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Murder Inc. (rap group)

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Not to be confused with Murder Inc Records.
Murder Inc.
DMX (left), Jay-Z and Ja Rule (right) backstage at Beyonce's Formation World Tour finale in New Jersey 2016
DMX (left), Jay-Z and Ja Rule (right) backstage at Beyonce's Formation World Tour finale in New Jersey 2016
Background information
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active1995–2000
Labels
Formed by
Past membersJay-Z
DMX (deceased)
Ja Rule

Murder Inc. was an American East Coast hip hop supergroup composed of Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule, formed by record executive Irv Gotti in 1995.[1] They first appeared in tandem on fellow New York-based rapper Mic Geronimo's 1995 song "Time to Build." After each gaining commercial success, the trio later appeared on the cover for the June 1999 issue of the hip-hop magazine XXL.[2]

"Murder Inc." was rebranded by Irv Gotti to a namesake record label that he co-founded in 1998; Ja Rule was signed to the label and served as its flagship artist. Shortly afterward, the group disbanded in 2000 due to internal conflicts.

History

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In 1987, DJ Irv Gotti met Jay-Z and the two ran around London together while Jaz-O was recording his debut album Word to the Jaz. Irv would later remark: "I knew Jay was different and special from them". In 1988, Irv met DMX through his relationship with Jay-Z and Jaz-O, as they went on tour with Main Source and The U.M.C.'s. Irv shared a room with a guy named Dr. Ceuss, who saw his love for Hip-Hop and told him he should work with DMX and this crew out in Yonkers called Ruff Ryders. Irv convinced Ruff Ryders co-founder Waah Dean to buy him a drum machine to produce tracks for DMX. Irv would later say, "First time I heard X rhyme, blew me away, his energy & rawness, knew he was different and special." In 1993, Irv met Ja Rule through Chris Black, who was "a straight hustler." At the time, Ja and Chris were members of the group Cash Money Click, with O-1 as the third member. Irv said, "As soon as I met Ja and heard him spit, he immediately stood out from the pack".

Irv and Ja would become like brothers, as Ja would go everywhere with Irv, traveling to Yonkers to hang out with DMX and the Ruff Ryders, or meeting up with Jay-Z whenever Irv could. With little success, Irv continued to promote them all, putting out "Make A Move" with DMX at Sony Music, and "4 My Click" with Ja and the Cash Money Click at TVT Records/Blunt Records. In 1995, Jay-Z brought Damon Dash and Biggs to the studio and announced that they were his partners at Roc-A-Fella Records, asking Irv to help them. After Jay-Z recorded his debut album Reasonable Doubt, Irv brought "Ain't No Nigga" to Funkmaster Flex, and informed him of the Roc-A-Fella movement. Flex responded by playing the record on radio that night. Due to his involvement with Roc-A-Fella, Irv was then hired by Lyor Cohen to work at Def Jam Recordings. During Irv's first meeting with the label, he announced his plan to sign DMX, and was laughed at by record executives.

A few months later, Irv quit Def Jam because they refused to sign DMX. He was asked to return by Lyor, who told the A&R department, which included James Jones and Tina Davis, that Irv was to answer to him and Kevin Liles only. Irv immediately took Lyor, Liles and Damon Dash to Yonkers to visit the Ruff Ryders studio. When they arrived, The Lox, Drag-On and others were freestyling, as was DMX, with his jaws wired shut. Following their departure from the studio, Lyor, who was giddy with excitement, said "We have the pick of the litter." DMX immediately received an offer from Def Jam and after signing, began recording his debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. Irv then brought "Get at Me Dog" to Funkmaster Flex, and explained who DMX and the Ruff Ryders were.

During this time, Ja Rule was stuck at TVT Records/Blunt Records with Steve Gottlieb, but Irv convinced Lyor to get Ja out of his contract and sign him to Def Jam. David McPherson, an executive at Sony Music, called Irv and set up a meeting, hoping to persuade Irv to produce for him. During the meeting, McPherson said: "I see what you're doing over there at Def Jam with Jay and X, and I am here on behalf of Tommy Mottola, we want to offer you a label deal". This offer forced Lyor's hand, and Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons gifted Irv $3 million to start his own label, Murder Inc. Records. To solidify Murder Inc., Irv had Ja Rule record his debut album Venni Vetti Vecci, and gave the song "Holla Holla" to Funkmaster Flex. Irv also put together a supergroup called Murder Inc., which consisted of DMX, Jay-Z, and Ja Rule. The trio appeared on the June 1999 front and back cover of XXL magazine. Due to issues between Jay-Z and DMX, and the disdain that arose after their freestyle battle in the 1990s, an album never materialized, though the trio did record six tracks together.[3]

Discography

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List of collaborations between DMX, Jay-Z & Ja Rule
Title  Artist(s) Producer(s) Album Release Date
"Time To Build" Mic Geronimo featuring Ja Rule, Jay-Z & DMX Irv Gotti The Natural March 21, 1995
"If It's On It's On" Ja Rule, Chris Black & Nemesis featuring Jay-Z, DMX, Infared & Black Child Irv Gotti Freaknik '96 Vinyl 1996
"Represent Nigga" Ja Rule, Chris Black & Nemesis featuring DMX & Black Child Irv Gotti Keep It Moving pt. #2 1996
"Read About It Freestyle" DJ Craig G featuring DMX & Ja Rule RZA Summer Jamz 1997
"The Usual Suspects OG" Mic Geronimo featuring DMX, Ja Rule, Cormega & Hussein Fatal Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool How to Be a Player soundtrack August 5, 1997
"Grand Finale (Dogz-4-Life) OG" DJ Clue featuring DMX, Ja Rule, Method Man & Nas Lil Rob & Irv Gotti This Is It!! Part One 1998
"I Shot Ya '98 Freestyle" DMX featuring Ja Rule Poke & Tone The Unstoppable Def Jam Sampler 1998
"Usual Suspects (The Siege)" Mic Geronimo featuring DMX, Ja Rule, Jadakiss, Styles P. & Tragedy Khadafi Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool Vendetta January 24, 1998
"Murdergram" Jay-Z, Ja Rule & DMX Tyrone Fyffe Streets is Watching Soundtrack May 12, 1998
"Crime Story" DMX featuring Ja Rule Lil Rob & Irv Gotti It's Dark and Hell Is Hot May 19, 1998
"Can I Get A..." Jay-Z featuring Ja Rule & Amil Lil Rob & Irv Gotti Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life August 22, 1998
"Money, Cash, Hoes" Jay-Z featuring DMX & Pain in da Ass Swizz Beatz Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life September 29, 1998
"Grand Finale" DMX featuring Ja Rule, Method Man & Nas Lil Rob & Irv Gotti Belly soundtrack October 27, 1998
"Gangsta Shit" DJ Clue featuring Jay-Z & Ja Rule Duro, DJ Clue & Lil Rob The Professional December 15, 1998
"Grand Finale Remix" DMX featuring Ja Rule, Vita, Method Man & Nas Lil Rob & Irv Gotti Grand Finale Vinyl Single 1998
"Blackout" DMX featuring Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch & Styles P.   Swizz Beatz Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood December 22, 1998
"More Money, More Cash, More Hoes Remix" Jay-Z featuring DMX, Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek Swizz Beatz The Corruptor Soundtrack February 23, 1999
"Kill 'Em All" Ja Rule featuring Jay-Z Self & Irv Gotti Venni Vetti Vecci March 2, 1999
"It's Murda" Ja Rule featuring DMX & Jay-Z Tyrone Fyffe, Irv Gotti & Richard "Love" Marshall Venni Vetti Vecci March 2, 1999
"Holla Holla Remix" Ja Rule featuring Jay-Z, Vita, Caddillac Tah, Memphis Bleek, Black Child & Busta Rhymes Lil Rob, Irv Gotti & Mr. Fingaz Irv Gotti Presents: The Murderers July 18, 1999
"Why We Die" Busta Rhymes featuring DMX & Jay-Z P. Killer Trackz Anarchy June 20, 2000
"Backstage Freestyle" Jay-Z featuring DMX & Hashim Hakim Fritz Da Cat Backstage DVD September 8, 2000
"Stay Flawless" N.O.R.E. featuring DMX, Ja Rule & Yummy Bingham   December 21, 2009
"Bath Salts" DMX featuring Jay-Z, Nas & Swizz Beatz Swizz Beatz & Prime Maximus Exodus May 28, 2021


See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Jay-Z Believes "Ambition" & "Ego" Derailed Murder Inc Supergroup with Ja Rule & DMX". HNHH. 13 August 2022.
  2. ^ Markman, Rob. "JAY Z, DMX AND JA RULE COULD'VE HAD THE GREATEST RAP GROUP OF ALL TIME". mtv.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved 10 Oct 2014.
  3. ^ "Irv Gotti Explains How Jay Z, DMX and Ja Rule Got Their Record Deals". 27 August 2015.

Further reading

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