Holla Holla - Ja Rule has been Livin' It Up with the aquatic wildlife on offer at one of Auckland's most treasured tourist attractions.
The 'Thug Lovin' hitmaker visited the aquarium on Thursday before his show with fellow hip-hop royalty Ashanti and Chingy in Mt Maunganui tonight, and was particularly taken by the sharks and penguins.
Kelly Tarlton's posted a photo on social media of Ja Rule and his entourage as they looked down into a tank housing a school of juvenile snapper.
Claire Wheeler, Kelly Tarlton's sales and marketing manager, said Ja Rule's posse called ahead to tell them he was coming and received a VIP tour of the aquarium, which included a private shark tank viewing and behind-the-scenes access.
She and an aquarist took the group around the facility, telling Ja Rule the ins and outs of Kelly Tarlton's history and offering myriad facts about the animals they were viewing.
Ms Wheeler explained the Grammy Award-winner had his heart set on two animals in particular.
"He loved the penguins and the sharks - he thought they were awesome," she said.
Ja Rule was apparently also very taken with a screen near the entrance to the aquarium, which makes those who stand in front of it appear as though they are caught in a blizzard.
"They got very excited by that - they stayed in it for ages!" Ms Wheeler said.
Ja Rule plays with Ashanti, Chingy and Smashproof at Mount Park from 7pm tonight.
Newshub.
