why all the speculation... irv spoke on this many times
"It ruined me and Jay a lot," said Irv Gotti of Nas potentially signing to the Murder Inc. imprint. During the time of the reported deal, Nas and Jay-Z were embroiled in a heated war of words culminating in Nas' blistering dis track "Ether" and Jay-Z's "Super Ugly" response. However, Irv Gotti revealed that his interest in Nas was deeper than the Queens borough they both proudly represented. "I messed with Nas because Hov kept turning me down," shared Irv of his reasons for going with Nas. Irv explained later in the interview that his frustrations that Jay-Z didn't immediately latch on to a failed Murder Inc. tour plan fueled his pursuit of Nas with Steve Stoute's introduction linking the pair - but the Queensbridge lyricist wasn't moved by Irv's promise of rap riches. "If you know Nas, the last thing he wants [is that attention]," said Gotti.
"I had talks with him," Gotti explained Monday in New York's Harlem neighborhood. "Me and him really got to kicking it, he's a good dude. I was in Miami, Atlanta, we did the last leg of the tour with him. He's gonna be on Sony, but it will be like Ill Will/ Murder Inc./ Sony. But I will definitely be affiliated and I'll definitely be a part of [his projects], me and my brother Ja Rule."
“I shouldn’t have did that with Nas. It was a mistake. Because above and beyond the music, Hov is my man. In front of MTV, I would shed blood for Hov. If I see Hov, I will get right in the mix of things,” he continued. “I should have never done that. But he knew it. He’s one of the smartest dudes, and he knew it. He said, that ambition. I said, yeah. If it means me going in them history books, I don’t care. I’m weird like that. That’s how bad I want it.”
also didn't know this but this is the reason nas and 50 started beefing:
The beef with 50 Cent began when Irv Gotti pressured Columbia Records to replace 50 Cent with Nas on the 2002 collaboration track with Jennifer Lopez called “Gonna Be Alright”. 50 who appeared on the original version took offense to the fact that Nas didn’t notify him ahead of time about getting replaced.
at that struggle performance.
@ the blasphemy they did to one of my favorite pac songs ever 
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