"Ja Rule Turned Down $500k for Ludacris' Role in 2 Fast 2 Furious." - John Singleton

[KingsOfKings]

Ludacris has played the character Tej in the "Fast and the Furious" franchise since the second installment, but in all actuality, he received the role because Ja Rule felt he was too big to take it on.

"Ja got too big for himself. He turned it down. He turned down a half a million dollars," recalls John Singleton, the prized director of the film, in an email to Grantland. "He was really big at that time. I guess Murder Inc. was throwing out hits and were making money hand over foot. He was acting like he was too big to be in the sequel. He wouldn't return calls. I went to the studio to go see him — that's just my mantra, I deal with a lot of music people. He was kinda playing me to the side and I was like, 'What? What is this sh*t?' This was all initiated by me. I then made a call. I called Ludacris."

And $236 million later, it's a safe bet that Ja Rule is somewhere watching Furious 7 wishing he was a part of the 16th-highest-grossing movie franchise in history.

Source: Grantland

 

[Khalil's_Black_Excellence]

Perfect picture to story.

 

[Bernie Madoff]

 

[IShotTheSheriff]

Perfect picture to story,

LOL I would think so too, but see how the media be fukking with us?

Everyone like "Ja Rule broke now! Bet he wished he took that 500k"

But now read THIS article on the story, this happened during Ja's prime in his career.

I'd might have turned it down to depending on what was good with my paper moves at the moment.

 

[robb]

lol

 

[Monoblock]

Ehh I hate how everyone just jumps on the bandwagon and starts clowning somebody career playing armchair A&R. 500K sounds good right now but we don't what Ja was making back then or had on his schedule and if it was worth him doing the movie at the time. I am by no means sticking up for him and I agree he probably could have handled the situation with John better if thats how it actually happened but this is all hindsight. Who's to say John wouldn't have replaced him once he started losing popularity and getting clowned by 50 back then (another bandwagon movement everyone jumped on).

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

They would've got rid of him after the prison sentence anyway

 

[Mook]

Ehh I hate how everyone just jumps on the bandwagon and starts clowning somebody career playing armchair A&R. 500K sounds good right now but we don't what Ja was making back then or had on his schedule and if it was worth him doing the movie at the time. I am by no means sticking up for him and I agree he probably could have handled the situation with John better if thats how it actually happened but this is all hindsight. Who's to say John wouldn't have replaced him once he started losing popularity and getting clowned by 50 back then (another bandwagon movement everyone jumped on).

500k was great, it was a small role.

 

[Grifter]

Haven't seen the movie in a while but Luda didn't really do much. Did he?

 

[Monoblock]

500k was great, it was a small role.

I'm not knockin the money but maybe his schedule conflicted with what he was doing and maybe he sacrificed it to make more money at the time. He could've been in these movies anyway b/c he was in jail for a good 2 years.

 

[obarth]

Ehh I hate how everyone just jumps on the bandwagon and starts clowning somebody career playing armchair A&R. 500K sounds good right now but we don't what Ja was making back then or had on his schedule and if it was worth him doing the movie at the time. I am by no means sticking up for him and I agree he probably could have handled the situation with John better if thats how it actually happened but this is all hindsight. Who's to say John wouldn't have replaced him once he started losing popularity and getting clowned by 50 back then (another bandwagon movement everyone jumped on).

It's not even about the money at the time. It's about a complete lack of foresight. It's not like Ja was some revolutionary when it came to rappers crossing over to movies. He'd seen how valuable it was with artists like Will Smith becoming bigger than they'd ever been by making that transition. The Fast and the Furious was a box office success. Someone with any sort of business sense doesn't throw that opportunity in the bushes. And Luda's not popping like that anymore and they've stayed loyal to his character. Ja could be where Luda is right now instead of making straight to DVD shyt

 

[Tony D'Amato]

Luda and Tyrese just gettin free money. Anyone could do their roles and the movie would still be successful.

The Rock coulda played Vin Diesel's role and it wouldnt matter. That series has horrible actors who probably wont get many roles after the series is done.

 

[The_King_of_Everything]

Luda and Tyrese just gettin free money. Anyone could do their roles and the movie would still be successful.

The Rock coulda played Vin Diesel's role and it wouldnt matter. That series has horrible actors who probably wont get many roles after the series is done.

They're already Rich

 

[Tony D'Amato]

They're already Rich

Id bet Luda in particular made more from this franchise than anything he's done. Music included. And Tyrese too. He's been in a lot of movies, but the majority of em were box office duds. Id guess they both make 8 figs for these flicks. At least a high 7figs.

 

[Scientific Playa]

glad jah threw the franchise in the bushes. i ain't checking for 7 after what one of the co-stars said even doe she was prolly forced to apologize. and singleton is on some kwun chit putting another breh on front street.

And $236 million later, it's a safe bet that Ja Rule is somewhere watching Furious 7 wishing he was a part of the 16th-highest-grossing movie franchise in history.