Ja Rule...Ja Going to Jail

Ja Rule...Ja Going to Jail

Music News

By our guest blogger, Nick Hanover

The New York Daily News reported on Monday that Grammy-nominated rapper Ja Rule will be going to jail for two years after pleading guilty to attempted weapon possession of the second degree, which is a violent felony. The incident occurred in 2007 after a Lil' Wayne concert Ja Rule, nee Jeffrey Atkins, and some friends had attended. Ja Rule was caught driving with a loaded .40 handgun and, oddly enough, Lil' Wayne was arrested the same night for the same crime. Lil' Wayne has already served an eight month sentence at Rikers in contrast to Ja Rule's two-year sentencing despite making the same plea.

Dennis Cherry, Ja Rule's road manager, is said to be in the process of making a no jail plea according to the NY Daily News article. The article also states that the driver during the incident, Mohammed Gamal is dead from cancer. The judge presiding over Ja Rule's case indicated that his sentence could be as minimal as a year and a half if the rapper "stays out of trouble." Given Ja Rule's serious tone during statements to the press it would seem that the hip-hop artist is not taking the case lightly.

While Lil' Wayne's conviction has done little to hurt his career prospects or even diminish his output, it could be a major blow to Ja Rule's career, which has been in decline as of late. Of course, if Ja Rule follows Lil' Wayne's example and saves the life of an inmate or two or gets some drugs named after him, he should be back on top in no time.