He didn't get famous because he clowned Ja Rule. It was a part of it, maybe, but to say that was the reason for his rise to the top is kinda silly.

He won because people connected with his records, because he had the right affiliations, and because he was marketed incredibly well to the masses.

I really don't think the Ja Rule thing was a significant factor, and gets overstated quite a bit. Perhaps it added to his cool factor, and allowed him to play the underdog card.