Ja Rule Rocks the D.R.

Rapper Ja Rule performed in the Dominican Republic on Sunday night (August 7th). The Associated Press reports that only 3,000 fans showed up, although approximately 20,000 were expected. The low turnout at Santo Domingo's Quisqueya Stadium was partially blamed on the fact that the concert had to be rescheduled from Saturday night (August 6th) to Sunday night because of a flight delay.

Ja Rule told the local media, "I love Dominican people." The rapper, who arrived two hours late for the concert, was the first international hip-hop star who's ever performed in the Dominican Republic.

The rapper was joined on stage by his The Fast & The Furious costar Vin Diesel, who happened to be on the island scouting locations for a new film.


Ja Rule is allegedly under federal investigation after federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York, decided last month to take over a murder case involving the rapper. Prosecutors are said to be actively pursuing a conspiracy to commit murder indictment against him.

The investigation stems from a shooting that took place outside of the LQ nightclub on December 27th, 2004. After reviewing security-camera footage from the scene, prosecutors believe that Ja Rule's bodyguards opened fire on 39-year-old Willie Clark and 37-year-old Troy Moore. Clark was killed but Moore survived the shooting and is allegedly cooperating with authorities.