rollingout.com/2015/08/18/ja-rule-lands-deal-steve-madden/|title=Ja Rule lands deal with Steve Madden – Rolling Out|date=August 18, 2015|website=Rollingout.com}}</ref> which were released for sale by fall 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://footwearnews.com/2015/influencers/collaborations/steve-madden-ja-rule-maven-madden-shoes-collection-148864/|title=Steve Madden And Ja Rule Open Up Exclusively About Their Shoe Line|first=Sheena|last=Butler-Young|date=September 14, 2015|website=Footwearnews.com}}</ref>

In 2016, Ja Rule co-founded Fyre Media, Inc.,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trademarks.justia.com/871/99/fyre-87199976.html|title=FYRE – Trademark Details|website=Trademarks.justia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://xlivecon.com/lasvegas/speakers/ja-rule-fyre-media/|title=JA RULE, MUSICIAN & CO-FOUNDER, FYRE MEDIA|website=Xlivecon.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320232255/http://xlivecon.com/lasvegas/speakers/ja-rule-fyre-media/|archive-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref> a talent booking agency, with Billy McFarland. In April 2017, the venture touted its [[Fyre Festival]] in Hamilton, Bahamas, as a luxury event, but it was fraudulent,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Huddleston|first=Tom Jr.|date=2019-08-18|title=Fyre Festival: How a 25-year-old scammed investors out of $26 million|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/18/how-fyre-festivals-organizer-scammed-investors-out-of-26-million.html|access-date=2022-01-12|work=CNBC}}</ref> disappointing hundreds of ticket-buyers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/founder-of-fyre-billy-mcfarland-club-for-millennials-2017-4|title=The organizer of the doomed Fyre festival was previously accused of scamming millennials with promises of Hamilton tickets and trips to Cuba|newspaper=Business Insider|date=April 28, 2017|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref> Rule and McFarland faced a $100 million class action suit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/may/01/fyre-festival-celebrity-lawyer-files-lawsuit|title=Celebrity lawyer files $100m lawsuit against Fyre festival organizers|date=May 1, 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=May 2, 2017}}</ref>

In 2020, Ja Rule developed a live-streaming app called Iconn Live.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.59584/title.ja-rule-explains-how-his-iconn-app-is-different-from-fyre-fest-app|title=Ja Rule Explains How His ICONN App Is Different From Fyre Fest App|date=December 17, 2020|website=HipHopDX}}</ref> The app debuted on [[Apple TV]] in November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/news/movies-tv/ja-rule-iconn-live-app-debut-apple-tv-1234712510/|title=Ja Rule's ICONN Live App Debuts On Apple TV|first=Marc|last=Griffin|website=Vibe.com|date=November 17, 2022}}</ref>

In 2021, Ja Rule partnered with a team of software engineers to launch Flipkick, a platform focusing on selling physical works of art as [[non-fungible token]]s. Flipkick claims to be "the first company to offer cryptographic authentication of physical works of art sold as and linked to NFTs." To inaugurate the platform, Ja Rule listed for auction a painting he commissioned in 2012 by artist Tripp Derrick Barnes depicting the Fyre Media Inc logo. The painting was listed with an estimate of $600,000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rapper Ja Rule launches NFT platform—and is selling a painting from infamous Fyre Festival on it|url=http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/rapper-ja-rule-of-fyre-festival-infame-launches-platform-for-vips-to-sell-physical-nfts|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=www.theartnewspaper.com|date=March 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dailey|first=Natasha|title=Rapper Ja Rule is selling a physical painting from his Fyre Festival days as crypto art|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ja-rule-sells-nft-fyre-festival-painting-flipkick-2021-3|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=Business Insider}}</ref>

In June 2023, Ja Rule launched a premium [[wine]] label called Rose Vine Cellars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theindustrycosign.com/spirits-ja-rule-rose-vine-cellars-red-rose-cabernet-sauvignon/|title=Ja Rule Launches Rose Vine Cellars|date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2023/06/ja-rule-launches-premium-alexander-valley-wine-label/|title=Ja Rule launches premium Alexander Valley wine label|first=Sarah|last=Neish|date=June 20, 2023|website=The Drinks Business}}</ref>

In January 2025, Ja Rule launched a new [[whiskey]] brand called Amber & Opal.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/noelburgess/2025/01/13/exclusive-interview-with-hip-hop-icon-ja-rule-the-story-behind-his-new-whiskey-brand-amber--opal/ Hip-Hop Icon Ja Rule On The Story Behind His New Whiskey Brand, Amber & Opal]</ref>