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Damn, so these cats weren't just studio gangstas (Irv Gotti surrenders) Rap Mogul, Drug Kingpin Surrender to Feds
16 minutes ago By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN, Associated Press Writer NEW YORK - The hip-hop label behind music superstars Ashanti and Ja Rule was part of a murderous criminal enterprise that protected its interstate crack and heroin operation with calculated street assassinations, federal authorities charged Wednesday. Label head Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo and his brother Christopher surrendered to the FBI (news - web sites) on money-laundering charges Wednesday as federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment seeking to confiscate Irv Gotti's real estate and business holdings. Gotti's childhood friend, Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, one of New York's most notorious drug kingpins, was charged with murder, racketeering and other crimes that prosecutors said were intended to eliminate and intimidate potential witnesses. McGriff already is in prison on a relatively minor gun charge. Prosecutors said McGriff and the Gottis funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in McGriff's drug profits through The Inc., a chart-topping label owned partly by Def Jam, a subsidiary of Universal Music. Recording in a studio dubbed "The Crackhouse," The Inc. has sold about 20 million records behind Ja Rule and Ashanti, who were not charged in the indictment. Ja Rule's current album, "R.U.L.E.," peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard chart. Ashanti is now appearing in the movie "Coach Carter," which debuted atop the box office list two weeks ago. The charges were not expected to have a major impact on Universal. A source familiar with the Universal/Gotti joint venture said the arrangement would be dissolved if Gotti is convicted. A Universal spokesman declined to comment. Defense lawyer Gerald Lefcourt said the Gotti brothers had been unfairly targeted for trying to help a respected figure from their rough Queens neighborhood. "I think it's a perfectly legitimate operation," Lefcourt said Wednesday. "Ultimately I expect Irv and Chris to be vindicated." McGriff's lawyer, Robert Simels, said his client told him from prison Wednesday "that it's a shame that people who tried to help him in a legitimate way are involved in defending themselves in a criminal case." The indictment charges McGriff and his associates with running a drug operation stretching from New York through Baltimore into North Carolina. McGriff and his partners delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds to the Manhattan offices of Murder Inc., according to the indictment. In exchange, Irv Gotti paid McGriff's travel and hotel expenses and cut him checks from Gotti's personal and business accounts, prosecutors charge. The indictment charges McGriff and several associates with the murder of potential government cooperators Dwayne Thomas and Karon "Buddha" Clarrett outside a Baltimore-area stash house in August 2001. They also are charged with the slaying of up-and-coming rapper E-Money Bags that summer. McGriff, 44, founded the Supreme Team, once one of the city's most violent drug crews. Investigators suspect that after he finished serving about nine years for drug conspiracy in 1997, he set about reviving his lucrative — and deadly — drug-dealing operation. Federal agents closed in on McGriff and the Gottis in recent months with arrests that netted Ja Rule's manager and a bookkeeper for The Inc., who also are named in Wednesday's indictment. At least five other defendants, including associates of McGriff, already have been charged. The Inc. was founded as Murder Inc. in 1997. Gotti changed his label's name last year to deflect negative publicity from the investigation. [Edited 1/26/05 11:27am] | |
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is this the begining of the end of A-shitty? Space for sale... | |
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sosgemini said: is this the begining of the end of A-shitty?
could be could be but im sure she's already out looking for another lable but hey it could be  | |
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sosgemini said: is this the begining of the end of A-shitty?
In cookie monster's case, we could only hope. | |
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sosgemini said: is this the begining of the end of A-shitty?
I desparatly hope so 
Look at his ass, just look-at-his-aaaaasssss  OMG look at the facial  | |
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Thank God this label will probably GO AWAY.
Let's just hope the artists signed to it will, too. | |
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Harlepolis said: sosgemini said: is this the begining of the end of A-shitty?
I desparatly hope so
Look at his ass, just look-at-his-aaaaasssss OMG look at the facial He's trying his best to look tough, but he looks like he's 'bout to cry out for his mama. | |
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Dont drop the soap,tough guy! | |
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dreamfactory313 said:
Dont drop the soap,tough guy! | |
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RipHer2Shreds said: He's trying his best to look tough, but he looks like he's 'bout to cry out for his mama.
Probably hearing the Wedding March and realizing there's a honeymoon with someone named Bubba in his future. Hey boy you look pretty good in them jeans... ~Eddie Murphy (as an incarcerated Mr. T)
tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: RipHer2Shreds said: He's trying his best to look tough, but he looks like he's 'bout to cry out for his mama.
Probably hearing the Wedding March and realizing there's a honeymoon with someone named Bubba in his future. Hey boy you look pretty good in them jeans... ~Eddie Murphy (as an incarcerated Mr. T)
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm  Damn, tA. My sides. | |
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RipHer2Shreds said: Harlepolis said: I desparatly hope so
Look at his ass, just look-at-his-aaaaasssss OMG look at the facial He's trying his best to look tough, but he looks like he's 'bout to cry out for his mama.  | |
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theAudience said: RipHer2Shreds said: He's trying his best to look tough, but he looks like he's 'bout to cry out for his mama.
Probably hearing the Wedding March and realizing there's a honeymoon with someone named Bubba in his future. Hey boy you look pretty good in them jeans... ~Eddie Murphy (as an incarcerated Mr. T)
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm There's nothing manly about being in prison.....  | |
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That is NOT an environment I would want to be a part of. | |
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CinisterCee said: That is NOT an environment I would want to be a part of.
TALK!!!! | |
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it was just a matter of time... | |
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this is eerily similiar to what happened to Death Row Records in the 90s | |
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theAudience said: RipHer2Shreds said: He's trying his best to look tough, but he looks like he's 'bout to cry out for his mama.
Probably hearing the Wedding March and realizing there's a honeymoon with someone named Bubba in his future. Hey boy you look pretty good in them jeans... ~Eddie Murphy (as an incarcerated Mr. T)
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm Lmao, like eddie griffin said " mutha fucka gon' be standin in the corner of the cell still snatchin dick outcha ass" | |
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Okay, the first rule for starting out a record company: make sure you do not call your record company by the exact same name as the crimes you have commited in order to finance the start of your record company. | |
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Death row was doing the same shit. A drug dealer was one of their investors. i know suge went to jail but i don't know if it was related to that. | |
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heybaby said: Death row was doing the same shit. A drug dealer was one of their investors. i know suge went to jail but i don't know if it was related to that.
thus sugy knight went to jail But Sugy Knight makes alot of money off of these ressurected tupac albums because of the contraccccct | |
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Luv4oneanotha said: heybaby said: Death row was doing the same shit. A drug dealer was one of their investors. i know suge went to jail but i don't know if it was related to that.
thus sugy knight went to jail But Sugy Knight makes alot of money off of these ressurected tupac albums because of the contraccccct thats just fucked up. | |
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sosgemini said: is this the begining of the end of A-shitty?
A-Shitty might have been created by Death Row, but basically, she could go anywhere and be succesfull. Hell, her third album didn't do to well and I think the only reason this one is selling well (if it is) can be blamed on the fact that there is just nothing new on the sheleves (I must admit I actually like the new single, though). | |
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heybaby said: Luv4oneanotha said: thus sugy knight went to jail But Sugy Knight makes alot of money off of these ressurected tupac albums because of the contraccccct thats just fucked up. actually Afeni Shakur owns the intellectual property and master tapes of her son. and runs "Amaru" records. which in no way is dist by Death Row | |
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TheRealFiness said: heybaby said: thats just fucked up. actually Afeni Shakur owns the intellectual property and master tapes of her son. and runs "Amaru" records. which in no way is dist by Death Row oh okay. i heard she sued suge and one 50 million from him but i didn't know that. but now that i think about it that would make sense. i'm sure he didn't have 50 mil hangin' around | |
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None of this surprises me in the least. I have said for years that the people running this company are nothing but thugs with money. The entire situation is disgusting and I hope jail time is exactly what they get. Years and years of jail time!! | |
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