Murder Inc. founder Irv Gotti has died, aged 54

nme.com:

The Hollywood Reporter today (February 6), though a cause of death has yet to be revealed. His death comes after the record executive, producer and mogul suffered a stroke in 2024.Gotti (born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.) founded the early 2000s rap-focused stalwart Murder Inc.

Records, home to acts such as Ashanti and Ja Rule. Gotti worked in A&R at Def Jam in the 1990s, where he played a major role in the label’s revival in the late ’90s after landing deals for the likes of Jay-Z, Ja Rule and DMX.After Jay-Z’s and Ja Rule’s rise to prominence, Def Jam was valued at more than $100million in the late ’90s, which have Gotti the opportunity to expand the label through his new subsidiary Murder Inc.Through Murder Inc., Gotti would expand his scope to work with other rappers and non-rappers including Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Aaliyah, Eve and more.

Gotti also dabbled more in production work under the moniker DJ Irv.As DJ Irv, he produced ‘Can I Live’ off Jay-Z’s acclaimed 1996 debut ‘Reasonable Doubt’.

He later went on to produce for the likes of Vanessa Carlton, Kanye West, Christina Milian, Ashanti, Jennifer Lopez, Fat Joe, R.