Ja Rule has responded to Melle Mel‘s allegations that he copied 50 Cent, claiming he was the blueprint the G-Unit honcho followed.
TMZ caught up with Ja outside an airport earlier this week where he scoffed at the idea of mimicking his nemesis 50 Cent, as suggested by Mel, who also dissed his “New York” anthem’s success in comparison to JAY-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind.”
“Mel’s earned the right to say whatever he wants but me copying 50 is like the funniest shit ever because 50 copied me,” Ja fired back. “I was his blueprint. But other than that, my ‘New York’ record was huge — humongous — one of the biggest New York records to date.
“‘Empire State of Mind’ is a huge record as well, but they’re different. Mine is a street anthem and ‘Empire State of Mind’ is like a big commercial kind of record with Alicia Keys and JAY-Z. Mine is me, Fat Joe, Jadakiss — it’s gutter.”
Before heading out, Ja Rule made sure to pay homage to KRS-One as he sampled lyrics from his “100 Guns” track for the memorable “New York” chorus.
“Big shout-out to KRS-One, that’s his lyric, ‘100 gun, 100 clips.’ Everybody know that — I don’t know how Mel fucked that timeline up,” he added.
The conversation stemmed from Melle Mel’s incendiary The Art of Dialogue interview, which saw him hit Ja with allegations of copying his foe 50’s street mentality.
“It’s just like when 50 Cent was doing this shit and then when Ja Rule — and that was probably one of his last big records,” Mel said while rapping Ja’s “New York.”
He continued: “If he woulda just made that record a pure New York record, it would have been a way bigger record. But he went the route of trying to sound hard because 50 Cent sound hard.
“And it was still a good record but I’m just saying, if he woulda just made it a pure New York record like how JAY-Z did with his New York record. See what I’m saying? If he woulda went along the same lines as that.”
While “Empire State of Mind” went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 and collect three Grammy nominations, Ja Rule’s “New York” still made waves from a commercial standpoint as the gritty Cool & Dre-produced record peaked at No. 27 on the Hot 100.
Sounds like Ja might have found DMX’s crack stash again.
I always said this. 50 clowned Rule style then took it and ran with it. 21 questions, candy shop, bestfried, it’s a long list of fif biting Ja style
Is Ja sharing his stash with you?
Think he sharing his stash with you tho cuz it sounds like he’s suck you off real good the way that you’re dick riding him.
It takes a lot of energy to hate. All I see on here is fools trolling all day with nothing better to do. Wishing they was in the next man shoes.
His shoe size is a children’s size 1 lol
Ja Rule is right on this one. 50 cent took a lot of what Ja was doing and used it for not only for himself but for other G-unit Joints like the joint with Joe, Karma and smile with banks which are some of my favorite banks tracks. Mel was way off on this one.
Big ups to Melly Mel he’s a legend but a lot of what he has been saying has just been inaccurate
Ja Rule came out sounding or trying to sound hardcore, Can I get a what with Jay and Holla Holla was way before 50 was known nationally. Rule just didn’t have those love rap songs with Ashanti their was some versatility there. He had the joint with Mary J rainy days, the joint with Lil Mo I cry and Party anthems like Living it up with Case. Rule got caught on the bad side of a crazy energy coming from 50 cent and gunit combined with his label not able to spend the kind of money they were used to spending promoting music because of a legal case. The inc got sloppy they got rich, lazy. 50 was hungry and coming from a place of I have to make every shot or it’s over me, he was tactical and his plan paid off. Rule never copied 50 tho not sure where Melly getting that from. Jay Z track with Keys wasn’t good to me it sounded like it wasn’t made for us more like it was made for Sex in the city fans while Rule New york joint was pure heat.
Facts! “Crazy Energy” is right. 50 was on Shady Records and road in on the wave of MEGA Star Eminem. He released right after the Eminem 8 Mile Movie. Not only that but Dr. Dre produced is hit song “in Da Club” and he had the Phil Jackson of Hip Hop, Coach Jimmy Iovine. All that combined was a BAZOOKA Blast to the front of the line. Oh, and like you said, 50 was hungry, and Angry!
Perfectly said!!! Ja Rule definitely made his own blueprint & had his own style. I wish they would stop the foolishness. They are both talented brothers & placed their mark on Hip Hop forever…..
Ja Rule – VVV dropped 1999.
Switched up his style and found his own lane for his 2nd album because people said he was trying to be like DMX.
3rd Album he out sold all your favourite artists.
50 Cent was still a nobody?
I agree with everything JaRule said…
Thats cuz you’re a wanksta
Hard to tell who’s more insignificant in 2023. Ja Rule or Mele Mel ?