By Erica SpinaRegister ContributorIt seems rapper Ja Rule has been everywhere lately, and everywhere is going to include the Homecoming ’01 Hip-Hop Convention next Saturday, Oct. 13. Fabolous, Lil’ Jon and The Eastside Boys and Mr. Cheeks were also recently added to the bill after the P. Diddy cancelation.P. Diddy, along with fellow Bad Boys, Black Rob and G.Dep, were forced to cancel because of “travel and scheduling difficulties,” said Greensboro Coliseum public relations manager Andrew Brown. Ludacris, Funkmaster Flex, Jadakiss, and Lil’ Mo round out the remaining original artists scheduled to perform. Tony Williams, president of Diamond Life Concerts Inc., is working in conjunction with the SGA to create and promote the event. Concerning the cancellation, he explains, although it is not common for an artist to bow out, “these things happen. It is the nature of the [entertainment] business. You never know when an artist is going to cancel.” However, this seemingly unfortunate turn of events is perhaps not a complete disappointment. According to Chester Williams, the SGA vice president of external affairs, many students on campus are more accepting of Ja Rule appearing in lieu of P. Diddy and his Bad Boy companions. “They [the students] are happier and pumped about Ja Rule,” Chester Williams saidHe declared that ticket sales have increased from selling at a “slow pace” since the addition of Ja Rule. The SGA and Diamond Life Concerts Inc. conducted a small student survey of some campus clubs and organizations to get a feel for whom the students wanted to see. With those results and input of the SGA and Diamond Life staff, a list of artists was compiled. Jay-Z was the first choice, an “all-time favorite,” says Chester Williams, but due to other engagements, he was not able to attend.When Ja Rule was proposed to be the replacement headliner, he was more than happy, ecstatic even, to oblige. Tony Williams indicates that Ja feels that he, in a way, started his career here at A&T when he performed with Jay-Z and DMX in 1999, when his first hit single “Holla, Holla” was blazin’ up the charts. Tony Williams says that, when asked to perform, Ja Rule answered simply, “If you need us, we’ll be there.”Chester Williams added,”When you come to A&T, you have to come correct because…when you come here, we know how to get hype.”Currently, Ja’s single “I’m Real,” a collaboration with Jennifer Lopez, is number two in the country. He released his third album, “Pain Is Love,” earlier this week.Tickets can be purchased at A&T’s Ticket Office or the Greensboro Coliseum.