| The Inc. Records | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Warner Music Group |
| Founder | Irv Gotti Chris Gotti Ja Rule |
| Status | 1999- |
| Distributor(s) | Atlantic Records (In the US) Warner Music Group (Outside the US) |
| Genre | Various |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Official Website | www.theincrecords.com |
The Inc. Records (formerly known as Murder Inc.), is an American record label, owned by Irv Gotti.
In 1999, Murder Inc. released its first album, Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule. The album featured the hit single "Holla Holla". The album was executively produced by Irv Gotti and moved on to go platinum, which rose Ja Rule and Murder Inc. among the most popular rappers and labels in the industry. During this time, Murder Inc. signed female rapper Vita (Rapper).
In 2000, the label began to associate themselves with Lil' Mo, who would record two 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.
Vita (Rapper) eventually left the label due to continuous delays on her solo album La Dolce Vita, the album was never released.
At this point, Murder Inc. was more popular than Bad Boy Records. They would sign Charli Baltimore and Ashanti during that year. Also in 2001, their friendship with Lil' Mo would grow sour because her tracks that were set to be released on Ja's third album were cut and replaced with duets with Ashanti.
This would cause a minor feud as Lil' Mo would cut ties with the label. The label would soar to new heights during late 2001 and the summer of 2002 as Ashanti would release her multi-platinum debut, Ashanti, and it had three hits and Ja Rule had another big year.
During the VMAs, Ashanti and Ja Rule both won big and did the same at the BET Awards, Murder Inc. would even sign Bobby Brown to the label. All of this success was quickly coming to an end despite Ja Rule's album still going platinum. It sold well but did not live up to its expectations.
The Label has left Universal Motown searching for a major distribution deal.
It is believed that much of the money involved in starting up the Murder Inc. label came from Irv Gotti and his associate's involvement in organized crime, specifically drug dealing. He has ties to incarcerated Queens drug kingpin Kenneth 'Supreme" McGriff, who was a major investor in the label's beginnings.
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On November 14, 2003, Irv Gotti held a press conference about the recent changes at Murder Inc., the feuds, the scandal and Ja Rule's trouble. In the end, he talked about changing the name from Murder Inc. to The Inc. Records. This became official in 2004, with the signing of Lloyd and the release of his debut album Southside.
Ja Rule would see his music return to form, with his platinum-selling album R.U.L.E., and his popularity somewhat restored. Ashanti would also release her successful album, Concrete Rose.
At the end of the year they were ordered to leave the 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.
The Inc. Records spent the year of 2005 and parts of 2006 searching for a new home. Lorenzo first went to his friend Lyor Cohen at the Warner Bros. labels. Cohen offered a deal that would make Gotti the head of not only The Inc., but also Atlantic Records Group. In the deal it involved them buying The Inc. and Gotti getting paid the same as he did at Def Jam. The Inc. then ended talks with Warner Bros. as Gotti felt they would not get paid enough money.
Gotti had short talks with Capitol Records and even Interscope Records. It was beginning to seem as if they were going to sign with Atlantic, then Universal Records offered Gotti a seven year deal and 50 percent ownership of his materials and the label along with the job as A&R which pays a large amount of money.
The Inc. Records would sign on to Universal Records (like Def Jam, a division of Universal Music Group) in early 2006 and begin recording their respective albums. Soon after settling in at Universal, Lorenzo would sign singer Ashley Joi and Adult alternative singer/pianist Vanessa Carlton. In late 2006, Gotti would announce his plans to bring the label back to the top of the music world.
In 2011 Ja Rule said over the phone the there was no more Murder Inc Records and said he was glad to be apart of that era of music.
On August 1, 2007, Ja Rule would return to radio and television on Sucker Free on MTV, where he debuted his single "Uh Oh" with Lil Wayne and his return to recording music. Irv Gotti and Eastwood have created The Inc. West with Eastwood serving as its president and Gotti will A&R. Techniec will also sign to the label and be appointed Vice President. Techniec's group Dynamic Certified will also be signed to the label.
Irv Gotti has granted Ja Rule his own label, Mpire Records.
Rah Digga recently has sign with Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. They have also announced that they are trying to add the legendary Big Daddy Kane to the label. It has been reported that the R&B trio Blaque have signed to Murder Inc.
It is rumored that Irv Gotti is splitting the Distribution for The Inc. between Universal Motown Records Group and Interscope-Geffen-A&M.
Irv Gotti recently signed Detroit rapper, T-Dot Raines in June 2008.[1]
In May 2009 Irv Gotti announced to Mtv News that he was releasing Ashanti from her contract with The Inc. Just one month later in June 2009 singer Lloyd—who had been with The Inc for five 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 The 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…”
In 2009 it was also announced that Ja Rule is no longer signed to The INC, the label he has been with since its beginnings in 1997. Ja Rule has decided to go independent on his own label Mpire records, which is distributed through Fontana Distribution. Although Ja Rule has departed from The INC, he is still on good terms with Irv Gotti and he will be working with him on his new album, now titled, Pain Is Love 2.
| Act | # Albums released under Murder INC |
|---|---|
| Ashanti | 6 |
| Vita | None |
| D.O. Cannons (Deceased) | None |
| Chink Santana | None |
| Lloyd | 3 |
| Ja Rule | 7 |
| Nicole Wray | None |
| Caddillac Tah | None |
| Rah Digga | None |
| Vanessa Carlton | 1 |
| Blaque | None |
| Charli Baltimore | None |
| Free | None |
| Ashley Joi | None |
| Album information |
|---|
Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule
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Irv Gotti Presents: The Murderers by The Murderers
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Rule 3:36 by Ja Rule
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The Fast and the Furious (soundtrack) by Various Artists
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Pain Is Love by Ja Rule
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Ashanti by Ashanti
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Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc. by The Inc. Records
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The Last Temptation by Ja Rule
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Chapter II by Ashanti
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Ashanti's Christmas by Ashanti
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Blood in My Eye by Ja Rule
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Southside by Lloyd
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Concrete Rose by Ashanti
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R.U.L.E. by Ja Rule
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Exodus by Ja Rule
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Collectables by Ashanti by Ashanti
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Street Love by Lloyd
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Heroes and Thieves by Vanessa Carlton
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The Declaration by Ashanti
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Lessons in Love by Lloyd
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