Ja Rule, often linked with the influential Murder Inc. Records, clarified in a recent interview that while he was deeply involved in the label's success, he was never formally signed to it. Murder Inc., a hip-hop label founded in 1998 by Irv Gotti under Def Jam Recordings, was pivotal in shaping early 2000s hip-hop and R&B, with notable artists like Ashanti, Lloyd, and Charli Baltimore. Despite this, Ja Rule was officially signed to Def Jam, but his collaborations and hits strongly connected him to Murder Inc.’s brand and sound.

Chris Gotti, Irv's brother and co-founder of Murder Inc., described his role as instrumental in solidifying the label’s foundation by connecting producers with artists and increasing the value of beat sales. Tommy Mottola of Sony Music played a critical part in the creation of Murder Inc., backing Irv Gotti’s vision rather than simply granting a standard record deal. Murder Inc. gained massive recognition through chart-topping collaborations such as Ja Rule’s “Always on Time,” featuring Ashanti, and Fat Joe’s “What’s Luv?” featuring Ashanti, showcasing the label’s influence even without Ja Rule officially under its roster.

Ja Rule revealed that Irv Gotti offered him a chance to be part of a 50/50 joint venture as a silent partner in Murder Inc., despite the fact that he wasn’t signed directly to the label. This strategic partnership arrangement allowed Ja Rule to help build the company while maintaining his status as a Def Jam artist. He acknowledged that this setup made him feel like he was a core part of Murder Inc., similar to how DMX was tied to Ruff Ryders and Jay-Z with Roc-A-Fella, asserting his integral role in Murder Inc.’s rise.

In 2022, Irv Gotti sold his 50% stake in Murder Inc.'s master recordings to Iconoclast for a report ed $300 million while Universal Music Group retained the other half. That same year, Irv took a new step by signing a deal with 300 Elektra Entertainment to maintain ownership of future master recordings. This move marks a significant evolution in the label’s legacy, reflecting ongoing changes in music ownership and rights management within the industry.