Jay-Z and Eminem
Photo: Getty Images/FilmMagic

Whether or not you agree with Irv Gotti that Jay-Z is a better MC than Eminem, Gotti is passionate about hip-hop, just like all of you people reading this. I.G. knew Jay back in the day, when Hov was standing on a pool table battle rapping, and he's been on the receiving end of some of Slim Shady's famously sharp punch lines. Is Irv showing favoritism toward his homie? Is he still sour about his quarrels with the Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit factions? He says no, but we definitely want to know what you guys think about his assessment in our comments section.

Also today, we have Chicago singer Jeremih (Chi, what up? Mixtape Daily will be out there soon, homies). The cat came out of nowhere to lock things down on the radio for the past several weeks with "Birthday Sex." He started singing seriously only a couple of years ago, but he writes his own lyrics and makes his own beats. He says he's going to be here for a while. Can he be the Derrick Rose of R&B? He's off to a great start.

Fire Starter: Jeremih

If you don't know the lyrics by now, you'll be very familiar with them by the end of the summer: "It's your birthday, so I know you wanna ri-i-i-ide out." Singer Jeremih got right down to business with his hit "Birthday Sex."

"I still [read] comments like, 'I thought it was The-Dream.' Or 'I thought it was R. Kelly.' Or 'I thought it was J. Holiday' — guys that have similar sounds and tones to my voice as well as the instrumentation to the song," Jeremih said about the reaction to his song and how he gets compared to his older peers. "But those are big names. I feel real good. I feel blessed to have a hit, and even to be compared to those hitmakers is great."

Although fans are familiar with his voice, everyone isn't aware of what the 21-year-old Chicago native looks like. That might change now that a video for the song just came out.

Jeremih wrote the song (he writes and produces) last September, and on October 30, it debuted on the airwaves in his hometown. The station gave the upstart — who has only been singing seriously for two years — a shot. A few months later, a host of record execs saw that the song had legs, and everybody reached out to him. He decided to roll with Def Jam.

"I wouldn't say it's my favorite song on the album," J admitted of "Birthday Sex." "It just was chosen first."

Right now, he's partial to a ballad and a club banger from his self-titled, self-produced LP.

"It's called 'Jumpin',' " he said of one cut he loves. "But my favorite is called 'Starting All Over,' which is a slow, soul love song. I wrote it because ... in relationships, that's the hardest thing to do. You breaking up, you making up. I'm saying in this song: 'This girl is worth starting all over.'

" 'Jumpin',' hands down, club banger of '09," he added. "The crowd is jumping. The hook is soulful. The lyrics are witty, dumb, off-the-wall type of words."

Def Jam would be overjoyed if either song is even half as successful as "Birthday Sex." Not only do the fans love the record, but Jeremih's peers — from R. Kelly to Red Cafe — have added verses to their own unofficial remixes of the song.

"Just the fact that people are taking time out to add verses shows how powerful the record is," he said. "That it has impacted a lot of people's lives. Honestly, I've heard a lot of them from the guys on the block to the mainstream. I really feel that it's some records that's out that's just timeless, that if somebody tries to add on to be better, it wouldn't have the same effect as the original. And I don't even know if it's because it's me or whatever, but I've heard a lot of remixes, and I felt that nobody has made the song any better than what it already is. But I'm all ears."

Jeremih said it will take a lady to knock him off his feet with a remix. "I feel the perfect remix has to be a female singing it me for my birthday. That would be the perfect. I'm still waiting on one, man," Jeremih said, suggesting Keri Hilson for the job. "She's hot, she's fresh. I know she's done a lot of damage on the writing side too. I feel like her swagger, it seems like it would be the female version of me on the song. I still haven't met her, but I feel she'll do her thing on the remix. Can you sing to me, Miss Keri baby?"

Jeremih's birthday is coming up soon — July 17 — 10 days after his debut hits stores.

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

Who is the best? Who would win in a battle? It's a hypothetical conversation that hip-hop fans have every day about their favorite spitters.

We here at MTV News have a great time debating the "Hottest MCs in the Game" (check for that '09 list coming sooner than you think — controversial!), and in October, Vibe magazine put out their list of the Greatest Rappers Alive. More than 920,000 fans voted on tournament brackets, in which different MCs would face each other in dream rap matches.

Irv Gotti came by the MTV offices and spoke to us about the list recently. Although he wasn't as adamant as Joe Budden was about the list being wrong, IG took exception to Eminem ranking in the top spot.

"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. Sh-- 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 sh--. He's clowning. Is that the #1? That's not my #1 rapper, man."

Gotti said he also factored in the battle element in deciding that Jay-Z is better than Em. He said that back in the day, Slim Shady wouldn't have a chance against a young Jay — or DMX and Ja Rule, for that matter.

"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 sh--. Homie, you wouldn't been able to survive. These n---as was going with written sh--. In your grill. X [would say,] 'I don't walk, I stalk, living foul.' Saying some sh-- 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?" IG laughed. He said the Detroit legend would have been greeted with three harsh words: " 'Shut the f--- up!' It would have been a 'shut the f--- 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 f---ing building. ... It would be over."

Irv finished by saying the best rapper alive has to be Jay-Z or Lil Wayne.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily Video: Jay-Z, Cam'ron, Drake, Jadakiss & More

• Mixtape Daily: Other Notables, Eminem, Jadakiss, Kanye West And More

• Jay-Z
• Eminem
• Irv Gotti
• Jeremih
• Keri Hilson

Irv Gotti
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

Celebrity Favorites

Irv Gotti had grand plans for Nas several years ago when he announced his fellow Queens native would be signing to Murder Inc. Records. Well, we all know Nas never came to the Inc., but I.G. says he's remained tight friends with Esco and the two may even work together again. Gotti is still a fan of Nas' music, but he prefers it when he keeps his raps simple.

"I like Nas," Gotti said. "First of all, Nas is my brother — another one of my brothers. But I personally like Nas when he's ignorant. Whenever Nas gets political or he starts thinking or he wants to change the world, it's good, but I personally like it more when Nas is on his QB, ignorant n---a sh--. When he's on [a] 'Made You Look' [vibe]. When he's on his arrogant sh--. When Nas dumbs himself down, he's nicer to me. I tell him that sh-- all the time. ... When he's on some n---a sh--, he's nicer."

However, Irv is the last one to try and give the mic legend advice on his marital woes.

"I was with him yesterday," Gotti explained. "Me and Nas is family ... No, I didn't even talk to him [about Kelis]. I gotta steer clear of that. That's that man's personal feelings. I'm there for him. If he wanna go out, party, chill — I'm a phone call away."

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

	MIXTAPE DAILY Who's next and who dominates — right here, all week long!.
	»Other Notables: Cam'ron
	»Celeb Faves: Irv Gotti
	»Firestarter: Masspike Miles, Kanye West
	»Behind The Beat: Sean C. And LV, Eminem

A lot of people out there call themselves journalists, but Datwon Thomas is someone you should never question. Homie has credentials galore. The founder of King and the Web site Hookt.com recently stepped down as the editor in chief of XXL. We already know Datwon has a bunch of things up his sleeve, and we just found out that he is the new COO and editor in chief of the Russell Simmons-backed Globalgrind.com. He told us that it was tough to leave the magazine, but he's excited for his next move.

"It was definitely a hard decision, but it opens up the door for a new beginning," he explained.

Datwon said that his highlights at the publication over the past year have included the Freshman 10 cover as well as the recent cover featuring Eminem as the Punisher.

"More than likely it's gonna be some fly stuff," he said about what he plans to bring to his next position. "I think if people check my résumé, a lot of things I've been with have been successful and really well. I look forward to seeing what I'mma do too. I'm a fan of me."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: Eminem, 50 Cent, Kanye West, & More

• Irv Gotti
• Nas

Irv Gotti
Photo: MTV News

It's official, people. Mixtape Daily is here. That's right, daily. Mixtape Monday had a phenomenal run. For over six years, the weekly segment became an institution. Every week, it was your one-stop shop for everything related to the streets. But we promised you bigger and better things in 2009, and we're men of our word. We're going to keep bringing you all the exclusives and insight you've come to expect. We're just expanding and refocusing.

Behind the Beats: Irv Gotti

For our Behind the Beats feature, you can look forward to hearing from your favorite DJs or producers every single week. While the artists are in the forefront of the industry, let's not forget the DJs and producers — we have love for all you guys.

No more travelling all the way downtown to SoHo for the Queens native — Irv Gotti's moved on up to a new plush three-room recording studio in midtown Manhattan.

"All the energy is compacted into one floor," he said with a grin.

Gotti can still boast one of the most remarkable runs in hip-hop — in the late '90s, he brought DMX, Jay-Z, Ja Rule and his own Murder Inc. label to Def Jam. As an executive, he was on fire, but as a producer, he was even hotter. Platinum plaques left and right for albums and singles, mostly by his artists Ja Rule and Ashanti. Along the way, he gave Jay-Z one of his breakthrough songs ("Can I Get A ... "), helped Fat Joe reach superstar status with "What's Luv?" and gave J. Lo street cred with "I'm Real." Yes, he was in demand and wasn't afraid to let you know.

"Murder Inc. got all the hits, everyone's calling me," he said of his run behind the boards earlier this decade. "The illest sh-- I ever did, I made somebody pay me $50,000 just to get on the phone with me. I was an a--hole at the highest level. I was like, 'Send me 50 [grand] and I'll get on the phone. If not, get the f--- outta here, a--hole!' 'Yo, it's a quarter. Yeah, you heard me, $50,000. I ain't stutter!' "

Still, despite his track record, I.G.'s sound (a lot of hits were the result of working with co-producers 7 Aurelius and Chink Santana) hasn't been heard on the radio lately. He says the interest of the industry has shifted.

"You know what happens — the music business is di-- riders for the better part," Gotti explained. "I understand it ... so they want a Dream beat right now or a Polow Da Don [track] or whatever like that. They're di-- riders. I can say that with the utmost confidence because they di-- rode me for a number of times.

"A lot of people was telling me, 'You was an a--hole, you should get humbled,' " he added. "I did get humbled but, honestly, the game don't have love for you. So if you wanna be an a--hole, go ahead. They only f--- with you when you're hot. If you not hot, they gonna tell your humble ass, 'Get the f--- outta here.' It's no love."

Gotti isn't tripping — he says he'll be back in-demand soon, thanks to the beats he's cooking up in his new studio space.

"I'm gonna go in the studio with my band of thieves and plot and create some sh-- again, 'cause it's just in me to do it. And after I do it, if I wanna be humble, I'll be humble. If I wanna say, 'F--- y'all,' I'll say, 'F--- y'all.' "

Five-Star Stellar Irv-Produced Hits

» Jay-Z (featuring Ja Rule and Amil) - "Can I Get A ... "
» Ja Rule (featuring Ashanti) - "Always on Time"
» Fat Joe (featuring Ashanti) - "What's Luv?"
» Jennifer Lopez (featuring Ja Rule) - "I'm Real"

Hottest Streak Thus Far

From 2000 to 2002, when he dropped Ja Rule's Rule 3:36 and Pain Is Love, as well as Ashanti's self-titled debut LP.

• Mixtape Daily Video: Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lady GaGa, More

• Irv Gotti
• The Inc.

Irv Gotti
Photo: MTV News

Irv Gotti says he and Ashanti, the Princess of the Inc., will soon be parting company. He said they haven't been on speaking terms for some time, and the label head/reality-TV star says there's nothing he can do but end their musical and business affiliation.

"The relationship has run its course," Gotti explained earlier this week while visiting the MTV offices. "The chemistry of what's needed — we're in two totally different places. You're talking to somebody that took her and shaped and molded her and put her out there for the world, and it blew up. We [hold the record] for the [fastest] selling debut by a female R&B artist — 503 [thousand]. We did it! My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up."

Ashanti's last LP, The Declaration — her first in four years — came out in June of last year on the Inc. and was created with virtually no input from Gotti. The album was her first in-studio project not to go platinum. Gotti says it's because the singer deviated from their winning formula and tag-team effort.

"I personally believe for her to be successful, it took the energy ... when you seen her, it was 30 n---as around her, and she's the princess so nice and pretty walking through," he said. "The music was great, but it was the energy that was created. It wasn't just her standing there and singing a song.

"We don't really speak or talk or anything like that," he continued. "It's sad in a way. But in another, it's like it's all good."

Well, maybe not that good. Gotti said it is best for them to part ways.

"I don't think she can win. She needs some guidance with that," Gotti added. "But she's not thinking like that. Really, I couldn't tell you what she's thinking. So that relationship has run its course and honestly, I'm gonna just drop her."

At press time, a rep for Ashanti had not granted MTV News' requests for comment.

Gotti told MTV News that he's maintained the rights to all of his artists, including Ashanti, Lloyd and of course Ja Rule. The exec says he's working on a deal to reunite with his fellow Def Jam alumni Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles and Julie Greenwald over at the Warner Music Group. He says new albums by Lloyd, new rapper Newz and Rule are in the cooker. He explains the delay of Rule's The Mirror is because they are trying to craft a classic LP.

• Ashanti
• Irv Gotti

Young Jeezy attends his <i>Vibe</i> magazine cover debute party in New York City on Tuesday
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — It seems to be all good between Young Jeezy and Vibe magazine once again. Last week, the ATL Trap Star turned hoodspeak guru said the publication misquoted him in his current cover story, but that's all water under the bridge now.

On Tuesday night, the Vibe helped Young put on for New York City, hosting a party commemorating the "Real Rap" issue that featured the Snowman on the very front. T.I. and various members of his Grand Hustle family, in addition to Nas, Swizz Beatz, Jermaine Dupri, Irv Gotti and Fabolous, turned out at Manhattan's Hotel Gansevoort.

"This is real big right now," Jeezy said in the VIP area as bottles were passed around. Midway through the night, Young, Fabolous and Loso's brother Paul Cain shared a toast. Later Nas and Swizz Beatz had what seemed to be a deep conversation, while the likes of Queen Pen and Vibe editor in chief Danyel Smith congratulated the man of honor.

Gotti hung out just footsteps away from Dupri, while Bad Boy president Harve Pierre laughed with his staff. Although the DJ threw on popular jams such as "A Milli," Nas' "Hero" and Jeezy's "Put On," not too much dancing took place. The spot was jam-packed, but the revelers still managed to preserve their sexy mingling and drinking. With no roof on the venue (well, aside from the ones over a handful of cabanas), the summer humidity was the elephant in the room that everyone tried to keep ignore. Outside the party, you could hear the music on the city street as you walked past.

"This whole place smells like Patrón," one of the bouncers said as the place emptied out.

• Nas, Fabolous, Swizz Beatz Celebrate Young Jeezy's 'Vibe' Cover

• Young Jeezy
• T.I.
• Nas
• Swizz Beatz
• Queen Pen

Nas at his album release party at New York's Capitale on Monday night
Photo: SoulBrother

NEW YORK — Nas seemed to suffer momentarily lapses in focus during his 45-minute set at Manhattan's Webster Hall Monday night. He fumbled through a few lines while performing the show — dubbed a "secret concert" for Hot 97 contest winners — but still managed to come through in the clutch during his money records like "Made You Look" and his current single, "Hip Hop Is Dead."

Maybe he was thinking about Tuesday morning, when his highly talked-about and anticipated Hip Hop Is Dead — replete with its controversial title — would finally hit stores. Or maybe he was a little preoccupied thinking about the night as a whole. After his performance, he would head to Gin Lane for an intimate dinner hosted by Hennessy Paradis and attended by his family — including wife Kelis, daughter Destiny, brother Jungle and father Olu Dara — and an assortment of friends from the industry.

Inside the restaurant, everyone played dress-up in suits, gowns and sexy dresses. Kelis looked like she'd walked right off of a magazine cover and was headed to a presidential ball as a speaker projected Dean Martin singing "That's Amore" in the background. Hey Nas, we know you said hip-hop is dead, but what happened to some good old-fashioned R&B as a substitute?

Just as Dean's song faded out, Nas' music came up, and for the next hour D-Nice spun a musical back and forth between old Esco classics like "The World Is Yours" and Rat Pack greatest hits. The mood, with everybody grown and sexy and swilling specialty drinks from the open bar, was a sort of flashback to when the rapper went under his alias, Nas Escobar, with the Firm.

About an hour into the event, Esco himself showed up in the flesh, wearing a black-and-red dinner jacket. He walked in and made his way down the dinner table (several feet in length) to kiss his wife. Soon after, it was photo ops galore: Philadelphia 76er Chris Webber came in dressed in an all-black suit, and Mark Wahlberg followed behind. After dinner, which included fish and filet mignon, Nas and Kelis took a Maybach over to Capitale, where it was time for the full-on album release party.

Chamillionaire pulled up to the door of the venue in an SUV while Papoose stood outside, getting ready to make his way onto the black carpet.

"I'm here to pay homage to a living legend, period," Pap said later on, before entering the party. "Nas has been putting it down consistently for years. 'Hip-hop is dead' is definitely a true cause, I understand what he's saying. He broke down the concept of where real people who love hip-hop don't got have ownership — it's an actual fact. When you first ask someone if hip-hop is dead, their first reaction is gonna be, 'No.' But they not taking out the time to hear where the God is coming from. I understand where he's coming from and I respect the concept. That's what it is."

Inside Capitale, the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Spike Lee and Omarion chilled in the VIP area while Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, AZ and Big Daddy Kane mingled with the crowd. In the entranceway, wall-size photos of Nas adorned the walls, while a casket with roses on top rested against one of the sides. The DJ spun some hip-hop classics while a woman played the violin onstage and a man beat the drums on the dance floor. The partygoers actually shed their cool and danced, and there was even a photo booth — similar to the "TRL" star booth — for anybody who wanted to flick it up for the occasion. The line did get a little lengthy at points though, with some waiting 20 minutes to say cheese.

Nas took to the stage, thanking everyone for coming and elaborating on his "hip-hop is dead" stance.

"There's confusion in the game," he said. "I think all y'all agree with me because you came out to see what's going on. ... Hip-hop is dead because we don't own it. ... We make the music but no one is in a position of power to protect it. It's up to us to bring it back alive."

As the night continued, Nas passed the mic to some of the golden-era greats, like Monie Love, Melle Mel and Kane.

"I'm really proud of Nas and I wish him the utmost respect," said Kane, who performed snippets of his hits like "Warm It Up, Kane." Melle Mel followed with The Message"; later, a song the absent KRS-One recorded specifically to salute God's Son was unveiled.

"I couldn't make the set, so I sent these 16s as a sign of respect," the Blastmaster said in one of his lines.

Whether or not you agree with Nas' assertion on the state of hip-hop, legendary spinner DJ Red Alert said the Queensbridge rap legend is doing his part to keep it alive. "Nights like this take hip-hop to the next level, the next height of where hip-hop is. This is to the highest degree of what hip-hop stands for."

• MTV News RAW: Nas

• Nas' Album Release Party In New York

• Nas
• Jay-Z
• Beyoncé
• Kelis
• Irv Gotti

Irv Gotti and Ja Rule
Photo: Bryan Mitchell/ Getty Images

As he has for most of his career, Irv Gotti said he's going to have the last laugh very soon. Heck, he's laughing so much right now, he can barely get a whole sentence out.

"God!" he answered recently with a huge laugh about how he came to sign pop singer Vanessa Carlton to his infamous record label, the Inc. (see "Yeah, Irv Gotti Knows Who Vanessa Carlton Is — He Just Signed Her"). "God himself [oversaw] this project. He's executive-producing all of my projects into 2007."

Gotti's laughter has been bolstered with what he called blessings bestowed upon him over the past few months. First, his artist Lloyd almost left his label — which was in limbo without a distribution deal at the time — to go to Atlantic. The R&B singer returned to the Inc with the heat rock "You," featuring Lil Wayne (see "Irv Gotti Rebuilding The Inc. With A Little Help From Lloyd"). Then Gotti inked a new deal with Universal Records and the Universal Music Group, not only getting the millions he wanted, but also a brand-new distribution deal. Then the proven Carlton joined his label — which already has Ja Rule, Ashanti and hitmaking producer 7 Aurelius, who Gotti described as "Prince if he f---ed with hip-hop."

"I'm gonna make a prediction," I.G. said. "Don't be shocked and amazed if at one time, you're looking at the Billboard top 200, and in the top 20, you see four or five Murder Inc. records. You're gonna be like, 'I thought them f---ers was over.' "

The only place Gotti and company have been is in the boardroom making deals and in his studio making music. After Gotti was acquitted of money laundering last year, he severed ties with Def Jam and the Universal Music Group. Although he had nothing but great things to say about Def Jam, he spit what he called justified venom at some of the Universal Music Group executives, namely Jimmy Iovine and Doug Morris. He accused them of sabotaging his project, being ungrateful for the millions of dollars he made for the company and turning their backs on him as friends. Gotti maintains that he never had any beef with executive Zach Horowitz.

A few months ago, Horowitz and Morris contacted Gotti's lawyers about a meeting. "They wanted to sit back down and discuss things with me," Irv said. "At first my lawyer [asked the Universal execs], 'Are you crazy? You're going to get me fired. You know Irv ain't f---ing with y'all.' But then the lawyer said an interesting thing. He [told Universal's lawyers], 'Maybe I can get Irv to the meeting if you offer him his masters.' They were like, 'If you get him to the meeting, we want to talk to him.' "

Gotti said his talk with the two was "quintessential, real talk." "Doug explained the level of what I was getting myself into [with] the federal investigation," Gotti said. "He put it to me like, 'Irv, you put my job at risk. What did you want me to do? ... I'm the chairman. You put me in harm's way.' How he explained it to me, he made a lot of sense. No bullsh--."

Irv accepted Morris' apology — but not before he conveyed one last emotion. "I turned it back to him like, 'I understand, but f---, man, you could have been my man still,' " Gotti said. " 'You could have called me and said, "I'm praying for you, I hope you get through this." ' We went at it. To be honest, after we went at it, I understood where he was coming from. He understood where I was coming from."

With everyone on the same page, all Gotti had to do was turn down an offer from the Warner Brothers Music Group and sign back with Universal — which wasn't too difficult, because Warner underwhelmed him.

"The deal they put on the table wasn't even comparable. It was like night and day," he said. "I remember telling Dame Dash [about the Universal deal]. He said, 'What? Nobody is getting deals like this anymore. Sign that now!' I swear to you."

With the business done, all Gotti has to do is get back to making records. He said Carlton, Lloyd, 7, Ashanti and Ja Rule are all working on their 2007 releases now. Gotti's especially excited for Ja's comeback.

"He has a [song] he did that I made him a $100,000 bet on," Gotti said. "I said, 'We'll put the money in escrow and wait till we're 50 years old and we'll collect on the bet.' I said, 'Rule, you will not make a bigger [song] than this one we just made.' It's called 'Father Forgive Me.'

"Everybody says, 'Can Rule do it? Can he come back?' I say Rule is the best songwriter I have ever been around," Gotti said. "This guy makes big records in his sleep that people would love to have. You better not ever count me and Rule out. It's too much talent. I'm saying that through experience of me being around the best rappers alive."

The working title for Ja's next album is Love Is Pain. "It's a sequel of sorts to Rule's biggest-selling album, Pain Is Love," Gotti said. "Vanessa's album is tentatively called Heroes and Thieves. The title track is about how we don't know who comes in our lives, whether they be good or bad. A lot of her songs sound like they should be title tracks of movie soundtracks.'

Gotti said he and 7 will produce Carlton's project along with Rick Rubin and 3rd Eye Blind's Steven Jenkins. Linda Perry is writing some material too. Carlton also will appear on a sure single from Aurelius' album, Channel 7. "Sixty percent of his album is done," Gotti divulged. "Every song is like the biggest record anyone has ever heard. His first record is gonna be called 'M-A-K-E-L-O-V-E-T-O-M-E.' The record is like a Gwen Stefani 'Hollaback Girl' vibe, and we took the Hall and Oates' 'Method of Modern Love' hook. Instead of 'M-E-T-H-O-D-O-F-L-O-V-E,' Vanessa is singing, 'M-A-K-E-L-O-V-E-T-O-M-E.' "

The only project Gotti didn't give too much info on is Ashanti's next record. The label's princess is recording on her own, unlike her first three albums, which I.G. oversaw.

"She's the captain of her ship," he said. "With her project, I wouldn't even comment on it. I would say get [the info] from her. Bust she's still on Murder Inc., and it's still coming in '07, and it's all good."

• Irv Gotti
• Ja Rule
• The Inc. Records
• Vanessa Carlton
• Lloyd

Irv Gotti and Vanessa Carlton
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — A funny thing happened to Irv Gotti on the way to a business meeting.

The multiplatinum hip-hop producer had recently signed a deal with Universal Records for his label, the Inc., and was visiting with the bosses to discuss business matters. (" 'Pinky and the Brain' sh--," he quipped.)

An A&R rep noticed Gotti in the Universal building hallway and prodded him to join another meeting in the adjoining offices where, oddly enough, Vanessa Carlton happened to be working out a deal to join the label's roster. In a twist of fate even he admits is surprising, Gotti ended up signing the pop singer to his company, the one formerly known as Murder Inc. Now, he and Carlton are pushing to finish her new album in time for a spring release.

"I see Vanessa and I say to myself, 'I know her from somewhere,' " Gotti, preparing for a Carlton showcase at the Canal Room, remembered of their initial chance meeting. "I didn't quite know yet to put the name on it, [but I knew] she was an artist. She started playing and her voice, it completely took me over. I start rambling, running my mouth basically. And just going crazy.

"After I calmed down," Gotti continued, "she played 'A Thousand Miles,' and once I heard the piano riff, I spazzed out again.

" 'You're the girl from "White Chicks," ' " Gotti recalled Carlton jumping in, finishing his thought for him. They laughed about the song being parodied in the Wayans brothers' comedy.

With that number, Gotti knew exactly who Carlton was and began wondering if she would be willing to work with him. Gotti learned Carlton had become a free agent after parting ways with A&M Records following her commercially disappointing 2004 album, Harmonium. At first, a hesitant Gotti only offered Carlton his production assistance. He says he was surprised when her enthusiasm matched his.

"He just has this bundle of energy," Carlton said of meeting Irv. "I was so thrilled. I had been waiting for this reaction [to my music] my whole life and [that day] was the beginning of our friendship and our working relationship."

The two exchanged contact information and soon began paging each other. When Carlton signed her first message to Gotti with her first initial — he affectionately calls her "V" — he says he knew the odd pairing was destined to be. As Gotti explains, the V pendent he wears on his necklace is in remembrance of his late grandmother, who would only allow Gotti to call her "V," even though her nickname had nothing to do with her birth name.

Carlton also called their union coincidental. And she was quick to add that Irv, despite recent baggage from a federal court case (see "Gotti Brothers Found Not Guilty Of Money Laundering") and parting ways with his longtime distributor Def Jam, isn't as strange a bedfellow for her as many would think.

"I don't have an opinion on someone until I meet them, and he instantly struck me as a music guy," Carlton said. "It didn't matter what genre he usually works in or what imaging he has for himself. All I was looking for was someone who I would connect with personally, and there was energy there I wanted to be a part of."

The new duo were tightlipped about what to expect from Carlton's forthcoming album. Irv did reveal that a few surprises are possible, but most likely the effort will consist of Carlton continuing to evolve her sound. Gotti noted he wouldn't force her to become more urban nor would he be overbearing in the creative process, as he is notoriously known to be. "This is the first time where I'm gonna be a co-pilot," Irv said, adding that he usually plays the role of "dictator."

Carlton explained that just having Irv around is enough support for her. "What he gives me the most is this cushion," she said. "And I feel now like I'm sitting on the best patch of songs I've ever written. It's like baking bread, and I think this is the best loaf so far."

"Wait till you get a load of that loaf," Gotti finished.

• Irv Gotti
• Vanessa Carlton
• The Inc. Records

Irv Gotti
Photo: MTV News

ENCINO, California — What do Prince, Diddy and Irv Gotti all have in common? They've all sold millions of records, and yet they can't get people to listen.

When Prince changed his name to a symbol, people still called him Prince. More people say "Puffy" now than "Diddy," and Irv has heard folks still saying "murder." And that's fine with him.

"It's a funny thing with the name change, because it never changed even when I changed it," a grinning Gotti said, sitting poolside at his California residence. "Everyone still said it was Murder Inc. No one, no one called it the Inc. I had a big press conference [in 2003] and we stood up and said, 'Listen, it's the Inc.' and everyone went, 'Yeah, so Murder Inc. went and tried to change their name.' "

Laughing, he continued, "So I tried to change it, but it didn't change. Am I officially changing it back? I think it officially never left. And I like where it is right now, so you know it's officially the Inc., and if certain people out there don't like saying the word 'murder,' a'ight, well then it's the Inc., but for the streets and most everybody else, it's still Murder Inc. and it's a true testament to me doing pretty good. Once you do something well, that's who you are."

Irv's track record over the past 10 years is one of the most storied in the music biz. As an executive, he's had a hand in dozens of hit records and was once a key player in helping Def Jam raking in hundreds of millions of dollars. Well, Gotti is way past his breaking point. He's done with Def Jam and looking for new distribution for his label. Although he insists that there is no bad blood between himself and Def Jam, he feels utterly betrayed by the imprint's parent company, Universal Music Group.

Check out the feature "Irv Gotti: Can't Sink The Inc." for Gotti's take on the label's future.

• Irv Gotti
• The Inc. Records

Irv Gotti speaks with MTV News on December 15
Photo: MTV News

ENCINO, California — Fresh from being exonerated of money-laundering charges, where do you imagine Irving "Irv Gotti" Lorenzo would go? To visit his family in Hollis, Queens? Straight to work at his Manhattan recording studio, the Crackhouse? Maybe even out to Beverly Hills to get some sun and collect his thoughts?

Sure, you could picture any of those things, but that's not where he went. No, we found the hip-hop mogul in a quiet cul-de-sac in Encino, the town made famous by Brendan Fraser's "Encino Man" and where economy cars and minivans line quiet, unglamorous streets. But as the neighbors have come to find out during the five years since Irv and Ja Rule purchased their "Murder Inc. Pad," the serenity can easily turn hyphy.

It's a place where Bloods and Crips have partied in unity, stars like Tyrese have danced with girls so beautiful they make the contestants on "America's Next Top Model" look like scallywags, and it's the spot where Irv and two of his right-hand men, B.J. and Dan Tan, are lounging before going back to NYC.

"The fruits of our labor," Irv said, referring to the home. "This is one of the things that we afforded ourselves to get. It's a nice peaceful home in L.A. where we get away when we want to get away. When we wanna party, we throw a party."

On December 2 — the day he was finally free and clear after being investigated for three years (see "Gotti Brothers Found Not Guilty Of Money Laundering") — Irv definitely partied. His friends rented a yacht and all his loved ones celebrated with Irv and his brother/co-defendant, Chris.

"I'm on cloud nine," Irv said with a grin as he sat next to his heated pool. Given the number of gray hairs now taking residence on his head, however, it's obvious the case got to him. Now that it's over, that stress has been replaced by "a feeling of surrealness," he said. "It's an overall happy feeling for a lot of reasons. It's a happy feeling that my mom and dad ain't gotta worry no more. Just watching them come to court and seeing my mom with the stress, I couldn't help her, I couldn't ease the pain until it was over.

"It's a happiness that the jurors saw through everything and did the right thing," he continued. "It's a happiness that after three years, the cloud the government put over my head is removed. And the sun is now shining. I got my life back and people don't have to be afraid to come near me. People don't have to say, 'Well, if I mess with him, is the government gonna bother me?' "

By raiding his offices and studio, calling into question his friendship to convicted drug dealer Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff and dirtying his name in the media, the government basically put his professional and personal life on halt, Gotti said. He's even been quoted as saying that he thinks the whole case came about because of his "Gotti" nickname and his label's former "Murder Inc." moniker.

"I love this country," he said. "I don't want to live nowhere else. All I'm gonna say is with me they had it wrong. They need to understand hip-hop more. Once they understand us, they would know. I'm nicknamed Irv Gotti, [but] it doesn't mean nothing. There's people nicknamed Noreaga, Fatal Hussein, it's just a nickname. It's not he's Saddam Hussein or wants to be Saddam Hussein. It's a nickname. [Gotti] is a nickname I didn't even give to myself. Hov gave me the nickname and it's stuck."

Gotti said all he wants to do is go back to making music. The last thing he wants is more beef with the government. "They investigated me, and I hope they see they got it wrong and I didn't do anything wrong," he said. "Let me go back to being a great earner. I'll pay my taxes, just leave me alone."

The trial of the Gottis was far from the drawn-out ordeal some had predicted. The trial began November 16 and ended just over two weeks later, with the defense resting after just two hours with only one witness on the stand, a former IRS agent (see "Gotti Defense Team Rests After Only Two Hours").

"We felt the government didn't prove the case and I didn't want to drag my friends ... my witnesses were gonna be a very extensive, a who's who in the business artistwise and executivewise, to explain who I was and where I got my money," Gotti explained. "I didn't want the government to dive into their past, like, 'Yeah, Irv's a good guy but do you know what you did back in '83?' I didn't want them to have to go through that. I made a decision with my attorneys and my brother: 'They didn't prove their case, let's get it over with.' "

If only it were that easy. Gotti tells a tale of an agonizing wait for the jury to deliberate. Since he'd never been to court before, he thought he could go home and wait until the jury came to a verdict. He quickly found out that he had to wait in court during deliberations.

"You sit and you wait and you're scared like you wouldn't believe," he said. I.G. can laugh and joke about the situation now, but a couple of weeks ago he would cringe each time the jury sent a note to the judge. (" 'Somebody must be saying I'm guilty,' " he remembered telling his lawyer. "Each time a note comes out it's like, 'Oh God, no.' ")

"I was scared to death, but I also wanted it over," he added. "I was tired of waking up with the knots in my stomach and I was like, 'Whatever it is, let it be. If my destiny is to go to jail for 10, 20 years, I'm ready and let's do it. If my destiny is to get my life back, let's do that.' I was ready to face whatever I was gonna face."

And just like that, a little after 6 p.m. on December 2, the Gottis were free men.

"I'd never been in tune with God like how I've been in tune with God [lately]," Gotti said. "It's a clarity."

After the trial, the jurors requested to meet with Irv and his mother. One of the jurors even told him that she wasn't going to let anything happen to him.

There's still a long road to go for the Lorenzos. With the legal problems put aside, they have to get back on track with their record company (see "Ashanti Eager To Put Her Label's Legal Woes Behind Her"). The Collectables by Ashanti remix album and Ja Rule's Exodus greatest-hits LP both went virtually unnoticed in their first week of release, and their 2004 studio albums both failed to reach 1 million in sales.

Gotti blames the Inc's recent sales dip on sabotage from the higher ups at the Universal Music Group. Although he said he has no problems with Jay-Z or L.A. Reid at Def Jam (he still considers Jay a close friend and said his respect for Reid is immense), he and all the artists on his roster have defected from the label and are looking for a new distribution home. Irv said he's gotten calls from plenty of CEOs and he fully expects the Inc. (the "Murder" is still officially dropped from the label name, but Irv said he realizes people will always refer to it as Murder Inc.) to get back on its feet in 2006.

• Irv Gotti
• The Inc. Records