It's the first time in four years
Ja Rule can celebrate his real birthday -- February 29th -- but despite being stuck behind bars, Ja won't go hungry ... and we got the rapper's 2,500-calorie prison birthday menu to prove it.
According to the "heart healthy menu" at the NY State prison where Ja is currently serving a two-year sentence for gun possession -- JR can look forward to some delicious corn flakes in the morning, Jamaican patties for lunch, and turkey stew for dinner.
According to the menu, the entire day's worth of food totals between 2,500-2,800 calories -- significantly more than the USDA 2,000 calorie guidelines.
FYI -- we don't know how he did it, but Ja released his 7th studio album yesterday ... all while under lock and key.
Ja Rule's family will not go BROKE during his stint in the pokey -- this according to his wife ... who insists Ja personally took care of their financial situation before he checked into prison Wednesday.
Ja's wife Aisha tells TMZ, "He did leave us well off. All of the rumors about Ja being broke are far from true."
Aisha adds, "Ja made sure ... that me and my kids wouldn't need anything as far as income goes. He planned well before he went in."
"We won't be bad ... even for a little bit -- that was Ja's first priority as a man who makes sure family comes first."
Ja was sentenced to serve two years in a NY state prison stemming from a gun-related arrest back in 2007.
Rapper
Ja Rule is currently inside a NY courthouse and is turning himself over to authorities to begin his two-year prison sentence in New York ... TMZ has learned.
TMZ spoke with Ja's executive producer,
Seven, who was with Mr. Rule at the courthouse in NY moments ago. Seven tells us the rapper is still inside the building, waiting to be processed.
Seven tells us Ja spent some private time with his wife, close friends and family members before he was taken behind closed doors -- and the last thing he said to everyone was, "Real life is a fantasy, f**k fame ... I'm ready for this to get over with. I am focused."
The rapper -- real name
Jeffrey Atkins -- was hit with the 2-year sentence in 2010 when he pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon -- stemming from a 2007 incident in which cops found a loaded semi-automatic handgun in his sports car.
We ran into Ja last week -- where he told us how he planned on passing the time while in the pokey.
UPDATE 12:52 PM PT: It's official -- Ja Rule is now inmate
07608730Q.
Ja Rule is just days away from turning himself in for a two-year stint behind bars, but he has a list of things he wants to do before he goes in ... and even more he wants to get done while inside.
Ja told our photog in NYC this weekend ... he's putting the finishing touches on his album and shot three music videos already. When he's inside, Ja wants to get his GED, write a book, and maybe learn an instrument.
At least he won't be bored.
Ja Rule doesn't just have his summer planned out ... he's got the next few years on lock -- because once June rolls around, he'll be serving a very long prison sentence ... for having a loaded gun in his car.
The judge in the case set Ja's sentencing date for June 8 -- where the rapper will get two years in the big house stemming from a traffic stop back in 2007 ... when cops found a loaded semi-automatic gun in his sports car.
As we previously reported, Ja pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon back in December -- and agreed to serve two years for the offense.
Livin' it up.
Rapper
Ja Rule pled guilty to a felony weapons charge in New York today -- and the judge guaranteed he will be sentenced to two years in jail.
The charge, attempted criminal possession of a weapon, stems from a July 2007 traffic stop where police found a loaded semiautomatic gun in the rear door
of his sports car.
A date for sentencing has not been set, but the judge today promised a two-year sentence. Ja is free until sentencing.
It must be celebrity gun day in NYC court today --
Ja Rule just strutted into court, minutes after
Plaxico Burress walked in -- and both are there on weapons charges.
Ja was arrested in July '07 after cops pulled his Maybach over for expired tags and found a .40-caliber pistol inside the car.
Story developing...
After showing his true colors in Complex magazine by doing his best Isaiah Washington impression and rattling off homophobic comments, failed rapper Ja Rule is trying to change his tune -- sorta!
In an interview with
Spinner.com, the 31-year-old says his homophobic remarks were taken out of context. Mmm hmmm! Regarding gay marriage, Ja says,"It's really not my business. I really could care less." Lovely. The father of three adds, "I have relatives that are homosexuals and, you know, they come over for Christmas, hang out." Bah humbug.
It's truly heartwarming when people realize the error of their ways.
A TMZ camera spotted footmouthed rapper Ja Rule outside of Ritual, where he orated about the
Jena Six petition -- until a loudmouthed parking lot louse interrupted.
The squawker yelled at the paps to, "Get a real f**king job," which Ja thought was directed at him. Ja had a good laugh about that.
The "where the hell has that guy been" rapper, Ja Rule, was clubbin' in Hollywood last night, and made his exit by going "number one" outside of Les Deux.
Tres Bien!
If seeing the tiny rapper run off to go wee isn't weird enough, Ja and Brody Jenner -- yes, Brody Jenner -- traded skin slaps in the parking lot. Looks like a same-sex buddy cop movie in the works. *grimace*
Rapper Ja Rule recently made the following asinine statement in
Complex Magazine about what he thinks is really causing the downfall of society, "...lets talk about all these f***ing shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can't watch this s**t. Dating shows that's showing two guys or two girls in mid afternoon. Let's talk about s**t like that! If that's not f***ing up America, I don't know what is." Um, how 'bout gun violence, poverty and a broken health care system?!
Get GLAAD's statement, after the jump.
