Ja Rule leaves federal prison for home confinement.

Ja Rule took another step Tuesday toward life as a free man when he was released from a federal prison in upstate New York and headed home to begin home confinement for the balance of his sentence.

The rapper, real name Jeffrey Atkins, was picked up around 10 a.m. by his wife, who drove him straight home, a source told TMZ. According to the federal Bureau of Prisons, his release date remains July 28.

The 37-year-old will serve out his federal time in federally monitored home confinement, his rep told MTV in a statement