Murder Inc Records

Formation and success (1999–2003)

After helping Def Jam with the success of DMX & Ja Rule, Russell Simmons gave Irv Gotti his own label under Def Jam. While watching Biography on A&E during gangster week a Murder Inc. logo appeared on the screen which gave Irv Gotti an idea what to call his label. He got the inspiration because Murder Inc. put out hit murders and Irv wanted to put out hit records. In 1999, Murder Inc. released its first album, Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule. The album featured the hit single "Holla Holla" and soon went Platinum in the U.S., which made Ja Rule and Murder Inc. among the most popular labels in the industry, respectively.

In 2000, the label began to associate themselves with Lil' Mo, who would record 2 popular duets with Ja Rule, "Put It on Me" and "I Cry". That same year, Irv Gotti released the first Murder Inc. compilation, Irv Gotti Presents: The Murderers.

They would sign Charli Baltimore and Ashanti during that year. Also in 2001, their friendship with Lil' Mo would grow sour as her tracks that were set to be released on Ja's 3rd studio album were cut and/or replaced with other female artists.

This would cause a minor feud with Lil' Mo as she cut ties with the label. The label would soar to new heights from mid 2001 to early 2003. Not only did Ja Rule release his Multi-Platinum-RIAA selling album Pain Is Love, that release was soon followed up with Ashanti's multi-Platinum-RIAA selling debut, Ashanti, which broke Guinness World Records and spawned 3 hit singles on the Billboard charts.

During that year's award shows, Ashanti and Ja Rule both performed numerous times and won big, along with fellow Inc. artists like Charli Baltimore. Charli Baltimore scored 2 hit singles that year with both Ashanti and Ja Rule ("Down Ass Bitch" and "Down 4 U", also featuring Vita). During this time, Murder Inc. started associating with Nas as he started hinting to signing with the record label and then collaborated with the Inc.'s top 2 recording artists on several records (such as "The Pledge").^[1] Murder Inc. would even sign Bobby Brown to the label. Ja Rule's next album (The Last Temptation) went Platinum in the U.S.

It is believed that much of the money involved in starting up the Murder Inc. label came from Irv Gotti and his associates' involvement in crime. He had ties to Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff

Feud with 50 Cent and G-Unit

50 Cent's past with Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, and Murder Inc. had been less than pleasant and once he became big in the industry around 2002, he and G-Unit once again took aim at Murder Inc., Ja Rule, and Ashanti. Due to 50 Cent's rising popularity at the time, much of the public seemingly took his side of the feud. Ja Rule's next album, (Blood in My Eye) took aim at 50 Cent and G-Unit but was a commercial and critical disappointment.

Ashanti however, continued her reign as her sophomore album (Chapter II) topped the charts and scored 3 hit singles (including "Rain on Me"). She received 3 Grammy nominations in late 2003 for the album. Charli Baltimore, however, struggled to release her next album, The Diary before it was eventually shelved. She was still featured on the "Rain On Me" remix with Ashanti and Ja Rule.

The Inc. (2003–2008)

On November 14, 2003, Irv Gotti held a press conference about the recent changes at Murder Inc., the feuds, the scandal, the investigation from the IRS, and Ja Rule's troubles. In 2004, Lloyd was signed and had the release of his debut album Southside.

Ja Rule would see his music return to form, with his Gold RIAA-selling album R.U.L.E., and his popularity restored. Ashanti would also release her successful album, Concrete Rose.

At the end of 2004, they were ordered to leave Def Jam offices while the investigations were on. When the trials began in early 2005, Def Jam made them honor their contracts and release compilation albums; then they were not re-signed.

Murder Inc. spent 2005 and parts of 2006 searching for distribution. Lorenzo first went to his friend Lyor Cohen at the Warner Bros.. Cohen offered a deal that would make Gotti the head of not only Murder Inc., but also Atlantic. In the deal it involved them buying Murder Inc. and Gotti getting paid the same as he did at Def Jam. The Inc. then ended talks with Warner as Gotti felt they would not get paid enough money.

Gotti had short talks with Capitol Records and Interscope. It was beginning to seem as if they were going to sign with Atlantic, then Universal offered Gotti a 7-year deal and 50% ownership of his materials and the label along with the job as A&R which pays a large amount of money. A portion of the deal was financed by National Talent Agency out of Southern California.

The Inc. would sign on to Universal (like Def Jam, a division of Universal) in early 2006 and began recording music. Soon after settling in at Universal, Lorenzo would sign singer Vanessa Carlton, who had been recently been recruited by Robert Krout and Christopher Dixon of National Talent shortly before the company's financial contribution.

Decline (2007–2012)

On August 1, 2007, Ja Rule would return to radio and television on Sucker Free on MTV, where he debuted his single "Uh-Ohhh!!" with Lil Wayne and his return to recording music. Irv Gotti and Eastwood created Murder Inc. West with Eastwood serving as its president and Gotti on A&R. Techniec also signed to the label and was appointed Vice President. Techniec's group Dynamic Certified also signed to the label. Irv Gotti later gave Ja Rule his own label, MPire.

In May 2009, Irv Gotti announced to MTV that he was releasing Ashanti from her contract with Murder Inc. A month later Lloyd—who had been with Murder Inc. for 5 years—asked to be released from his contract. Lloyd cited the need for more control and change as reasons for his departure from the slowly shrinking label. "I'm ready for a change. There's no bad blood. I just feel I need to take more control over my career and get a fresh start. Hopefully Irv can understand my position," Lloyd explained in a press release.

"We find ourselves in limbo for the second time in three years," Henry Lee, Lloyd's manager said in a statement. "It's frustrating to know that opportunities to advance Lloyd's career are out there but we can't exploit them due to our current situation. Even though Lloyd is appreciative of the opportunity that has been afforded him by Murder Inc., he feels it's time for him to move on and seek opportunities that will allow him to build and enhance his brand."

Lloyd notified fans that an announcement regarding his "label situation" would be made earlier this week via his Twitter page writing, "I've been meeting with my management team and my attorneys for the past 2 days. Expect an announcement today regarding my label situation..."

That same year, Ja Rule announced that he was no longer signed to Murder Inc. as well, the same label he had been with since its beginnings in 1997. Ja Rule decided to go independent on his own label, Mpire, which is distributed through Fontana. Although Ja Rule had departed from Murder Inc., he revealed he was still on great terms with Irv Gotti and the 2 worked together for Ja Rule's next album, Pain Is Love 2. He later returned to the label. Baltimore soon joined suit and left the label in 2010 for new opportunities.

Resurgence (2013–present)

In September 2013, Murder Inc. was relaunched as an umbrella label under Irv Gotti's new label, Visionary. On September 27, Murder Inc. released its first songs in years, Ja Rule's "Fresh Out Da Pen" and "Everything", both produced by Murder Inc./Visionary producers Reefa and Myles William.^[2]

In June 2017, it was announced that Murder Inc. had partnered with 300.^[3]

Current Artists

• Boogiie Byrd
• Fitted Circle
• Alexza
• Sir Preme King

Former Artists

• Ja Rule (1997-2009, 2010-2013)
• Ashanti (2001-2009)
• Lloyd (2004-2009)
• Vita
• Charli Baltimore (2001-2003, 2008-2010)
• Bobby Brown (2002)
• Vanessa Carlton (2006-2007)
• Ashley Joi (2006-2009)
• Black Child (1999-2009)
• Caddillac Tah
• Murder Inc. (1999-2000)
• Christina Milian (2001-2003)