ja rule
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The founder of the ill-fated Fyre Fest is out of jail and ready to throw a new version of the event with an expected launch date.
For those who remember the disaster that was Fyre Fest, be prepared —a new version is on the way. According to reports, Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland is gearing up for Fyre Festival II with the announcement that it will take place on April 25-28, 2025. “We have the chance to embrace this storm and really steer our ship into all the chaos that has happened, and if it’s done well, I think Fyre has a chance to be this annual festival that really takes over the festival industry,” he said in an interview about the proposed event.
For the curious, tickets to Fyre Fest II would cost $1,400 to start for a pass to the three-day event. Ticket prices range up to $1.1 million for VIP packages which include a chance to hang out with McFarland exclusively in addition to indulging in other activities such as spending time on luxury yachts, scuba diving, and island hopping. The fest would take place on a privately owned island off of the coast of Mexico. McFarland didn’t disclose the name of the island or the production company that would be involved with planning, adding that more information would be released in the next few months.
The first Fyre Fest took place in 2017 and was advertised as a luxury music festival taking place in the Bahamas. Veteran rapper Ja Rule was involved in the organization of the event, but it quickly turned into one of the most disastrous concert failures ever with people being stranded without much shelter or food. McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison for fraud related to the event, and he was released from prison in 2022. He still owes $26 million in restitution to concertgoers.
McFarland has also been busy consulting the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, steering rap celebs such as Waka Flocka Flame to endorse his run for office. He does feel there will be a turnout for Fyre Fest II. “I think there’s a large number of people who want to go to Fyre II because they’re unsure of the outcome, and they would like to have a front-row seat no matter what happens,” he said. “Thankfully, we have good partners who will make sure they’re safe and obviously make sure things work out.”
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The origin of the long-running feud between 50 Cent and Ja Rule was revealed by Steve Stoute in a recent chat with Shannon Sharpe.
The bad blood between 50 Cent and Ja Rule has been a constant source of news over the years, with no one truly understanding the reasons why. But industry music veteran and UnitedMasters CEO Steve Stoute shone a light on the roots of it during his appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast this past Wednesday (March 6) when the host asked. “That’s a good question,” Stoute said. “I think 50 knew that Ja was not who he was portraying as an image. Ja [was a] Jehovah’s Witness… I’m not saying they not supposed to rap, but Ja was coming up with this gangster image. It was like, ‘That’s a stretch for you…’ They had some very neighborhood beef.”
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Stoute continued as the two rode through the borough of Queens that both MCs hail from: “I remember when we signed 50 there was something going on. I think he snatched Ja’s chain, or somebody snatched somebody’s…And then they had a fight in Atlanta…and it was just like, I never understood it. I was like, ‘Why do you keep having problems with this guy?’ It was like he was always looking for problems…I think it was driven by this idea that this image he was portraying he didn’t think was authentic…It led to big issues. Ja and his guys ran up on 50 in the studio one day. They touched him up.”
Shannon then said, “Oh, so they’re never gonna be cool,” to which Stoute replied, “They’re never gonna be cool, and now, I’m happy that it’s all kind of over with,” he said. “What I don’t like at this point as older statesmen is…it makes the art form look bad. These guys are made men now…The leaders of the art form doin well, being positive, representing…the movement and the culture of Hip Hop well. For guys still to be beefing and still…dragging that back in…you in your 40s, bro. What are you talking about? You got kids at home.” Stoute also made headlines with his take on Dame Dash, which led to Dash replying via Instagram: “This is the reason I had to smack the shit out of @stevestoute a couple years ago…because he’s always speaking on other men’s business. good thing I’ve evolved.”
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If we’ve learned anything from 50 Cent over the past two decades and change that he’s been in the rap game it’s that he’ll never pass up an opportunity to clown Ja Rule. On Wednesday (Sept. 6), the G-Unit general once again let Jeffery Atkins know that he’s still on 50 Cent’s sh*t list.
Taking to Instagram to post a video of a recent Ja Rule performance from the 2023 BMI R&B/Hip Hop Awards in Miami this past Wednesday night (Sept. 6) at Miami’s LIV nightclub in which the “Holla Holla” rapper took to the stage tied to a wooden column (why, Ja?), 50 saw the opportunity to once again needle his Queens rival. Clowning Ja Rule for his onstage antics, 50 posted the video with a caption that read “look at this shit head, is he supposed to be Jesus. 😆 WTF you can’t make this shit up. LOL so stupid !”
Ja Rule making it too easy for 50, b.
The latest drive-by clowning comes months after 50 mocked Ja Rule for another over the top performance when Ja showed up to perform at Nelly’s Hot in Herre Festival in Toronto on a stretcher to bring some theatrics to his performance. Of course, the stunt had social media cutting a** on Ja and his career and naturally 50 piled on with his social media account saying “Lol WTF I ain’t gotta say sh*t stupid ’s SMH.”
We understand that Ja is trying to secure the bag and make some noise to get attention by any means necessary, but again, he’s just making it too easy for 50, b.
That being said, we would really love to see a Verzuz battle featuring 50 Cent and Ja Rule as that would have the Hip-Hop world on edge and quickly sellout whatever venue it would be held at. Unfortunately, 50 Cent has no interest in helping Ja gain any attention outside of jokes here and there.
What do y’all think of Ja’s “crucifixion”? Sound off in the comments section below.
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Busta Rhymes has been an electrifying force in Hip-Hop since before many of today’s rappers were born. Last month, the Brooklyn bred emcee took home the 2023 BET Awards biggest honor as this year’s Lifetime Achievement recipient.
Some of music’s greatest talents, including Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Diddy paid homage to the 12-time Grammy Award nominated rapper in a heartwarming video. Fans took to Twitter to share their favorite Busta Rhymes moments while reiterating that a Lifetime Achievement Award was overdue for the “mayor of Hip Hop.”
Busta’s award sparked an even bigger conversation about other icons whose contributions in Hip-Hop have seemingly gone unnoticed. Check out our list of Hip-Hop legends who deserve their flowers while they can smell them.
Ludacris
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Before rappers like Big Sean and DaBaby captivated fans with their animated delivery, wild punchlines and humorous videos, Ludacris had the game on lock. His major label debut album Back for the First Time, spawned several hit records that many fans deem to be instant classics — including the Neptunes- produced track “What’s Your Fantasy.”
While Atlanta was still finding their identity in Hip-Hop, Luda continued cranking out chart topping records and big budget music videos throughout the 2000s. But after years of hard work and a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2007 for Release Therapy, he started to feel that his contributions to Hip-Hop weren’t being acknowledged. In May 2023, Luda appeared on the All The Smoke podcast and revealed that Jay-Z credited his outlandish videos as the reason why Luda doesn’t receive the lyrical credit he deserves. “People ask me, ‘Why don’t you think [you] get the credit?’ Because I played too goddamn much…And I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Luda said.
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Ja Rule has gone viral yet again. He attempted to bring some drama to a live performance and as expected 50 Cent had jokes.
As spotted on HipHopDX the Murder Inc. talent recently performed Nelly’s Hot in Herre Festival in Toronto and his entrance was not your standard rapper entrance. Ja was wheeled in on a stretcher by two men dressed up as a paramedics. Soon after his grand entrance sounds of a heart beating could be heard throughout the speaker system. Ja rule proceeded to yell “Ayo, let these n***as know who I am. I’m one of the three, n****!”. He then jumped up and started performing “Livin’ It Up.”
According to XXL Magazine fans in attendance were not impressed. “Because his career’s on life support?? is that it?” one user commented. “It’s the paramedics leaning over him like they picking out toppings for a subway sandwich and got 5min to get back from break.” another account wrote. Naturally the stunt quickly landed on 50 Cent’s radar and he took to social media to poke fun at his rival for life. “Lol 😆😆😆WTF 😂I ain’t gotta say sh*t stupid 🥷🏾’s SMH” he wrote on Instagram.
You can see Ja Rule’s stretcher entrance below.
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Ja Rule continues to boss up right before our very eyes. He has announced he is entering the wine industry.
As spotted on Blavity the Queens, New York native is launching his own wine brand. Called Rose Vine Cellars, the MC has partnered with vintner Ross Reedy and the Wines That Rock company. On Tuesday, June 13 the Murder Inc. talent expressed his enthusiasm in a formal statement. “This launch is near and dear to my heart; one of my favorite things to do after a long day is pour myself a nice glass of wine,” he said. “This collab with wine master Ross Reedy and Wines That Rock is something we’ve spent a lot of time on because we wanted it to be perfect. Our goal was to create something unique, sophisticated and luxurious, and this collection is exactly that! I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished!”
The Rose Vine Cellars website provides more detail about this red wine. “This premium bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon was inspired by the act of giving roses to a friend. May this be the first of many roses we share together” the product description reads. “The grapes rest on their skins for a month during the harvest, a technique that fosters the development of intricate flavors. These are complemented by a natural fermentation process – free from added yeast. The result is a wine with an invitingly soft texture, thanks to a 24-month aging period in French oak barrels. Each bottle is individually hand wax-dipped for an elegant finish.”
The Red Rose Autographed Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon is priced at $150.00 and the Red Rose
Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wax Dipped is priced at $100.00. You can shop the Ja Rule’s wines here.
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You can add Ja Rule to the list of artists considering selling their music catalogs, but owning his collection of hits will come with a catch if he does sell it.
In an interview with Bloomberg Business, the Queens rapper spoke about selling his catalog. Still, before you can own hits such as “Always On Time” and “Put It On Me,” potential owners must agree to something not usually seen in typical artists’ agreements.
Rule told Bloomberg Business he wants to sell his catalog in a reversion deal. That means part of his sold catalog will be returned to his family in the future.
“I’ve found out recently that my catalog is very lucrative,” Ja Rule said. “So I’ll be looking (to sell). I’ve really been talking about doing a reversion deal where I would probably give up half my catalog, and it would revert back to my family.”
“I think it’s kinda hard to put a number on the value,” he adds. “Usually, the value of the music starts to go down as the artist starts to go away. The value of the music starts to depreciate.”
Ja Rule Wants To Make Sure His Family Will Still Eat off His Music
The Murder INC. artist didn’t share a dollar amount for his catalog but predicted the price would only go up because the value of artists and streams is already increasing.
“It’s kind of weird, but what’s happening now is we get less than a fraction of a cent for a stream, but that number is going up,” Ja Rule continued. “It’s going up to about 15 percent. So with that happening, I think a lot of these companies are realizing the money that’s out there.”
Of course, to add even more value to his catalog, Rule brought up the fact his singing/rap style has paved the way for other artists like Drake.
If that doesn’t jack up the price of Ja Rule’s music catalog, we don’t know what will.
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“If at first you don’t succeed, try again” is generally a good motto to live by, but we’re not sure if the man behind the ill-fated Fyre Festival of 2017 should actually be taking heed to the age-old proverb.
Recently the co-founder of the original Fyre Festival, Billy McFarland confirmed that he’d be bringing back the real life “Hunger Games” that had social media talking back in 2017, but this time around his partner-in-crime, Ja Rule is distancing himself from what could be another struggle jamboree in the islands. Speaking to People about McFarland’s attempt to resurrect the controversial event that featured fancy government cheese sandwiches for its attendees, Ja had no qualms about not being a part of Billy’s brainchild.
“I don’t know nothing about it!” the 47-year-old rapper tells PEOPLE at TuneCore’s 50 Years of Hip Hop event in New York City Thursday night. “I don’t know nothing about it. I ain’t in it!”
Ja Rule’s finally doing shows again and y’all think he’s gonna risk the little bit of popularity he’s gotten back for another struggle debacle?! Not bloody likely!
Naturally McFarland caught wind of Ja Rule’s comments and took to Twitter to formally deny him entrance to the party that Ja didn’t even want to attend by writing “definitely not invited.”
The question is, who wants to be invited? Scamming dozens of investors and thousands of would-be festival-goers with promises of a music-infused weekend complete with big name music artists and luxury accommodations at the Bahamian island of Great Exuma, McFarland’s original Fyre Festival proved to be a disaster. The luxury accommodations were basically FEMA tents, the food provided was straight out of an episode of Survivor, and the only music guest actually involved was Ja Rule who didn’t even make the trip out to the island.
Eventually that same year McFarland and Rule were hit with a $100 million class-action lawsuit and the following year McFarland pleaded guilty to wire fraud and other fraud charges relating to a different ticket-selling scam that July. Billy was sentenced to six years behind bars and was released in 2022 after serving four.
Luckily for Ja, he ducked charges related to the festival and has since gone on to regain some of his music momentum as of late.
How Billy McFarland plans to make things right with another Fyre Festival is anyone’s guess but if you’re willing to give that man your money and fly out to a tropical setting knowing it could lead to the government rescuing you at some point, that’s on you.
Would y’all be willing to go to a Fyre Festival without Ja Rule’s blessing? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Ja Rule doesn’t dominate the charts in Hip-Hop’s current climate but he’s very much a certified hitmaker and has earned his status as a top touring act. In a recent chat, the Queens, N.Y. star believes that Hip-Hop music is having a negative impact on the decision made by one of the NBA’s brightest stars in Ja Morant.
TMZ Sports chatted up Ja Rule as he was leaving an airport and got his take on Ja Morant and his recent issues, especially the flashing of the gun on Instagram Live in Colorado after a Memphis Grizzlies game. According to the “Holla Holla” artist, Morant is applying Hip-Hop’s current sound to his real life.
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NBA player Patrick Beverley said on his podcast, The Pat Bev Show with Rone, that the music of choice for Morant is where all the decisions stem from. Ja Rule also agreed with that assessment, urging the young superstar to focus on his burgeoning NBA career and leave the tough street image in the rearview.
“Hip-Hop is very influential,” the rapper born Jeffrey Atkins began. “I’ve done things in my youth because of Hip-Hop. Redman made ‘How To Roll A Blunt,’ we started smoking blunts.”
Morant has gotten grilled plenty in the press and by former NBA stars, including a candid sit-down with ESPN’s Jalen Rose. Rose issued his own stern warning to Morant, stating that he understood what he was going through and hoped that Morant would correct course.
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It’s not really a list if it doesn’t get people in their feelings. Case in point, Ja Rule took to Twitter to drag Billboard after noting he didn’t make the cut in its 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list.
Regardless of Ja’s beef, the list was already causing a stir due to some suspect choices. For example, in what universe does Andre 3000 come in at 12 only to be followed by Rakim at 13 and Big Daddy Kane at 20? Sure it’s Billboard, and VIBE, so the context includes charts and sales, but that means 3 Stacks has a solid beef since him and OutKast moved big units and were chart darlings.
Anyway, as for Ja Rule not cracking the top 50 isn’t exactly a top priority in rap debates, but the Queens rapper nevertheless took issue.
“There ain’t 50 rappers dead, alive or waiting to be born better than me… #ICONN #Vibes,” wrote Ja on Twitter on Thursday (Feb. 9). “@billboard congrats to everyone on the list well deserved but check my resume… #ICONN #Vibes.”
Now Ja does have a gang of major hits, but Hip-Hop itself is 50 years old and that’s a lot of great MC’s, regardless of sales and chart placement. Just saying.
Rule eventually added, “This the last thing I’m gonna say about the list… I’m pissed cause this was not an oversight it’s statistically IMPOSSIBLE to comprise this list without me so my question to @billboard who records these stats is what went into the decision to leave me off??? Just curious…”
Conspiracy theories aside, Billboard‘s list was revealed via countdown, with Jay-Z ultimately coming in at no. 1. Twitter has been debating the validity of the list ever since it full dropped. Check out some of the more passionate reactions in the gallery.
1. Ice Cube felt a ways…
10. At least someone is happy.
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