Irv Gotti, Murder Inc. Records co-founder and noted producer of classic songs from Ja Rule, DMX and JAY-Z, has died at 54.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Gotti’s death on Wednesday (February 5), not long after reports broke that he had suffered a second stroke, following one last year.
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Irv, born Irving Lorenzo Jr., co-founded the Murder Inc. label with his brother Chris in 1998. Ja Rule quickly became the label’s flagship artist, with hit albums like Rule 3:36 and Pain Is Love. Many of his most popular songs, like “Holla Holla” and the Ashanti duet “Always on Time,” were produced by Gotti.
Murder Inc. also released projects by Ashanti, Lloyd and Vanessa Carlton, among others.
As a producer, many (though not all) of Irv’s biggest songs involved Murder Inc. artists, including “What’s Luv?” by Fat Joe featuring Ashanti and Ja Rule, and the “Murder Remix” of Jennifer Lopez and Ja’s “I’m Real.” Gotti was also responsible for JAY-Z’s “Can I Live” and DMX’s “What’s My Name.” You can see his full production discography here.
In 2003, Murder Inc.’s headquarters were raided by the federal government, as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering by drug kingpin Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. Irv and Chris were charged in 2005 with money laundering, but beat the charges at trial.
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In August of last year, a rep for Gotti confirmed with TMZ that the mogul was recovering after suffering a “minor stroke” about six months prior.
Irv Gotti’s cause of death has not been reported as of this writing.
HipHopDX sends its condolences to Irv Gotti’s family, friends and fans.
