Biography
Who is Ja Rule?
Early life and real name
Jeffrey Bruce Atkins was born on February 29, 1976, in Hollis, Queens, New York City. His father left when he was very young, and he was raised as an only child after his younger sister died before birth. Due to his mother working as a healthcare worker, he was largely raised by his grandparents as a Jehovah's Witness.
His mother later left the religion, resulting in her being shunned by her family and congregation. Atkins and his mother decided to live together despite financial struggles, and he began selling drugs in Hollis not long after moving in with her.
Music career beginnings
Atkins began his rap career in 1994 as part of the hip-hop group Cash Money Click alongside Chris Black and O-1. He adopted the stage name Ja Rule after a friend addressed him by that moniker. The group worked with producer DJ Irv and released their debut independent single Get Tha Fortune in 1994.
After signing with TVT Records, the group recorded more music, but plans for a debut album halted when Chris Black was imprisoned in 1995 and the group was dropped. Ja Rule maintained his relationship with DJ Irv, who became known as Irv Gotti and helped secure a record deal with Def Jam.
Commercial success and hit albums
Ja Rule released his debut solo album Venni Vetti Vecci in 1999, featuring the hit single Holla Holla. The album achieved platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. He followed this with his second album, Rule 3:36, in 2000, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
His third album, Pain Is Love, was released in 2001 and featured multiple top-ten singles, including Livin It Up and Always on Time. He collaborated with various artists throughout this period, including Ashanti, Lil' Mo, Vita, and Jennifer Lopez, dominating the pop-rap charts between 1999 and 2005.
Acting and other ventures
Outside of music, Ja Rule pursued an acting career, appearing in films such as Turn It Up in 2000, The Fast and the Furious in 2001, and Half Past Dead in 2002. He also appeared in Scary Movie 3 and other feature films during the 2000s.
He co-founded the Fyre Festival with Billy McFarland, which faced severe scrutiny due to fraud. In November 2019, he was cleared of legal wrongdoing regarding his role in the event. Earlier that year, he joined the cast of the television series Growing Up Hip Hop: New York.
Birthday and age
Ja Rule was born on February 29, 1976, which makes Ja 50 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Ja shares the date with 16 other famous people.
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