Irv Gotti’s Murder, Inc. was one of the most successful labels in hip-hop and R&B in the early 2000s. Riding the wave of hits by stars like Ja Rule and Ashanti, Gotti was at the forefront of pop culture. Things came crashing down in 2005 when Gotti was charged with laundering drug money. The hits seemingly stopped overnight and Ashanti, in particular, seemed to become estranged from the rest of the crew, now re-christened “The Inc.”
In a recent interview with Hot 97’s Angie Martinez, Gotti touched on his current relationship with Ashanti. Acknowledging that the star is no longer affiliated with him or his label, Irv admitted that he wishes their relationship was stronger.
“Ashanti is Written Entertainment,” Gotti said, referring to Ashanti’s current label. “We’re good.”
“We talk, we talk when we come around but honestly, I wish it was better. You know what I’m saying? I wish we was better,” he added. “I have nothing against being around her or letting everyone know that we’re cool, you understand? I don’t know if she feels the same way or whatever like that. It’s all good. … The bottom line with Ashanti is I love Ashanti. When you love somebody and they do things that you may [not] agree with, you react differently … but it’s only because I love that girl. We did something. We were in the Guinness Book of World Records. I don’t know if she wants [to team back up]. … She don’t want that. We over here throwing them M’s up ’til we die. You know what I’m saying? I don’t know if she wants to do that.”
Ja Rule, who spent two years in prison for weapons charges and tax issues, also shared his thoughts on his former labelmate and frequent collaborator.
“I got love for Bon-Bon,” Rule said. “We went through our little thing but me and Bon-Bon are cool. It’s like that sometimes with family. And you know, brothers and sisters sometimes get into arguments.”
