Ja Rule (Jeffrey Atkins), whose career began in the mid-1990s, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter from Queens, New York. He gained notoriety as a standout on the East Coast hip-hop scene, known for blending aggressive rap with melodic hooks and street‑savvy songwriting.

He first emerged on the charts with guest features on songs like “Holla Holla” in 1999, showcasing his distinctive voice and emotional delivery. His breakthrough arrived with the album Rule 3:36 (2000), which delivered smash singles such as “Between Me and You” and the platinum-certified “Put It on Me,” both of which climbed to the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.