Jay-Z Believes "Ambition" & "Ego" Derailed Murder Inc Supergroup With Ja Rule & DMX

BY Erika Marie 21.0K Views
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Jay-Z, Ja Rule
Back in the 1990s, the trio of hitmakers came together to form Murder Inc, but they never went the distance and Hov shared why.

As the embers from his Drink Champs appearance continue to simmer, Irv Gotti is once again centerstage now that his Murder Inc docuseries has premiered on BET. Gotti's label housed several chart-topping artists of the late 1990s and 2000s including Ja Rule, Ashanti, Vita, and Charli Baltimore; however, prior to some of those successes, Irv attempted to shape a Hip Hop supergroup that was poised to take over the culture.

When Irv pulled together Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule as a trio for the Rap group Murder Inc, it was a feat unlike any other. The three men were reigning at that time and even released a few tracks together, but rumors of in-fighting kept them from progressing.


In the first episode of the Murder Inc docuseries, they get right to the point as they discussed what happened behind the scenes. 

"I got the legendary XXL over of Jay, X, and Ja. Murder Inc," said Gotti. Later, Hov added, "I think it was everyone's ambition, everyone's ego. It was just three guys, three independent labels, three Black men, who were all fighting to be the best in the world."

Hov's appearance on the series has caught some fans by surprise, as many of them were unaware of the connection between Gotti and Jay-Z. Others were happy to see the mogul sitting down for an interview to discuss the early days of his career. Check out the clip of the docuseries, as well as a few reactions, below.






About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.