Ja Rule appears in an undated 2010 photo posted on his website. - Provided courtesy of STNG / jarule.net

Ja Rule opens up about prison life and famous friends behind bars

02/02/2012 by Kristina Lopez

Ja Rule recently opened up about his life behind bars and the famous friends he's made there like Dennis Kozlowski, the former CEO of Tyco International.

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The rapper was sentenced to 28 months in prison for failing to pay more than $1 million in taxes. The 35-year-old was already serving a two-year jail sentence, which started in June, for a weapon possession conviction and the two terms will run concurrently, adding only five months to his time behind bars.

Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffery Atkins, told the New York Daily News in an interview published on February 2 that since he landed behind bars he has gotten his GED and has come to known some white collar criminals.

"Outside, you don't meet guys like this every day. This place is amazing," he told the newspaper about the Mid-State Correctional Facility in upstate Oneida, N.Y. and his fellow prisoners -- like former New York City Comptroller Alan Hevesi.

Kozlowski, who Ja Rule calls "Koz," was convicted in 2005 of authorizing $81 million worth of illegal bonuses and is serving 25 years in prison. Hevesi is serving a 1 to 4-year sentence on corruption charges for a "pay to play" scheme.

"Koz just got out on work release. Not to say I wish he was still here," the rapper said. "But they're both great, smart guys."

"It's funny," he later added. "We're from totally different walks of life. But when you're here, you're here."

Ja Rule likely won't get out until February 2013 but his seventh studio album "Pain is Love 2" will be released on Feb. 28, 2012. The album is his first in 8 years. He also told the newspaper he is writing a sitcom which Tracy Morgan's company will produce.

The rapper is known for songs such as "I'm Real" with Jennifer Lopez and his 2001 album "Pain is Love" was nominated for a Grammy Award. He has also has appeared in films such as "The Fast and the Furious" in 2001 and "Scary Movie 3" in 2003.