From The Vault: Jennifer Lopez – ‘I’m Real (Murder Remix) (Ft. Ja Rule)’

Flashback to 2001 and Jennifer Lopez was the reigning queen of the music charts. One of the hits that made her domination undeniable was the Murder Remix of ‘I’m Real’ from her ‘J. Lo’ album of 2001. The track featured fellow has-been Ja Rule and held the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 5 non-consecutive weeks.

However, the track was not without controversy. According to the song’s producer, Irv Gotti, Lopez was anything but real about how ‘I’m Real’ came into existence. Not only did she use the exact same sample for the original version of ‘I’m Real’ that Mariah Carey used for her song ‘Loverboy’ but Lopez also copied another Carey song for the remix. The Murder Remix of the record was specifically crafted by Gotti to sound exactly like Carey’s ‘If We (Ft. Ja Rule)’ in accordance with the instruction of Carey’s ex-husband Tommy Mottola who was supposedly trying to sabotage her career at the time. Hence, Lopez stole from Carey twice for the same song and started what would become a decade long feud. {Source}

Unoriginality aside, this was a great record and a monster hit. It’s astounding how the times have changed with both Lopez and Ja Rule’s more recent material being rejecting from the bargain bins across the globe. O well at least they could look back at their better years via Youtube.

Thoughts?

Comments 23

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  1. UGh August 22, 2010

    This was a good song back in the day. Jennifer is so whack now

  2. Bobby Rae August 22, 2010

    Oooooo I looooooved this song! Back when JLo & Ja Rule was s*** (to me).

    I didn’t know there was so much drama involved though…Dang…

  3. Tom August 22, 2010

    JLo!!! I hope she comes back to the top! I’m her #1 stan!

  4. JLODABESS August 22, 2010

    Go Jenny go! Better than Mariah any day!

  5. Bee August 22, 2010

    This was the work of Tommy MoTROLLa who wanted to destroy MC’s career. He knew MC wouldn’t have been able to release those tracks for a while because of the movie, so he stole the samples and gave the songs to JLo and released the songs before MC had the chance to release hers. That’s why people would think MC and JLo are/were feuding, but the real issue was with Tommy Mottola – the man obviously knew what he was doing the whole time. “If We” at that time could’ve been a #1 hit, but “I’m Real (Remix)” ruined that. The album (Glitter) would’ve done much better too.

  6. Chris August 22, 2010

    #ThrowbackTune 😀

  7. Tiff August 22, 2010

    i remember how people was mad that she said the “N” word in the song…
    But I had this CD when it came out..I used to love me some J-Lo

  8. Pliss August 22, 2010

    I LOVE J.LO Can’t wait for her comeback !

  9. PLAIN AND SIMPLE August 22, 2010

    I love Ja Rule & J.LO and this song was the bomb back in the day. I wish Ja Rule would start rapping again.

  10. Johnny August 22, 2010

    One of my favorite songs from my childhood. Still love it. Everything is just perfect for me. Jennifer should make more songs like that. She looks flawless in this video. Great video, perfect song. I love Mariah but that song is working better for J.Lo. Ja Rules deep voice and her girlish singing style: great combination.

    One of the best pop songs in the last 20 years!!!

  11. Ricanprince August 22, 2010

    I love this song Mariah has problems with jlo but jlo don’t have a problem with Mariah yesterday Jen tweeted that all I want for Christmas was one of her favorite Mariah songs. Jen just got stuck in the middle of problems between Mariah and Tommy what she supposed to do home gurl walks into studio and recorded what was given to her it sounded good and what u wanna go change it up and make it bad. Jen is still my queen always has been always will be! I like Mariah but what Eva prob she had with Tommy that’s on them she wanted her direction to have a urban flavor to it Tommy wanted her to go in the pop route has their fude. 50 killed ja that’s another story.

  12. Johnny August 22, 2010

    Yeah, if u compare I’m Real Remix to Ja Rule Ft. Mariah Carey – if We u can see that this kind of simple song only works perfect with Jennifers voice.

  13. Dolce August 22, 2010

    She’s actually still huge outside of the States.

  14. Dottie August 22, 2010

    Jennifer Lopez cannot write her own music,, nor can she sing live without backing tracks or pre-recorded vocals, so of course she had to take whatever Motolla could get. She’s been “faking it in the music industry” for a long time, and with two flopping albums in a row (Brave, Rebirth), should be a hint to her that nobody’s interested in hearing her pro-tooled screaching anymore.

    Skeletor left his wife and little kids for her and worships the ground she walks on, so I’m sure he’s the one telling her that she can sing (doesn’t need vocal lessons) and should still pursue her music career. When JLO lipsyncs on stage, she thinks if she wears a tight outfit and throws on one of her many lace-top wigs and slings it around, she’s really doing something.

  15. GrapeJuice sucks August 22, 2010

    im glad thatgrapejuice reminded people of the story on how this song came about. Jlo straight thieved it and her and tommy motola both were trying to sabotage Mariah. Its a cut throat industry! but Jlo did a f***** up thing with this. Also, people seem to forget how Jlo was not even singing her own songs, it was Ashanti. Google it. thats one story they tried HARD to burry but the truth never stays burried forever.

  16. NAS ( B Rockah Stan 4eva) August 22, 2010

    Missing my boy Ja!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. sokmidyk August 23, 2010

    Irv Gotti is a has been trying to get publicity. JLo never stole anything from MC it was TOMMY’s decision what he says goes. “If we” and “Im real” are totally different songs.

  18. Bee August 23, 2010

    Yes, “If We” and “I’m Real” sound different.

    “If We” and “I’m Real [REMIX]” on the other hand….

  19. Pliss August 23, 2010

    There is a HUGE difference between im real and loverboy. that IRV GOTTI is crazy lol

  20. nayah82 August 23, 2010

    Jlo knew what tommy was doing from the jump. they know what they did.
    but god don’t like ugly, look where jho at right now in her career.

  21. Nicole August 24, 2010

    Jennifer didn’t steal anything, it’s Tommy’s plan. Then Mariah is an ugly ass. Back to 1999 when she commented bad about Jennifer and Christina Aguilera. Jennifer can sing live without anything. This song was a masterpiece thanks to her. She has better skills cuz she’s acting, dancing, fashion icon, buisness woman. Mariah can’t even talk like an artist, someone like her must sing and SHUT HER F****** MONTH. These are all clear facts.

    LOL @ someone who said she didn’t even sing her own song, it was Ashanty haha while both voices are TOO DIFFERENT. People don’t even know how to lie LMFAO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  22. Nicole August 24, 2010

    * mouth instead of month lol

  23. Mia September 12, 2010

    Nicole – you’re a dumb b****. JLO’s fat ass has no talent and she is a thief plain and simple. Just because she didn’t come up with the plan doesn’t make her any less guilty – she went along with it! She can’t act, she can’t sing, doesn’t have any songwriting skills, the list goes on. Mariah can’t even talk like an artist? WTF does that even mean. Go back to school and learn how to speak English and enroll in some spelling classes while your at it. There’s a reason why Mariah is the most successful solo artist with the most number 1 hits – she has raw, natural talent who writes, produces, and sings – three things your girl JLO cannot do. That’s why her ass isn’t doing s*** and desperately trying to get her career back and kissing people’s asses, including Mariah’s as shown by that pathetic twitter comment she left.

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