Irv Gotti, the cofounder of Murder Inc. Records and a key figure behind the rise of artists like Ja Rule and Ashanti, has passed away at the age of 54.
Gotti’s death was confirmed on Wednesday by Def Jam Recordings, the parent label of Murder Inc., in a statement shared on Instagram. The message expressed deep sadness from “artists, executives, and employees” at the label, highlighting Gotti’s significant influence on the music industry. “He helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers,” the post noted. The cause of death was not disclosed, and Entertainment Weekly has reached out to Gotti’s representatives for further details.
Lyor Cohen, the Global Head of Music at YouTube and Google, also expressed his sorrow, calling Gotti “one of Def Jam’s most creative soldiers.” Cohen went on to say, “He was hip hop, and when we were on bended knee he brought the heat and saved our asses.” He fondly remembered Gotti as part of a “tight, beautiful family from Queens” and stated, “It’s an honor and a privilege to have known him. Irv, you will be missed.”
Artists, too, mourned his passing. Ja Rule, a longtime collaborator, shared a broken heart emoji on X, while 50 Cent posted on Instagram, saying, “I’m smoking on dat Gotti pack, nah God bless him.”
Gotti, alongside his brother Chris, launched Murder Inc. Records in 1998. His career began earlier, when in 1994, he wrote and produced Mic Geronimo’s single “S—‘s Real.” Gotti also played a pivotal role in discovering stars like Jay-Z and DMX, shaping their paths to global fame.
The label’s first major success came in 1999 with Ja Rule’s debut album Venni Vetti Veccci, which landed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. Gotti continued to make his mark as a producer, working on Ashanti’s debut album and collaborating with artists such as Foxy Brown, Jay-Z, DMX, Aaliyah, Eve, Kanye West, and Jennifer Lopez. Notably, he was behind the Ja Rule-assisted 2001 remix of Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Real,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Gotti’s career wasn’t without controversy. In 2003, the F.B.I. raided the Murder Inc. offices in connection with an investigation into the label’s financial activities. Gotti was ultimately acquitted of any wrongdoing.
Reflecting on the tough times, Gotti told The New York Times in 2005, “They had everybody who loved me in corporate America, who felt I was a good guy, distance themselves from me. All while I was saying, ‘I didn’t do this, I didn’t do this,’ and they were like, ‘OK, we’ll wait and see.’”
Born Domingo Lorenzo Jr. on June 26, 1970, in Queens, New York, Gotti was the youngest of eight children. His passion for music started early as a DJ, and by age 15, he was already playing at parties. His deep connection to the music world eventually led him to found one of the most influential labels of his time.
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