The Inc. Records

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^{[citation needed]}. 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.

Rebirth, The Inc. (1990-2007)

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.

The Inc. Returns (2007-present)

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^{[citation needed]}. It has been reported that the R&B trio Blaque have signed to Murder Inc^{[citation needed]}.

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.

Roster

Current Artists

• Newz
• Mossburg
• Black Child
• Demeyez

Former Artists

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

Associated artists

• 7 Aurelius
• DJ Kay Slay
• Lil' Mo
• DMX
• Jay-Z
• Christina Milian
• Mic Geronimo
• Hussein Fatal
• Akon
• Demeyez
• Black Child

Releases

Albums

Album information
Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule 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"
Irv Gotti Presents: The Murderers by The Murderers Released: February 15, 2000 Chart positions: #15 US Last RIAA certification: Singles:
Rule 3:36 by Ja Rule Released: October 10, 2000 Chart positions: #1 US Last RIAA certification: 3x Platinum Singles: "Between Me and You", "Put It on Me", "I Cry",
The Fast and the Furious (soundtrack) by Various Artists Released: June 5, 2001 Chart positions: #7 US Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "POV City Anthem", "Furious", "Put It on Me (Remix)"
Pain Is Love by Ja Rule Released: October 2, 2001 Chart positions: #1 US Last RIAA certification: 3x Platinum Singles: "Livin' It Up", "Always on Time", "Down Ass Chick"
Ashanti by Ashanti Released: April 2, 2002 Chart positions: #1 Last RIAA certification: 4x Platinum Worldwide Sales: 9x Platinum Singles: "Foolish", "Happy", "Baby"
Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc. by The Inc. Records Released: July 2, 2002 Chart positions: Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "Down 4 U", "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)"
The Last Temptation by Ja Rule Released: November 19, 2002 Chart positions: #4 US Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "Thug Lovin'", "Mesmerize", "The Pledge (Remix)"
Chapter II by Ashanti Released: July 1, 2003 Chart positions: #1 US Last RIAA certification: 3x Platinum Worldwide Sales: 7x Platinum Singles: "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)", "Rain On Me", "Breakup 2 Makeup"
Ashanti's Christmas by Ashanti Released: November 18, 2003 Chart positions: #160 US Last RIAA certification: N/A Singles:
Blood in My Eye by Ja Rule Released: November 4, 2003 Chart positions: #6 US Last RIAA certification: N/A Singles: "The Crown", "Clap Back"
Southside by Lloyd Released: July 20, 2004 Chart positions: #11 US Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "Southside", "Hey Young Girl"
Concrete Rose by Ashanti Released: December 14, 2004 Chart positions: #7 US RIAA certification: 2x Platinum Worldwide Sales: 4x Platinum Singles: "Only U", "Don't Let Them"
R.U.L.E. by Ja Rule Released: November 8, 2004 Chart positions: #7 US Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "Wonderful", "New York", "Caught Up"
Exodus by Ja Rule Released: December 6, 2005 Chart positions: #107 U.S Billboard 200 Last RIAA certification: N/A
Collectables by Ashanti by Ashanti Released: December 6, 2005 Chart positions: #59 US U.S Sales: 500,000+ Singles: "Still On It"
Street Love by Lloyd Release: March 13, 2007 Chart positions: # US Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "You", "Get It Shawty"
Heroes and Thieves by Vanessa Carlton Release: October 9, 2007 Chart positions: #44 US U.S Sales: 92,000+ Worldwide Sales: 540,000+ Singles: "Nolita Fairytale", "Hands On Me"
The Declaration by Ashanti Release: June 3, 2008 Chart positions:#6 US U.S Sales: 750,000+ Last RIAA certification: Gold Worldwide Sales: 2xPlatinum Singles: "The Way That I Love You", "Good Good"
Lessons in Love by Lloyd Release: August 5, 2008 Chart positions: #7 US U.S Sales: 100,000 Singles: "How We Do It (Around My Way)", "Girls Around the World"
(TBA) by Maximillian De Beni Release: August, 2012 Singles: TBA See also List of record labels List of artists signed to The Inc. Records References ^ . /watch?v=3R7yFSpWJ8o - T DOT DETROIT External links Official website Official fansite