BET is developing a Murder Inc documentary series on the famed record label.
Michael J. Payton is directing the original, five-part series will chronicle the rise and sudden fall of Murder Inc. Records and its founder Irving “Irv Gotti” Lorenzo. It will also explore labels redemption over recent years.
Each episode of the Murder Inc documentary will take viewers through the label’s beginnings to present time. It will featuring never-before-seen archival footage, a rich catalog of music chart-toppers and the power players that helped shape a musical era that would impact generations to come.
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Irv along with his brother Chris launched the record label in 1999. After his success at Def Jam, Russell Simmons gave Irv Gotti his own label under Def Jam. While watching Biography on A&E during gangster week, a Murder, Inc. logo appeared on the screen and Irv Gotti decided to use the name for his label because Murder, Inc. put out murder hits and Irv wanted to put out hit records.
“My life and Murder Inc. has been filled with many highs and lows. I got to work with my brothers and a lot of great people; from Jay-Z, DMX, Fat Joe, Mary J. Blige, to name a few,” states Irv Gotti, Founder/CEO of Murder Inc. Records.
“Also, I got to start my record label, Murder Inc. Records, with Ja Rule by my side. My life was filled with great lows, but I’m not ashamed of those lows. It all helped make me the person I am today. So, with this documentary series, I plan to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help me God.”
Gotti launched the label with Ja Rule’s debut studio album Venni Vetti Vecci.
“Pain is Love,” says Ja Rule. “We endured the pain so others could feel the love.” The award-winning rapper released numerous projects – such as 2000’s Rule 3:36, 2001’s Pain Is Love, 2002’s The Last Temptation, and 2004’s R.U.L.E. – via Murder Inc Records.
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Murder Inc. was once the label home of Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, Charli Baltimore, Vita, Black Child, Caddillac Tah, and other acts.
BET will premiere the Murder Inc. documentary series in Summer 2022.
Irv Gotti, Ja Rule, Darcell Lawrence, and Chris Costine for Visionary Ideas and Tiffany Lea Williams for BET are executive producing.