Murder Inc. was an American East Coast hip hop supergroup composed of Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule, formed by record executive Irv Gotti in 1995.

In 1987, DJ Irv Gotti met Jay-Z and the two ran around London together while Jaz-O was recording his debut album Word to the Jaz.

Irv shared a room with a guy named Dr. Ceuss, who saw his love for Hip-Hop and told him he should work with DMX and this crew out in Yonkers called Ruff Ryders.

After Jay-Z recorded his debut album Reasonable Doubt, Irv brought "Ain't No Nigga" to Funkmaster Flex, and informed him of the Roc-A-Fella movement.

He was asked to return by Lyor, who told the A&R department, which included James Jones and Tina Davis, that Irv was to answer to him and Kevin Liles only.

DMX immediately received an offer from Def Jam and after signing, began recording his debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot.

This offer forced Lyor's hand, and Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons gifted Irv $3 million to start his own label, Murder Inc. Records.