RapperJa Rule has been released from prison in New York after spending several months in the slammer.

The Always On Time hitmaker was sent to jail in February for tax evasion after he completed a concurrent sentence for gun possession charges.

He was originally sentenced to 24 months behind bars for reportedly carrying the firearm in his car, but he was handed another sentence for failing to pay taxes for $3 million in income between 2004 to 2006.

According to TMZ, Ja Rule - Jeffrey Atkins - was given early release from Ray Brook Federal Prison on Tuesday (May 7), and will now spend the rest of his sentence under home confinement until July 28.

Atkins' wife Aisha Murray was on hand to collect him from jail, with his spokesperson telling the US website: "At present, he looks forward to spending some time with his family while he completes his memoir."