“My 3rd album was called Pain is Love (Island Def Jam, 2001), and I named it that because where I was at the time and what I’d been through––going through a lot struggles and sacrifice to get this point in my career and to receive the love from the people––to me, that was the first album where I got love from the people. “I called it the Mirror because originally I was going call it Love is Pain,” recalls Ja Rule. Backed by a new label and a fresh perspective on his career and personal life, Ja Rule is ready to reclaim his longtime reign in hip-hop with his latest album, The Mirror. And, there is only one rap artist within the 21st century that this declaration of faith could not have spoken to more than The Inc./Empire/Motown Universal recording artist Jeffrey Atkins a.k.a. When it comes to music, nowhere does this belief have more meaning than in hip-hop, where the drive to stay true one’s artistry is the ultimate goal. It is a creed that knows no boundaries and people from all walks of life gravitate to its simplistic truth. “KNOW THY SELF…” is one of the oldest, philosophical statements that can be traced back to Ancient Egyptian times that still resonates people who are lovers of knowledge and are in pursuit of spiritual oneness.
