Legendary Music Producer Irv Gotti Passes Away at 54
Irv Gotti, the influential music producer and founder of Murder Inc. Records, passed away on February 5, 2025, at the age of 54. His family confirmed his death in a statement, noting that he was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing. The cause of death has not been officially disclosed, though Gotti had faced health challenges in recent years, including multiple strokes and complications related to diabetes.
Born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. in Queens, New York, Gotti rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a key figure in the hip-hop and R&B scenes. He founded Murder Inc. Records in 1998, a label that became synonymous with hits from artists like Ja Rule, Ashanti, and DMX. Gotti’s signature production style, blending hip-hop beats with melodic hooks, helped define an era of crossover hits, including Ja Rule and Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Real” and Ashanti’s breakout single “Foolish.”
Before launching Murder Inc., Gotti worked as an A&R executive at Def Jam Recordings, where he played a pivotal role in signing and developing artists such as Jay-Z and DMX. His production credits also extended to collaborations with Kanye West, Fat Joe, and Christina Milian, among others. Despite facing setbacks in the mid-2000s due to an FBI investigation into alleged ties with a drug kingpin, Gotti reinvented himself in later years, venturing into television with BET’s Tales, a series blending hip-hop and storytelling.
Gotti is survived by his three children, Angie, Sonny, and Jonathan Wilson, as well as his mother, siblings, and extended family. Tributes from across the music industry poured in following his death, with peers like Lyor Cohen, former Def Jam executive, praising him as “one of its most creative soldiers who was hip-hop.” His legacy as a visionary producer and label founder continues to resonate in the music world.
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