American rapper and actor Ja Rule has performed his new album at Moscow’s GazGallery club. The one-off show gave Russian fans an exclusive chance to hear tracks from his new album “The Mirror”.

After a highly successful debut album in 1999, Jeffrey Atkins, better known as Ja Rule, and producer Irv Gotti went from strength to strength.  By the turn of the millennium, their Murder INC record label dominated the airwaves.

By crossing over to a more mainstream sound, and focusing on R'n'B collaborations, Rule’s next two albums went triple platinum. It was then that another hardcore Queens rapper was signed by Dr Dre and became a worldwide sensation.

As 50 Cent stole the limelight from Ja Rule, the INC made their move, drawing public attention to some unsavoury facts about both camps when they confronted each other in ‘99.

Even though Ja lost out in the sales battle, a restraining order issued against 50 and Irv Gotti seriously damaged Mister Ferrari's street credibility.

Since then, Ja Rule has been dropped from Def Jam, but is now ready to come back with an updated version of the leaked and unreleased album  – The Mirror – which is due in August.

As far as the often-discussed state of hip-hop music goes, Rule is optimistic.