The Inc. Records
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| The Inc. Records | |
|---|---|
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| Parent company | Universal Music Group |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder(s) | Irv Gotti |
| Distributing label | Universal Motown Records Group (US) |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop/R&B |
| Country | US |
| Official site of The Inc. Records | |
The Inc. Records (formerly known as Murder Inc.), established in 1997, is a hip hop (now also a Pop/Rock label as artist Vanessa Carlton recently signed with The Inc. Records) record label, owned by record producer Irv Gotti. 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, and, Lloyd. Murder Inc. is responsible for jump-starting Ashanti's career, as well as for bringing Charli Baltimore and Bobby Brown back into the music scene in 2002. Both Brown and Baltimore were featured on Ja Rule singles that year, "Thug Lovin'" and "Down Ass Chick," respectively.
The label releases its product through distributor Def Jam Records, retaining control of its copyrights and masters. The label's big break came in 1999 when Ja Rule's Venni Vetti Vecci LP was a multi-platinum success. The roster grew from there, expanding to include R&B with the addition of Ashanti in 2002. Elektra Records artist Lil' Mo was a frequent collaborator with the Murder Inc. artists, and recorded two popular duets with Ja Rule, "Put It On Me" and "I Cry". In late 2002, she parted friendly company with the label, as her collaborations with them dwindled after the addition of Ashanti. She, 50 Cent, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Busta Rhymes and Truth Hurts, were all the subjects of an underground freestyle record on which Ja Rule disses each of them.
On November 14, 2003 Gotti decided to shorten the name of the label to "The Inc.," most likely to appease music video channels and music stores that were uncomfortable with the label's use of the word "murder." In 2004, Gotti's label came under investigation for laundering money through his record label for New York City drug kingpin and childhood friend Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. On January 25, 2005, Gotti and his brother Chris turned themselves in, claiming innocence and uninvolvement in drug trade. They were released on $1 million bail, and was not be tried alongside McGriff for the charges. Irv and Chris were found not guilty on all charges. Irv also signed three new artist Kayoz, Newz, Harry-o.
Irv Gotti recently made an agreement with Universal Motown Records Group for a new distribution deal, which became official on September 28.
Vanessa Carlton, an alternative pop singer, was surprisingly signed to the label in late summer 2006 after the artist expressed her distaste with A&M Interscope after her sophomore album flopped.
The name Murder Inc. stems from a part of the National Crime Syndicate with the same name, during the prohibition-period, which dealt with contract-killing.
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[edit] Trivia
It should be noted that Murder Inc. was originally meant to be a rap group rather than a record company. Jay-Z, Ja Rule and DMX were to be the members of Murder Inc., the group, (as seen on the cover of XXL Magazine June 1999 issue). Due to conflicting schedules, the emergence of Ja Rule as a solo artist and eventual tension between DMX and Ja Rule , the project never took off and the concept of Murder Inc. was eventually changed into a record label.
[edit] Recent News
Universal Music Group the company that originally financed Murder Inc. and distributed its recordings, are set to finance him again by making Irv Gotti the chief of a new profit-sharing venture with the company’s Universal/Motown label.
Initially he entertained options with Lyor Cohen and Warner but wasn't happy with their deal.
In the three-year deal Universal will provide around $10 million to Mr. Lorenzo as an advance against future profits and payments to cover overhead.
The deal also includes a clause that could allow Irv Gotti to buy ownership of Murder Inc.’s master recordings according to people in the know.
[edit] The Inc. Records Release Albums
(1999)= Ja Rule-"Venni Vetti Vecci"
(2000)= Irv Gotti presents... The Murderers
(2000)= Ja Rule- "Rule 3:36"
(2001)= "The Fast And The Furious Soundtrack"
(2001)= Ja Rule- "Pain Is Love"
(2002)= Ashanti- "Ashanti"
(2002)= Irv Gotti presents... THE INC.
(2002)= Irv Gotti presents... The Remixes
(2002)= Ja Rule- "The Last Temptation"
(2003)= Ashanti- "Chapter II"
(2003)= Ja Rule- "Blood In My Eye"
(2003)= Ashanti- "Ashanti's Christmas
(2004)= Lloyd- "Southside"
(2004)= Ja Rule- "R.U.L.E."
(2004)= Ashanti- "Concrete Rose"
(2005)= Ashanti- "Colletibles"
(2005)= Ja Rule- "Exodus: Greatest Hits"
(Late 2006/Early 2007)= Ja Rule- "Love Is Pain"
(Late 2006 / Early 2007)= Lloyd - "TBA"
