Tributes pour in as Irv Gotti, hip-hop producer and Murder Inc Records co-founder, dies at 54

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Hip-hop just lost one of its most influential architects.

Legendary music producer, record executive, and TV mogul Irv Gotti has died at the age of 54, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed.

While the cause of death remains unknown, his death comes after he suffered what his reps previously described as a "minor stroke" last year. At the time, they assured fans that he had changed his diet and was on the road to a full recovery.

But now, the industry is mourning the loss of a man who helped shape the sound of early 2000s rap and R&B.

Irv Gotti's legacy

Born Irving Lorenzo in Hollis, Queens, Irv Gotti made his bones as the mastermind behind the label Murder Inc Records, which dominated the early 2000s with multi-platinum stars like Ja Rule and Ashanti.

The label delivered several classics under his leadership, like Ja Rule’s 'Always On Time' and 'Livin’ It Up' as well as Ashanti’s 'Foolish' and 'Rock With U (Awww Baby)'.

But before he built his own empire, Gotti was instrumental in reviving Def Jam in the late 1990s. Working in A&R, he played a key role in signing Jay-Z and DMX —thus helping launch two of the most iconic careers in rap history.

He even produced 'Can I Live' on Jay-Z’s 1996 debut Reasonable Doubt and served as executive producer on DMX’s It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, the 1998 album that sold a whopping four million copies and turned the Yonkers rapper into a superstar.

Alongside Ja Rule, Jay-Z, and DMX, Gotti helped Def Jam reclaim its cultural dominance — reportedly boosting the label’s value by over $100 million in 1998.

That success paved the way for him to launch Murder Inc. as a Def Jam subsidiary, allowing him to collaborate with some of the biggest stars of the era—including Jennifer Lopez ('I’m Real' and 'Ain’t It Funny' remix), Eve, and Alicia Keys ('Gangsta Lovin').

In 2003, his work with Ashanti won him a Best Contemporary R&B Album Grammy for executive producing her self-titled debut album.

But Gotti’s empire took a massive hit as he was riding high. In 2005, he and his brother Chris Lorenzo (aka Chris Gotti) were hit with federal charges of money laundering and conspiracy to launder money.

In what became one of the earliest instances of "rap on trial," federal agents accused the Lorenzos of funneling drug money from alleged Queens kingpin Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff into Murder Inc. The case was headline news, but the brothers were acquitted in December 2005 after a lengthy legal battle.

Although he walked away a free man, the trial left Murder Inc in shambles. Gotti’s output slowed considerably and the label’s dominance faded, according to Rolling Stone.

Irv Gotti's journey from music to TV

With the music industry changing and his label no longer the powerhouse it once was, Irv Gotti made his foray into television. From 2007 to 2009, he starred in VH1’s reality show 'Gotti’s Way' — offering fans a glimpse into his life behind the scenes.

Then, in 2017, he developed 'BET’s Tales' — a scripted anthology series where each episode was based on a different rap song.

In 2022, Gotti executive produced 'The Murder Inc. Story' — a five-part docuseries that chronicled the rise and fall of his label. But instead of just nostalgia, the series stirred up controversy—especially when Gotti claimed he had a romantic relationship with Ashanti while he was still married.

His remarks didn’t sit well with the public—or Ashanti. The singer later clarified, "We dealt with each other, but was Irv my boyfriend? Was I his girlfriend? Never."

And that wasn’t the only scandal. In 2023, a Jane Doe plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Gotti, accusing him of an abusive relationship that included assault from 2020 to 2022. Gotti categorically denied the allegations.

Regardless, Gotti changed hip-hop forever. From launching Ja Rule and Ashanti into superstardom to helping Def Jam reclaim its throne, his fingerprints are all over the genre's history.

Even his haters can’t deny it. Back in 2017, N.O.R.E. called him "legendary" on 'Drink Champs', even joking that if Gotti had stayed in the game, "mumble rap wouldn’t exist."

Hip-hop world reacts to heartbreaking news of Irv Gotti's death

Despite the ups and downs, Irv Gotti’s influence on hip-hop was undeniable. Tributes poured in from across the industry soon after his death was confirmed.

In a statement, Def Jam wrote, "Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives, and employees, are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti."

"His contributions at Def Jam, as both an A&R executive and in partnership with Murder Inc, helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers, a force that reshaped the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B," it added. 

"His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who were touched by his work," the statement concluded. 

Kanye West, who collaborated with Gotti on the 2019 song 'Brothers' for 'Tales', posted a simple white dove emoji on Instagram along with a screenshot of an article about his death. 

But leave it to 50 Cent to hold a grudge to the end. Never one to miss an opportunity to troll, the 'In da Club' rapper posted a photo of himself smoking next to a grave headstone with "RIP" inscribed on it. He captioned the post, "I’m smoking on dat Gotti pack, nah God bless him LOL."

And in case that wasn’t enough, the second slide in his post was a red carpet photo of Gotti himself—a not-so-subtle reminder of their long-standing beef. Gotti and 50 Cent had one of the most infamous feuds in rap history, stemming from Murder Inc’s conflict with G-Unit in the early 2000s.

Tributes were also shared by Hot 97 and Apple Music host Ebro Darden, Loud Records founder Steve Rifkind, Empire's Tina Davis, and others.

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