Ja Rule understands what means to be involved in a hip-hop beef. In the early 2000s, Ja Rule was engaged in rap battle with 50 Cent that became a bit heated within and outside of music.
During a recent interview with rolling out, Ja Rule shared his thoughts on Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s beef and shed light on his feud with 50 Cent.
You know about rap beef. What are your thoughts on Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s beef?
As far as Drake and the Kendrick thing, I laugh at it. To me it was like, Kendrick didn’t say anything that we don’t know. That’s the unwritten rule in hip-hop. If I get on a record with you, I want to smash you. That’s it. Every MC knows that. If I’m on a track with you, I want to be the best on the track. That’s just how it is in hip-hop. We’re gladiators. When we get on a track, that is our goal. I think the Drake and Kendrick thing is great competition. But I don’t think Drake is taking it serious. With the song “The Language,” I think he just threw a little jab back at him just to let him know, ‘yea I hear you.’ I think it’s good competitive spirit and good for business. It’s always going to be like that in hip-hop.
How does it compare to the beef with you and 50 Cent?
With 50 Cent, it was so much different and bigger than both of us. It was a lot of intangibles involved that people don’t understand. There was a thing with Lyor Cohen (Def Jam) and Jimmy Iovine (Interscope) who were involved in doing things in the background as well. It was a lot different things that were bigger than us going back and forth at each other.
Some will say that you took one on the chin when it came to the beef with 50 Cent. What do you say to those who see that as the end result of the beef?
I think it’s more about the overall picture and how it all ends up when it’s all said and done. I’m still breathing. I ain’t dead. I’m still moving around. As much as people say that or as much as they want to put that on me, it’s cool. I’m in a better place right now. My mind is in the right place. My heart is in the right place. I’m having fun with it again and I think going forward it’s going to be a lot of great things for me in the future.
Ja Rule is currently working on new music and will appear in the film, I’m in Love with a Church Girl.
