Incarcerated rapper Ja Rule has made good use of his time behind bars in New York – he’s earned his high school diploma after passing his General Educational Development (GED) exam.
The former Murder Inc. MC, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, began serving a two-year prison sentence on weapons and tax evasion charges in June of 2011 , but that hasn’t stopped the star from striving for self-improvement.
According to the New York Daily News, Ja was inspired to continue his education after speaking with Dennis Kozlowski, an inmate and former Tyco International CEO who is serving eight to 25 years for using the company’s money as his own.
“I was studying for my GED and Koz came in and talked to me and said, if you need any help, let me know,” Ja Rule told the Daily. “Outside (of prison), you don’t meet guys like this every day. This place is amazing.”
Ja, who is reportedly getting stock tips from Kozlowski, doesn’t intend on stopping at his GED, however – he plans to begin college-level courses later this month.
The rapper is scheduled to leave prison in February 2013. He is also gearing up for his new album, “Pain is Love 2.”
Check out the video clip below in which Ja Rule talks about his upcoming album, Pain is Love 2 , which is scheduled to drop on Feb. 28.
via IB Times