Irv Gotti, renowned co-founder of Murder Inc. Records and influential hip-hop producer, has passed away at age 54 following a stroke.

Photo Credit: Irv Gotti by 2C2K Photography / CC by 2.0

Gotti (born Domingo Lorenzo Jr.) established Murder Inc. in 1998 alongside his brother Chris as a Def Jam imprint. His career highlights include:

• Discovering and developing major artists like Ja Rule and Ashanti
• Producing 28 Billboard Hot 100 hits
• Winning a Grammy for Ashanti's debut album in 2003
• Co-writing and producing Jennifer Lopez's #1 hits "I'm Real" and "Ain't It Funny"
• Scoring his own Top 10 hit "Down 4 U" featuring Ja Rule, Ashanti, Charli Baltimore, and Vita

Under Gotti's leadership, Murder Inc. achieved significant success in the early 2000s, particularly with Ashanti's breakthrough in 2002. Her singles "Always On Time" (with Ja Rule), "What's Luv?" (with Fat Joe), and "Foolish" dominated the charts that year.

Lyor Cohen, former Def Jam executive and current global head of music at YouTube, praised Gotti's contributions: "Def Jam has lost one of its most creative soldiers who was hip-hop. When we were on bended knee, he brought the heat and saved our asses."

Gotti's career was not without controversy. In 2003, federal authorities raided Murder Inc.'s headquarters during a money laundering investigation, though Gotti and his brother were later acquitted. In 2022, he faced serious allegations of sexual assault from a Jane Doe plaintiff regarding events between 2020-2022.

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