By Hardcore Critic
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Rappers are no strangers to controversy, as their lyrics have made them enemies with the public since hip hop’s inception. Being highly controversial, while making extreme amounts of money often caught the attention of the media. Many felt it was only a matter of time before wealthy rappers became targets by the media.
Since 2005, a number of popular rappers have been sent to prison. Among the biggest names have been Lil Wayne and T.I. However, until it happened, many did not expect former hip hop frontman, Ja Rule, to land in prison. Ja Rule spent a number of years on top of the rap game, before being unceremoniously dethroned.
Nearly a decade has gone by since Ja Rule’s career received those damaging hits. Ja Rule has spent the better part of a decade trying to repair his image. Along the way, he made some questionable decisions, one of which landed him in prison for two years. With all the money he made, no one expected Ja Rule to ever serve time in prison. Before going to prison, Ja Rule discussed his upcoming sentence in several interviews, saying he wished things were different.
Nine months behind bars, Ja Rule has settled into prison life, becoming a mentor, of sorts, to the younger inmates and taking all the advice he can from the older inmates. What was impressive about Ja Rule, in the eyes of the hip hop community, was the fact he was a high school drop-out who defied the odds to become a multimillionaire. However, many of the Fortune 500 pride themselves for their education, just as much as they do for their deep wallets.
Since being in prison, Ja Rule has been taking advice from these different people. The experience of himself, as a rapper, sharing time with young street kids, and the Fortune 500 executives, imprisoned after the economic meltdown of 2008 has had a profound impact on the former Murder Inc. rapper. While prison is the last place Ja Rule wanted to be, he knows it will make him a better person when he is released, as Ja Rule is getting his GED and then taking college courses, en route to obtaining his accounting degree.
With many of the Fortune 500 executives behind bars with him, they have given Ja Rule many business tips, so he will likely be able to manage and expand his money. The worst case scenario for many is dying “before their time” or being sent to prison. Ja Rule has lived out several nightmares, but he has found light at the end of the tunnell. Prison is a bad situation, but getting a proper education and being released with a degree is the best.
