Ja Rule has recently shared his thoughts on one of Hip-Hop’s most notorious feuds, revealing that his conflicts with 50 Cent during the late ’90s and early 2000s may have caused a rift that ultimately hurt the New York Hip-Hop scene.
Speaking on the podcast “7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony”, the Queens native reflected on the infamous rivalry that once dominated rap culture. He acknowledged that their animosity, while intense and dramatic, likely did more harm than good to the artistic community that shaped them.
“Look at Kendrick and Drake,” Ja said, referencing the various fallouts behind the two rap titans’ fiery battle. “Nothing good is coming out of any of these things.”
Ja Rule made a direct connection between their era-defining feud and the division it left behind in New York’s rap scene.
“Me and 50’s sh*t, that sh*t f**ked up New York Hip-Hop. It really did because it separated a lot of ni**as in New York.”
Reflecting on his career with candid insight, Ja balanced pride in his artistry with awareness of past mistakes. While admitting the rivalry’s negative cultural impact, he remained unapologetic about standing firm on his talents.
“I felt like I made the better records. I feel like my records aged better, still. So, that’s how I feel inside. I don’t know how everybody else feels.”
Even so, Ja Rule didn’t let his competitive edge cloud the bigger picture. Offering a gesture of respect to his longtime adversary, he noted that both he and 50 hold meaningful places in Hip-Hop history.
“You don’t gotta love both, but you gotta respect both. You gotta appreciate both, and that’s just what it is. Even in rap competitions and battles and beefs and sh*t like that, I have a very different take on it than everybody does. He has a take on it that was his take.”
The feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent stands as one of Hip-Hop’s most intense, marked by numerous diss tracks, public clashes, and even real-world altercations. Yet, Ja’s reflections show a willingness to look back with clarity, balancing personal pride with an understanding of the broader impact on a once-thriving New York Hip-Hop community.
