Irv Gotti Death: Murder Inc co-founder who worked with Jay-Z and Kanye West dies aged 54

Irv Gotti, Murder Inc records co -founder and producer behind some of the biggest hits of the 1990s and noughties, has died aged 54.

His family told American media that the Grammy-winning music mogul-there contributed to careers for artists such as Ja Rule, DMX and Ashanti Dead Wednesday (February 5) in New York City. A cause of death was not revealed.

Gotti suffered a “minor stroke” in early 2024, represented representatives at the time, but said he had been “successful in getting a full recovery”.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Def Jam – the label, which Murder Inc was an imprint – said that it was “deeply sad” of the news of his death.

“His contribution to DEF Jam, who both A&R performing and in partnership with Murder Inc, helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers, a strength that reshaped the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B,” is called that in the statement.

The tribute has also flooded on social media.

Kanye West published a screenshot of an article for his Instagram that announced Gotti’s death and added a white pigeon emoji in the caption.

50 cents appeared to refer to his long -lasting feud with Gotti when he sent a photo of himself on Instagram, where he is seen smoking next to a tombstone saying “RIP”.

“I smoke on the dat gotti pack, nah God bless him lol,” he wrote.

Born Irving Lorenzo, the youngest of eight children raised in Hollis, Queens in the Seventies, Gotti Baptized as such by Jay-Z-starter as a taste maker at DEF JAM and had an early credit like DJ Irv on “Can I Live”, there was on the rapper’s debut from 1996.

He continued to play a crucial role in some of the biggest R&B and Hip-Hop posts at that time, and often mixed hip-hop beats with R&B tunes to create huge crossover successes.

Among them was Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Real” Ft Yes Recognition, Ashantis “Always Two Time” (also ft yes -rule) and Ashantis debutsolo -single “foolish”, which spent 10 consecutive weeks on No. 1 on US Billboard 100.

“People get confused because it sells like pop music,” he said The Guardian In 2002 of his approach to working with stars like Lopez, Eve and Alicia Keys.

“But we make black music first and foremost, and all our records (s) ‘Hood First’.”

He founded Murder Inc in New York with his brother, Chris, in 1998, and later extended his production credits to plates by Kanye West, Christina Milian and Fat Joe, and released a number of albums under his own name.

He ran in trouble in the early noughties due to an FBI RAIID of Murder Inc’s offices for allegations of money laundering. He and his brother were indicted, but ultimately acquitted of all charges.

“Def Jam has lost one of his most creative soldiers who were hip-hop,” said Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s global leader of Music, who served as CEO of DEF Jam between 1988 to 2004, said The Hollywood reporter.

“When we were on bent knees, he brought the heat and saved our donkeys. He comes from a very tight, beautiful family from Queens, and it is an honor and a privilege to have known him. IrV, you will be missed. “

Gotti obviously decorated his children and regularly shared photos of family gatherings. “The older I get, the more I love to hang out with my kids … and pamper them,” he wrote in a post last year, celebrating his son Jonathan’s birthday.

He had recently celebrated the wedding with his daughter, Angie. On Instagram, he shared a picture of their suggestions and talked about his enthusiasm for the upcoming news and added, “I’m ready to become a grandfather!”

He is survived by his three children, Angie, Sonny and Jonathan Wilson; His mother, nee nee lorenzo; Sisters Tina and Angie and his brother Chris.