Roger Maloney Interviews IRV GOTTI

Following his tenure as A&R at Def Jam, Gotti co-founded Murder Inc. with his brother Chris Gotti in 1998 and released Ja Rule’s debut album “Venni Vetti Vecci” the following June. That album became a massive smash for both Ja Rule and Gotti, who executive produced the album and helmed every song on the project.

Murder Inc. swiftly emerged as a turn-of-the-millennium answer to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records, with Gotti appearing in music videos and popping up on records. In Oct. 2000, Ja Rule released “Rule 3:36” with Gotti returning as executive producer for the project and acting producer for nearly the entire album. The project ushered in a mainstream renaissance for Gotti, who signed Ashanti the following year and released her eponymous chart-topping debut in 2002. He then took a victory lap with “Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc.,” a compilation record showcasing artists from the label including Charli Baltimore, Vita and Cadillac Tah. #hiphop