MUSIC

It's all about the music

Under the certified multi-platinum production legacy of Murder Inc. Records, which revolutionized the music scene from its inception in 1997, we've crafted music that frames the rhythm and rhymes of generations past, and will continue to do so for generations to come.

MURDER INC. RECORDS

Murder Inc. Records is an American record label founded by Queens, New York native Irv Gotti in 1997. In 2004 it was renamed to The INC Records but was revamped back to its old name in 2016.

After helping Def Jam with the success of DMX and Ja Rule, Russell Simmons gave Irv Gotti his own label under Def Jam. While watching a biography on A&E during gangster week, a Murder Inc. logo appeared on the screen which gave Irv Gotti the idea for the name of 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 artists and labels in the industry, respectively.

In 2000, the label began to associate itself 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.” Irv Gotti then signed Charli Baltimore and Ashanti during that year. 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, but it 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 Murder 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). Ja Rule's next album (The Last Temptation) went Platinum in the U.S.