Ja Rule has a message to the world. Back him up and you'll earn his everlasting love. Cross him and ... well, let's just say you don't want to make him angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry.
The 24-year-old, Hollis, Queens-born rapper (also known as Jeff Atkins) has managed to keep his anger in check so far, growing from a teen prodigy to a multi-platinum Incredible Hulk of hip-hop. His distinctive growl has propelled him back toward the top of the charts with his hard-hitting second album, Rule 3:36, and the hits "Between Me and You" and "Put It on Me."
Since breaking through with Jay-Z on the 1998 smash "Can I Get A...," Ja Rule has written his own code book for success, going platinum with his 1999 debut Venni Vetti Vecci, which spawned the hit "Holla Holla." Rule 3:36 finds the rapper calming down a bit from the murderous thoughts of Venni Vetti Vecci; he goes so far as to sample the O'Jays' "Cry Together" for the state-of-the-avenue soul ballad "I Cry," and he hits upon a certain love-spreading club drug in "Extasy."
Not content to spread his street gospel on record only, Rule teamed with one-time Fugees member Pras in the 2000 film "Turn It Up." He's currently shooting "Racer X," starring Vin Diesel ("Pitch Black"). The film, about men who race cars in the streets, is in keeping with Rule's hectic pace.
Rule slowed down and kept his rage in check long enough to spare the life of MTV Radio's Curtis Waller, explaining how he had some fun recording his second album, why he's nobody's protégé and why you probably won't see him pulling a Whitney Houston in an airport any time soon.
