By K.B. Tindal
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
People really need to give Ja Rule more credit than he receives. No matter what the world throws at him, he keeps brushing himself off and coming back. At a time when hip hop is so different from when he dominated, Ja Rule is still convinced he can be the biggest star in the game.
Once Ja Rule was sent to prison, a lot of people knew it was finally over, but they weren’t able to convince him. Ja Rule is out of prison and he has hit the ground running with his new projects, mainly his acting career. I’m In Love with A Church Girl is the new film starring Ja Rule opposite Adrienne Bailon.
Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal sat down with Ja Rule and he spoke on the current moves in his career. Last week, Ja Rule delivered a solid verse on N.O.R.E.’s “She Tried” remix alongside Birdman and Lil Wayne. Ja Rule discussed the song and his upcoming role in I’m In Love with A Church Girl.
Read excerpts from the interview below:
How do you think prison has affected your career?
It’s a double-edged sword, a gift and a curse. I’ve come out a better person and know better how to carry myself. On the flip side, it took two years of my life. I wanted to take my time inside to do a lot of soul searching and learn how to be a better many coming out of prison then going in. And I’m sad to say that Malcolm X had a very interesting point. He said that besides going to college, prison is the best thing for a black man to learn and find himself. That held true a little bit for me.
How do you think that your prison stay will impact your likeliness to get cast in Hollywood?
It’s real life. If you never knew backlash, and I feel like a lot of people, even Hollywood people, can relate to this type of situation. We go through our ups and downs. It may not be as extreme as going to prison, but we all have our doubts and our beliefs. I think it gives me another experience, makes me stand out and gives me something to constantly check myself with. Hollywood surely appreciates that. And, let’s be real, I’m not the first guy in the business to have legal troubles.
The character you play in the film is an entrepreneur with a criminal past – sounds pretty familiar. How much are you like that character?
As I’m doing the movie, Miles [my character] was going through when I went through in real life. Where I come from is a dark place, I still know all of the players, the people doing bad things in some cases, these guys are still my friends. I felt that from the character, Miles. He’s trying to live a different life still having one foot on the other side. I’ve lived through that, daily it still comes up.
You recently collaborated with N.O.R.E., also known as P.A.P.I. for the “She Tried” remix alongside Lil Wayne and Birdman. Post-prison, are you returning to music?
I’m pushing toward doing a lot more film and television. Music is my passion, I’ve been in the rap game for 15 years now, but it’s time for me to conquer a new thing. I’m looking to make some really great films and create great projects on television and be a part of them and produce them too. My role now is as an artist and as a mogul to inspire and give others opportunities.
Follow K.B. Tindal on Twitter @KBTindal.
