Ja Rule

Ja Rule is an American rapper, singer, and actor who debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla". From 1999 to 2005, Ja Rule released several song that made the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, including "Between Me and You" with Christina Milian, "I'm Real" with Jennifer Lopez, "Always on Time" with Ashanti, "Mesmerize" also with Ashanti, and "Wonderful" with R. Kelly and Ashanti.

He is also known for some well-publicized feuds with other rappers including 50 Cent and Eminem. He has released six studio albums and seventeen singles.

In 1995, he made his first appearance on Mic Geronimo's "Time to Build" which featured Jay-Z and DMX. In 1998 he was featured on Jay-Z's single "Can I Get A...".

Ja Rule's debut album Venni Vetti Vecci was released in 1999 and featured the single, "Holla Holla" which reached #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2000, he released the singles "Between Me and You", which featured Christina Milian and "Put It On Me" featuring Vita and Lil' Mo. His second album, Rule 3:36, was released in October 2000 and had debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200.

Ja Rule released his third studio album, Pain Is Love, in October 2001 and featured the singles, "Livin' It Up" featuring Case, "Always on Time", featuring Ashanti ended up being Ja Rule's first number 1 hit topping the Billboard Hot 100. The remix of Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real" which features Ja Rule, also topped the Billboard Hot 100.

The Last Temptation was Ja Rule's fourth album and was released in November 2002. It featured the singles "Thug Lovin'" and "Mesmerize". The album was certified platinum by the RIAA.

His fifth album, Blood in My Eye, was released in November 2003 and was described as a "hate" album, directed at artists on G-Unit/Shady/Aftermath. It featured the single, "Clap Back". In October 2003, Ja Rule met with Minister Louis Farrakhan, who wanted to intervene and prevent escalating violence in the feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent.

Ja Rule's sixth studio album, R.U.L.E., was released in November 2004 and featured the lead single "Wonderful" featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti. Other singles included "New York" featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss and "Caught Up" featuring Lloyd. In December 2005, Exodus, a greatest hits album, was released and Ja Rule took a hiatus from recording music.

In 2009, Ja Rule founded his own independent label, Mpire Music Group and recruited new artists. His seventh album, Pain Is Love 2, released in February 2012 and featured the songs "Falling to Pieces" and "Spun a Web".

Renaissance Project is to be Ja Rule's eighth studio album. Currently, he is set to be released from prison on February 21, 2013,  after a two-year sentence for gun possession.