Ja Rule recently sat down with the Bag Fuel podcast, where he opened up about the lasting emotional and professional toll of his infamous beef with 50 Cent—and how it mirrors what Drake may be experiencing amid his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar.
During the conversation, Ja expressed empathy for Drake, who has been under intense public scrutiny throughout his lyrical battle with Kendrick. "I know what he’s feeling like," Ja said. "There were moments when I asked people who I thought I was really cool with—and I thought it was just a music thing—but they turned on me. They followed the crowd."
Ja went on to reflect on the broader impact of beefs in hip-hop, stating, “The beef s*** is whack in hip-hop.” He explained that while fans may find entertainment in the back-and-forth drama, the internal politics of the industry become a “mess” as a result. “It hurts the culture,” he added, pointing out how destructive these rivalries can be behind the scenes.
He also shed light on what he described as strategic moves made by music executives during his feud with 50 Cent. Ja specifically called out legendary music mogul Jimmy Iovine, claiming that Iovine and Interscope Records made behind-the-scenes moves that isolated him during that time. “I was getting called and told not to show up to awards shows out of fear of violence,” he revealed. “It was all a calculated effort.”
Ja further suggested that the same tactics are still being used today, accusing Interscope of continuing to stoke the flames of high-profile beefs—this time pointing to Kendrick and Drake’s rivalry. According to Ja, the business of hip-hop beef hasn’t changed much, and executives still use conflict as a marketing tool, often at the expense of the artists themselves.
Ja Rule’s comments offer a rare, reflective look at the personal side of rap beefs and how industry forces can shape the narratives behind them.
Source: YouTube
