Ja Rule pleads guilty to Tax Evasion

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Ten years ago, Ja Rule was on top of the world, exceeding his own goals. Rule was hand picked by Irv Gotti and his music built Murder Inc. Records into an empire. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought he would be headed to prison a decade later.

Ja Rule has faced his fair share of adversity, but he has maintained a smile through it all. He has had high-profile feuds with DMX, Eminem, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, and Dr. Dre. In the end, though, he found common ground with most of his former enemies.

Right when it seemed as if Ja Rule was ready to re-emerge in the game, he was hit with a gun and drug charge. The Queens rapper has been in and out of court with those charges, going to prison on June 8 to serve two years of prison. Now, Ja Rule has pled guilty to tax evasion from 2004 until 2008, making some of what he raps about true stories.

Even after a decline in popularity, Ja Rule has still made substantial amounts of money through royalities and live performances. He agreed to pay a total of $1.1 million to the IRS. Rule was taken into police custody and bail is set at $500,000. His sentencing will take place on June 13, five days after he arrives in prison with his gun and drug charges. By the looks of things, the next few decades may see Ja Rule behind bars for a very long time.

If he does land a successful comeback, it may be the final one of his career.