In light of the recent news regarding the departure of Ashanti and Lloyd, Murder Inc. former flagship artist Ja Rule is speaking out on his status with Irv and the label.
Although no longer signed to Murder Inc., Ja says he and Irv are still moving as a unit.
"I'm working, I'm not in a rush," he told MTV about his upcoming album. "I'm in the studio working every day. I'm about to go in the studio and work right now and finish up on the album. The album's coming out incredible. It's very different. I wanted to make it special. I wanted the album to be out of this world, and it's definitely shaping up to that. I'm not in a rush. I got a new situation -- my Empire Music Group. Gotti's got Murder Inc. We're both still together -- there's no separation. We're both together doing what we do, but I got my own situation and I got new artists. We're putting it together."
Ja's words about his former label situation come less than a week after R&B artist Lloyd dropped the bomb that he wanted out of his situation with Murder Inc.
"I'm ready for a change," Lloyd wrote in a statement. "There's no bad blood. I just feel I need to take more control over my career and get a fresh start. Hopefully Irv can understand my position."
At press time, there was still no word on when Ja's new project would be released.
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Murder Inc. head Irv Gotti has officially responded to Lloyd's request to split from the label and the commercial failure of his last album.
Although he said he is unclear about why Lloyd wants the separation, Irv says he will take his request "into consideration."
"He is still signed with Murder Inc. and I will make a decision shortly on what I am gonna do with him," Gotti wrote in a statement. "His last record didn't sell well at all. And, once again, he had his CREATIVE freedom to do whatever he wanted to do. But for some reason the people did not respond to the album or to him. But I will decide what I wanna do! As always when it comes to me, it's Murder For Life! And anyone who doesn't wanna be apart of that, I will take into consideration."
Yo! Raps previously reported on Lloyd's plea for a change late last week.
"I'm ready for a change," he said in a statement. "There's no bad blood. I just feel I need to take more control over my career and get a fresh start. Hopefully Irv can understand that."
The discussion about "Who is the hottest MC in the Game" will never end. Most recently Irv Gotti connected with MTV and revealed his personal "Hottest MCs in the Game".
"I got a thing with Eminem," Gotti said. "This has nothing to do with the beef. I don't really feel like I have beef with Eminem. This has no hatred or nothing. This is just my opinion on it. Vibe did a thing, and they had him as the #1 rapper. Shit like that kinda pisses me off. You know why? Because let's take Eminem's records. Watch my analogy. Eminem is a great artist, no doubt. He puts words together, he's witty, a smart lyricist, a great lyricist. But how can we say the guy is the best rapper alive? Look at Hov. He makes real records. Every one of Eminem's first singles is some clown shit. He's clowning. Is that the #1? That's not my #1 rapper, man."
Gotti added that Hov would win in a direct battle with Em. He said that back in the day, Slim Shady wouldn't have a chance against a young Jay or DMX and Ja Rule.
"No disrespect, you're a great lyricist, but I come from a school - I know they 'battled' in 8 Mile - but I come from where they battled on the streets with guns out," the head of Murder Inc. said. "They would have put you under pressure. All that 'off the top,' they would have put you under pressure. I been to battles with X, Jay and Ja, that was some real shit. Homie, you wouldn't been able to survive. These niggas was going with written shit. In your grill. X [would say,] 'I don't walk, I stalk, living foul.' Saying some shit you wouldn't been able to withstand."
Gotti said Em would survive in a cipher with the big dogs. "You would have been like, 'My name is Em and I eat M&Ms. I eat you.' What?" Gotti said.
The Murder Inc. CEO said the Detroit legend would have been greeted with three harsh words, "'Shut the fuck up!' It would have been a 'shut the fuck up' moment off the top. Dame [Dash] would have been like, 'Look at him. He's crunchy! He's wack!' Then I look at the singles he put out. They're all good, but they only work for him. I say take Eminem, and let him say 'Hard Knock Life.' Still hot. Now let's have Jay-Z say the 'We Made You' song. They would laugh him out the fucking building. ... It would be over."
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