Irv Gotti had an instrumental role in getting DMX and Ruff Ryders signed to Def Jam. The Murder, Inc. boss took to explain the roadblocks he and X had to overcome to get the legendary “Get At Me Dog” rapper a record deal with Def Jam. Gotti posted the backside of X’s debut album “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” onto IG. Gotti explained he was part of a Hip Hop movement that was “once in a lifetime.” Gotti cites Ruff Ryders, Roc-A-Fella and Murder, Inc. as being the front runners of that “revolution.”

Today. In 1998. Me and my Ruff Ryder brothers FUCKED UP THE WORLD! AND CHANGED THE GAME! When we dropped DMX'S "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" I am so proud and honored to have been apart of my Ruff Ryder Family. I was in the grind and struggle with them since 1988. So this album was a 10 year grind that finally materialized. When I 1st got to Def Jam. Real shit. 1st day. 1st mtg. They told me what my A&R duties was gonna be. After they said what they said. I said cool. BUT WE HAVE TO SIGN DMX AND RUFF RYDERS. They looked at me and laughed. Like it's your 1st day. Learn the system. Learn how to get an act signed. I was like nah. Yall not hearing me. WE HAVE TO SIGN DMX AND RUFF RYDERS. they kept laughing and walked out. I worked at Def Jam like a few months. DMX wasn't signed. They had me working acts I didn't feel a connection too. I QUIT!! I stopped coming into the office. Lyon Cohen called me. Asking where I was and what I was doing. I told him. I don't wanna be at def jam. That I thought they was LIVE. And that I'm not happy. I'm not doing what I wanna do. And I don't wanna be around corny mothafuckas. That I would take my shot in the streets on my own. He told me come back up to the office. He would fix it. When I came back up. He told certain staff members that I was to be left alone. And that I was only to answer to him and Kevin Lyles. So he basically rolled the dice with me. Now. Once he did that. You know what I said. WE HAVE TO SIGN DMX AND RUFF RYDERS!! He said ok. And I brought Lyor and Kevin Liles. And actually @duskopoppington came up to Yonkers with us. And Lyor meet and watched DMX rap with his Jaws Wired Shut! The Lox was there. It was a HIP HOP SCENE that was once in a lifetime. You had to be there to understand the energy. After Lyor seeing what I was talking about. DMX AND RUFF RYDERS GOT SIGNED. AND THE START OF THE REVOLUTION BEGUN!! I am apart of RUFF RYDERS. 4 Life!! I am apart of ROCAFELLA. 4 Life!! I am MURDER INC. 4 Life. Sometime I feel weird being apart of such great artist and movements. I love my NIGGAS. no bullshit. @bornryder_general @dmx and my nigga #waah WE DID IT. MAY 19, 1998 WE CHANGED THE GAME AND FUCKED UP THE WORLD.

A photo posted by Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo (@irvgotti187) on May 19, 2015 at 9:13am PDT

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