The Inc. Records

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The Inc. Records
Parent company Universal Music Group
Founded 1997
Founder Irv Gotti
Ja Rule
Chris Gotti
Distributing label Universal Records (US)
Genre Hip hop music, contemporary R&B, pop music
Country of origin U.S.
Official website www.theincrecords.com

The Inc. Records (formerly known as Murder Inc.), established in 1997, is a hip hop record label (now also a Pop/Rock label as artist Vanessa Carlton recently signed with The Inc. Records), owned by Irv Gotti and Ja Rule. It features many current hip hop and R&B artists, such as Ja Rule, Ashanti, Cadillac Tah, Vita (former member) Charli Baltimore (former member), Black Child.

Contents

The Inc. Records was founded in 1997 by Irving "Irv Gotti" Lorenzo and his brother. At the time Irv was a DJ and went under the moniker DJ Irv. He knew a young Jay-Z and produced for him he also knew Earl "DMX" Simmons, both young New York rappers. While at a friend's house, he heard a recording from the Cash Money Click. Irv was impressed by a recording from one vocalist, Ja Rule, who like DMX was known for his deep voice. Around this time, Irv landed a job as an exec at Def Jam Recordings, he lured Jay-Z and his Roc-A-Fella Records to sign to Def Jam. He was also able to land DMX a gig along with his Ruff Ryders. He said that he was saving Ja for something more special than Jay and X. In early 1997, Lorenzo went to Def Jam president Lyor Cohen with the idea of granting him his own vanity label to reward him for his big signings. Cohen would agree to this and during the summer of 1997, Murder Inc. Records was born. Gotti's first act was signing Ja Rule away from TVT Records, and also signing Black Child and Caddillac Tah on solo deals. Then shortly thereafter, Russell Simmons had the idea that Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule form a rap group. The group was also named Murder Inc. and they relased a few songs on their respective albums and recorded with other artists under this moniker. This helped promote the label, but their first glimpse of success and popularity came in 1998, when Jay-Z featured main artist Ja Rule on his hit single Can I Get A..., which catupulted Ja Rule into a long and successful career.

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 would go platinum, which would make Ja Rule and Murder Inc. one of the most popular rappers and labels in the industry respectively. During this time, Murder Inc. would sign female rapper Vita. In 2000, the label would begin 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. At this point, Murder Inc. was more popular than Bad Boy Records and Roc-A-Fella 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 positive 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.

In 2003, a rising rapper named 50 Cent would come on to the scene and begin to ridiclue Ja and Irv Gotti for the way they scream Murda!!!!! and for them only making love songs and nothing hardcore anymore. Ja would respond with the song Loose Change, which would lead to gaining new enemies not only from G-Unit but also the likes of Busta Rhymes, a former ally. The feud would cause a huge drop in Ja Rule's popularity, but other artists were able to stay successful on the label. In the end Ja Rule was left with nearly no fan base. In 2006, after Ja Rule had made a successful comeback he and The Inc. would begin to diss G-Unit again with "21 Gunz" and "So Hot". In 2007 Ja did a freestyle ridiculing 50 Cent over the "I Get Money" beat. 50 Cent, who now has been dissed by about four different camps is experiencing a backlash similar to the one Murder Inc. had four years earlier and his popularity has begun to slip just a bit, but as of now both are still prominent stars in the game.

On November 14, 2003, Irv Gotti held a press conference about the recent changes at Murder Inc., the beefs, the scandal and Ja Rule's trouble. In the end, he talked about him 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. In 2004, The Inc. also proved that they still had powerful allies as Eminem and Busta Rhymes would end their feud with the label. The Inc. also collaborated with the likes of Nelly, Fat Joe, and Jadakiss. Ja Rule would see his music return to form with his gold-selling R.U.L.E. as his popularity was almost completely 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 compilations 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 50 Cent's label, 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 in early 2006 and begin recording their respective albums. Soon after settling in at Universal, Lorenzo would sign singer Ashley Joi and pop singer Vanessa Carlton. In late 2006, Gotti would announce his plans to bring the label back to the top of the music world.

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. Also Irv Gotti, Ronald "Slim" Williams and Brian "Baby" Williams and Lil' Wayne have created The Inc. South where Lil' Wayne will serve as A&R. Birdman will be President and Slim will be Vice President. 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 on [www.freewebs.com] that the R&B trio Blaque have signed to Murder Inc as well as Memphis Bleek.

  • Thugtertainment Records

Album information
Venni Vetti Vecci
  • Released: June 1, 1999
  • Chart positions: #3 US
  • Last RIAA certification: Platinum
  • Singles: "Holla Holla", "Daddy's Little Baby", "Kill Em' All/It's Murda"
Rule 3:36
Pain Is Love
Ashanti
Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc.
The Last Temptation
Chapter II
Ashanti's Christmas
Blood in My Eye
Southside
Concrete Rose
R.U.L.E.
Exodus
Collectables by Ashanti
Street Love
Heroes and Thieves

The Mirror

The Declaration

The Classic

  • Release: TBA
  • Chart positions: TBA
  • U.S Sales: TBA
  • Singles: Work

  1. ^ "Musiq, Lloyd Usher Six Big Debuts Onto Album Chart", Billboard, March 21, 2007

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