Ja Rule delivered a heartwarming speech honoring Irv Gotti at a private funeral service celebrating the life of his longtime business partner.
On Wednesday (February 19), friends, family and peers of Irving ‘Irv Gotti’ Lorenzo gathered in New York to lay him to rest following his death earlier this month.
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As people like JAY-Z looked on, Ja got emotional as he shared some words about the Murder Inc founder.
“Irv, I love you,” he said as he choked up. “Everyone in this room loves you. You touched everybody in your own way. I know everybody has their moments of that with him. We’re all here in celebration of your life because it will live on forever. I love you my brother. See you when I get there.”
“I love you my brother, see you when I get there.”
Ja Rule gives a heartfelt speech at Irv Gotti’s funeral with Jay-Z seen sitting in the front row. pic.twitter.com/Cjg5nYjgpO
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) February 19, 2025
Gotti’s family initially planned to do a large service for the public on Tuesday (February 18) at Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Jamaica, Queens.
However, they later decided they prefer to keep things small at first.
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“Please be advised that the funeral services for Irving ‘Irv Gotti’ Lorenzo will not take place on Tuesday, February 18,” an announcement on his Instagram page read. “Instead, there will be a private service for family and close friends on Wednesday. Following the private service, a public procession will occur. Further details regarding the procession will be provided soon.”
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Irv Gotti’s death on February 5, not long after reports broke that he had suffered a second stroke, following one last year.
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Irv 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
