Ja Rule earns high school diploma behind bars

Ja Rule has made good use of his time behind bars in New York - he's earned his high school diploma.

The Always On Time hitmaker, real name Jeffrey Atkins, began serving a two-year prison sentence on weapons and tax evasion charges in June, but that hasn't stopped the star from striving for self-improvement.

The Big Apple native, who dropped out of high school as a teenager to pursue a career in music, has now finally received his equivalency degree after passing his General Educational Development (GED) exam.

And Ja Rule even got a little help with his studies from a fellow inmate - Dennis Kozlowski, a college-educated former business CEO.

Atkins tells the New York Daily News, "I was studying for my GED and Koz came in and talked to me and said, 'If you need any help, let me know.' Outside (of prison), you don’t meet guys like this every day. This place is amazing."

The star, who is due to walk free next year, is now aiming to further his studies - he plans to begin taking university courses later this month.

WENN.com