Ja Rule

“I stopped going to Kingdom Hall, the church, when I was 11 years old, so I was very young. They don't celebrate birthdays, you get no Christmas, so it's a very difficult religion for children to get into. And they do a lot of finger-pointing among the Jehovah's Witnesses.”

“I just like music that I can relate to, something to listen to in my car.”

“That is our first amendment, freedom of speech. But I also believe that we have an obligation to the youth to be somewhat responsible in what we say on records. But I think that comes with age. I think that comes with artists growing up and becoming assured of who they are as people.”

“I would love to do something like 'Beverly Hills Cop'. I'd get to be funny and cool and heroic all in the same breath.”

“Jail is definitely not cool. Education is.”

“The best decision I ever made, period, was to get into the music business.”

“People think being famous is so glamorous, but half the time you're in a strange hotel room living out of a suitcase.”

“After doing two years in prison, trust me, I've seen a lot of tough guys pray. They're not just praying for themselves; they're praying for their family and the people they've let down.”

“As far as rap goes, I grew up in Hollis, Queens, so early influences were people like Run DMC and LL Cool J.”

“Being incarcerated is truly very serious, and it has changed my life to such an extent that breaking the cycle has become my sole focus. Jail is definitely not cool. Education is.”

“My family was Jehovah's Witnesses, which is a really tough religion. It kind of deterred me from religion for a long time. They still practice, but I don't. But I always remained spiritual, and had a belief that there is a God. I'm trying to find my way, you know?”