Featuring production from Irv Gotti (who also executive produced the album) as well as guest appearances from Murder Inc. artists Tah Murdah, Black Child and Nemesis in their debut major appearances, the album featured the hit single "Holla Holla" and soon was certified Platinum in the U.S., which made Ja Rule and Murder Inc. among the most popular artists and labels in the industry, respectively.
The album marked a significant change in Murder Inc.'s musical style, shifting from hardcore hip hop to a more radio-friendly pop rap oriented sound that targeted the female demographic, which in turn resulted in greater commercial success.
This formula of making radio-friendly pop rap that targeted the female demographic would be a key factor in Murder Inc.'s later successes.
The album debuted and peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 with 276,000 copies sold, and would ultimately be certified Triple Platinum by the RIAA for selling three million units.
Pain Is Love featured guest appearances from labelmates Caddillac Tah, Black Child, O-1 (previously known as Nemesis) and newly signed artists Charli Baltimore, Jodie Mack, and Ashanti.
Murder Inc. scored another hit single with "Down 4 U", and the album peaked in the top 3 on the Billboard 200 and was ultimately certified Gold by the RIAA.
[1] Another setback the label suffered was its core artist Ja Rule participating in a feud with rapper 50 Cent, which had been occupant since 1999.
Blood in My Eye, Ja's fifth studio album, released in November 2003, included diss tracks aimed at 50 and G-Unit, as well as Eminem.
Murder Inc. and TVT Records were also blocked by Universal from releasing a Cash Money Click reunion album featuring Ja Rule, due to his contractual obligations.
[9] The Cash Money Click reunion album, scheduled for a November 2002 release through Murder Inc., was ultimately shelved.
Black Child's debut album was originally scheduled to be released in January 2002, but was delayed to 2003 before being shelved completely.
On December 4, 2003, during a press conference, Irv Gotti announced that in light of the recent changes, setbacks, and controversies surrounding the label, Murder Inc. would be renamed to The Inc.[10] In 2004, Lloyd was signed and released his debut album Southside.
When the trials began in early 2005, Def Jam made them honor their contracts and release compilation albums; then they were not re-signed.
On August 1, 2007, Ja Rule would return to radio and television on Sucker Free on MTV, where he debuted his single "Uh-Ohhh!!"
It was the final album released from The Inc. On May 5, 2009, in an interview with Angie Martinez, Irv Gotti stated that Murder Inc. was leaving Universal Motown.
Though Irv discussed in the interview that he would most likely reunite with Lyor Cohen and move to Warner Music Group for distribution, this did not happen.
[15] On Friday, January 3, 2003, federal agents and New York Police Department investigators raided the headquarters of Murder Inc. Records, located at One Worldwide Plaza in Midtown Manhattan.
The raid was a part of a yearlong investigation into the connection between the Lorenzos and American drug lord Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff.
McGriff wanted to go into cinematography and sought help from Chris and Irv Gotti to produce and direct a film based on Donald Goines' Kenyatta series' novel Crime Partners.