Nearly four months since completing his prison sentence, Ja Rule sat down with Angie Martinez on Hot 97 for his first post-prison interview. With Irv Gotti by his side, the New York rapper reflected on his experience behind bars, his “roller coaster” ride in the music industry, beef with 50 Cent, the fall of Murder Inc., and relationship with Ashanti. Plus, find out where he’s at now and his plans for the future.

On prison:
Ja Rule: “It changes you a little bit. You get a chance to really be at one with yourself. A lot of late nights by myself in the cell just thinking about things that I’ve gone through. … I was doing a lot of crazy things. I was spiraling out of control. Before I went in, I was out of control. I grew up a lot in prison, read a lot of books, just had a lot of time to reflect.”

On his downfall:
Ja Rule: “A lot of people think I was angry at the fans. But I wasn’t as much as angry as I was hurt. I did a lot for my fans. I really love my fans. It was really a weird time for me and out of that came the anger and then I went into a dark place and everything was dark for me. Everything I wanted to do was just angry. It wasn’t fun anymore.”

On hearing 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” for the first time:
Irv Gotti: “That record was so dope. I looked at Rule. I said, ‘Yo, we have a major problem.’ We took the L.”

On his current mindstate:
Ja Rule: “When I went to jail, I read the whole Bible. I’m really on my God flow. I’m really in a good head space. I want to do what I’m doing and not focus on nothing negative at all.”

On the future:
Irv Gotti: “I think we gon’ rule the world again.”
Ja Rule: “I’m just happy we back together and we in a good space. It’s a blessing that we’re still here in this business almost 20 years now.”

On Ashanti:
Irv Gotti: “We good, we talk. Honestly, I wish it was better. I have nothing against being around her or letting everyone know that we cool. I don’t know if she feels the same way or whatever like that.”
Ja Rule: “I have love for Bon Bon. We went through our little thing, but me and Bon Bon are cool. It’s like that sometimes with family.”
Irv Gotti: “We over here throwing them Ms up until we die. I don’t know if she wants to do that.”

In addition to music, Rule has a memoir coming out and is working on a family reality show.