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.
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.
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.
rest in peace to Irv Gotti
Dude was a flop with a ton of flop artists, nobody gives a shit about this fat retard.
his main artist has multiple platinum albums
@FuckOuttaHere so did Diddy. Are you celebrating him too? Are you in your whip right now yelling HOOOOLLLAAA HOOOOLLLAAA IT’S MURDA???!!! I bet your fruit cake was will get laughed at.
Moving the goalposts
Get in your feelings all you want, but still doesn’t’ change that fact he wasn’t a flop or his main artist wouldn’t have sold millions. To add to that, his other main artist (Ashanti) also sold millions. They’re not really my thing, but they clearly weren’t a flop.
He made some timeless classics, went to war against the best of them, beat the FEDS, and smashed Ashanti in between. Gone too soon. 🙏
Oh no
50 Cent and Eminem you both suck go snuggle with your boys Diddy and Drake!
Turn up some Ja Rule
Eminem hasn’t mentioned Irv in decades, you nerd
For all of you who is frowning at 50 saying he smoking on irv gotti pack …. Yall do not understand the history between 50, Irv and preme . It was life or death type beef. Irv did everything to blackball 50 from the industry. Irv aligned himself with Preme , 50 cents ultimate opp . Same preme put the hit on 50. So add that all up and you too would have no remorse for Irv.
For all of you who is frowning at 50 saying he smoking on irv gotti pack …. Yall do not understand the history between 50, Irv and preme . It was life or death type beef. Irv did everything to blackball 50 from the industry. Irv aligned himself with Preme , 50 cents ultimate opp . Same preme put the hit on 50. So add that all up and you too would have no remorse for Irv.
Still completely classless and imature to go on social media. I’ve had serious issues with other people… I don’t post on the internet about it. I keep it between us and a couple others involved.
Here’s some 🧻 for those 😢
I stopped reading as soon as you said “for all of you who is”…. are you retarded? No? Then learn English. It’s “For all of you who ARE”. It really isn’t difficult, unless you’re well… you know… then, if that’s you, I don’t blame you. Skin color greatly contributes to one’s abilities to learn basic English.
Oh wow you took time out to respond to me . I feel special. What happen ? Your boyfriend gave your mouth a break so you can chime in on my comment? Wipe your mouth and drink some water cause your boyfriend will back to stuff your mouth for round 2.
So wait it classless coming from 50 but it’s cool for Irv and his ppl to try and kill 50 on several occasions and then black ball 50 so no record label signs him. Then what do you call Irv’s action against 50?
@LearnEnglish Grammar police on the scene 🤓
When 50 got shot nine times and was in the coma, I bet y’all Irv didn’t send any prayers to him and probably cheered to the situation. So y’all mothafuckas catching feelings because 50 is trolling, y’all shall get some Advil because y’all sound like you’re on your periods.
This dudes imagining gay scenarios up to create random dissess to strangers he’s never met LOL. You gay @silentfart
Can’t deny dude’s impact on the game. He was instrumental in both Jay-Z and DMX’s early rise not to mention all the shit he had his hands in with J-Lo and Ashanti. Ja Rule goes without saying. Lloyd also had a nice little run under him. That’s why I tell people leave those drugs alone because you never know what that this is doing to your body.
This was not on my 2025 bingo card.
I’ll be doing the exact same thing when that buff00n Bernadett Giacomazz0 kicks the bucket. I’ll be shitting all over her grave The 47 year old broke bum azz freelancing gossiper Bernadett the GOOFY Giac0mazzo donned in her hilarious Target clothes once appeared in a 50 Cent music video for the song OJ for a grand total of 2 nanoseconds NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO and to this very day laughably and beyond delusionally thinks her and 50 Cent are best buddies but here’s the reality of it…..50 Cent DOES NOT EVEN KNOW THE INSANELY DELUSIONAL BROKE AZZ B0 Z0 BERNADETT GIAC0MAZZO EVEN EXISTS JUST LIKE ALL THE REST OF HER OTHER CELEBRITY IMAGINARY FRIENDS 😭😭🤡🤡. EVERYBODY and they mama know that this barren old azz valueless hag Bernadett is a certified culture vulture fraud who has been FAKING, PRETENDING AND LYING ABOUT HER CREDENTIALS (SEE: ZERO CREDENTIALS) FOR TWO DECADES! Bernie G00fy spends her mornings wrltlng a bunch of irrelevant useIess junk that nobody ever reads on budget basement WOG and cellar dwelling RetailWire, her afternoons on the mean streets of Atlantlc Beach with a sign that says WILL BLOG A BUNCH OF BULLSHlT for some food stamps and her entire evenings drinking my plss and bath water. Yes, ladies n gents this is the luxurious life of Bernadett Giac0mazzo. Bernie knows damn well I OWN her and I would say dimming her light makes mine shine much brighter but as we all well know Barren Bernie G has NEVER had any light to dim 😭
Yo, if you are going to post, at least make some sense.
RIP Irv Gotti.
first of all rest in peace mr. Irv gotti…….. Irv did very well for himself financially hundreds of millions of dollars and he was over the moon because of it tbh not so familiar with his work i am shocked of his sudden death……… Again rest in peace and i will say a prayer for irv and his devastated family later on tonight………..
been a long while since ja rule put out any new music did irv have to do anything with that……….. Ri.p. Irv
Rest in Piss, I will never condone assaulting a woman, or blaming my aggressive behavior on ecstacy. Hope his family suffered while watching him die. God is Good, #Blessed
If you check his production discography you will see he had a lot of good songs and hits on there to his name. Dude definetly had an ear for good music and hit potential. R.I.P. Irv.
Sad. He’s a legend whether you liked him or not. Without him, no Jay, Ja, X…or 50 fr fr. Without getting shot and having that story and motivation, losing weight and becoming more marketable, falling into Em’s lap from being blackballed, he wouldn’t have been as big. RIP
R.I.P. to Irv. I didnt like the way he moved out here, but respect is due to all of the contributions he made.
You will be missed Irv Gotti!!! R.I.P.
Naw! 50 killed this dude 20 years ago
Ah man thats sad. RIP to Gotti