The mogul named his label after a criminal mafia group known as Murder Inc. Irv Gotti was awarded his own imprint under Def Jam as a reward for his efforts. While at the label, Gotti signed would-be legends like DMX, Ja Rule, and Jay-Z. The success of Geronimo would lead to Irv becoming an A&R (artists and repertoire) for Def Jam Records. The pair would work together on Geronimo's 1995 debut album, The Natural, leading Gotti to produce the first-ever posse cut, 'Time to Build,' featuring DMX, Ja Rule, and Jay-Z.
He reached his first big break when he met Mic Geronimo at a talent show.
Before becoming the mogul everyone knows today, the Queens native was a producer known as DJ Irv. With the dynamic duo coming to Hard Rock Live on Thursday, December 8, as part of Jingle Jam, it's the perfect time to look back at their heyday with the iconic label. However, rapper Ja Rule and singer Ashanti were indisputably the breakout stars that ruled the early 2000s. The record label, founded by Irving Lorenzo Jr., better known as Irv Gotti, spawned artists such as Christina Milian, Lloyd, and Lil' Mo. created a legacy just as iconic as it was infamous.
