Thug Life Army

Ja Rule

New York native rap and hip-hop artist Ja Rule is heading to Toronto for an appearance in court tomorrow. The rapper headlined the Roc Tha Block Tour in Melbourne Australia last night. He faces a charge of assault causing bodily harm.

The court appearence relates to an incident at the La Rouge nightclub at 257 Adelaide St. last June 5 when the performer, legally named Jeffrey Atkins (28), was in town shooting the film Assault on Precinct 13.

With a publication ban in effect, there have been few details about the allegations against Ja Rule. His Toronto-based criminal lawyer Steve Skurka has said the married father of three plans to plead not guilty. The trial is to take place before a judge alone at Old City Hall.

During his July 27 bail hearing the courtroom was packed with reporters and court employees. Rule hugged fans and signed autographs after being released on $10,000 bail.

The gravelly voiced rap star has experienced the highs and lows of the entertainment industry since his 1999 debut.

His first three albums earned him multi-platinum sales, hit collaborations and minor roles in films such as The Fast and the Furious. But 2002's The Last Temptation and the following year's Blood in My Eye did not sell as well. His latest disc R.U.L.E. failed to restore his position.

There have been other brushes with criminality: court appearances for pot possession and resisting arrest; a fatal shooting outside a New York nightclub party he was hosting in December; and this year, Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo, founder of his record label, The Inc., was charged with laundering drug money.

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