Irv Gotti, co-founder of Murder Inc. Records, has reportedly died at 54. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed his passing on February 5, following speculation that he had suffered another stroke and brain bleed.
Lyor Cohen, worldwide president of music at YouTube and Google, praised Gotti as “one of Def Jam’s most creative soldiers” who played a pivotal part in hip-hop’s development.
Born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., Gotti co-founded Murder Inc. in 1998 under Def Jam Recordings, producing for artists like Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, and Ashanti. News of his death first surfaced on social media, with AllHipHop reporting he was “declared dead” Wednesday morning. The exact circumstances remain unclear.
Gotti fought diabetes for years, freely revealing the effects on his health. In 2023, he admitted to struggling to control the sickness, calling it “hereditary” and “deteriorating” for his body. In 2024, he admitted that it had taken over his life.
In August, his rep confirmed he had suffered a minor stroke, prompting a change in his diet. Gotti later reflected, “I’m getting older. Only thing worse than getting old is not getting old.”
As a pioneering producer, Gotti was behind hits like DMX’s It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, Ja Rule’s Between Me and You, and Ashanti’s Foolish. His Murder Inc. label was also known for its feud with 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records.
His impact on hip-hop was unmistakable, and his legacy will endure.