Irv Gotti-music producer who faced a hip-hop label murder, Inc., and signed stars like I rub, Ashanti and Lloyd-Umro. He was 54 years old.
Def Jam Recordings, Matica, Inc., confirmed Gotti’s death in a post on Social media Late on Wednesday night.
“His contributions in Def JAM, as well as executive director of A&R IU Partnership with the murder, Inc., helped the path to the next generation of artists and producers, a force that transformed the sound view of hip-hop and R&B,” he said on the label on the label on the label In the Instagram post.
“His creative genius and unwavering commitment to culture made countless hits, defining the era of music that continues to echo with fans around the world.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who touched him with his work.”
The cause of death was not published, but Gotti allegedly suffered a 2024 stroke and discovered on the subcastation Drink champions In 2023 he struggled with his diabetes.
Gotti, who was born Irving Lorenzo in New York, is credited with one of the forces behind the transformation of the hip-hop industry in the 2000s. After finding success as an executive director in the Def Jama, signing artists like JA Rule and DMX, he and his brother Christopher Lorenzo faced The Label Heartion, Inc. 1998.
I rule became a leading label artist, with his debut album Venni vetti vecci. After the ashanti secured as a performer on hits like Big Pun’s How we roll AND Fast and furious Soundtrack 2001 produced Gotti’s debut album, winning Grammy for it in 2003.
With Gotti on the forehead, I rub and ashanti cooperation Always on timePress number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 ladder 2002.
Gotti was known for the production of hits that combined hip-hop rhythms with melodic hooks, including multi-platinum I rule and Jennifer Lopez collaboration Isn’t she funny and I’m realas well as fat Joe and ashanti duet What is luv?
During his career, Gotti served as a producer on numerous records of artists such as Rule, DMX, Jay-Z, Mary J. Bliga, Jennifer Lopez and Ye, including 28 hits.
The murder, Inc., was named after Gotti watched a documentary about the original murder, Inc. Crew of the mafia hitmen in the early 1900s.
“We want to be” Hitmen “in the music job – we want to throw out hits,” Gotti said in the episode of TV One’s 2024 Non -certified.
The label became tangled in quarrels and legal problems in the mid-2000s, and under the investigation was allegedly laundering for drugs for the infamous Kingapina crack, Kenneth (Supreme) Mcgriff. Both Gotti and his brother were charged with washing more than $ 1 million via rap labels, but were eventually released in 2005.
The bad press led to Gotti to reject the word “murder” from the title of label, changing its name to Inc.
Still, Gotti never changed the nickname he shared with the late head of the Gambino family John Gotti, who he said had given him Jay-Z.
“I won’t change that,” he said about his name.
In 2024, a woman filed a lawsuit against Gotti, accusing the musical power of sexual abuse, which she said happened while they were in a relationship between 2020 and 2022. He denied the charges, calling a lawsuit “unbearable.”
The music community responds
Music executives and artists responded to death on Thursday, emphasizing Gotti’s impact on the industry.
I rule published Emoji of a broken heart to X shortly after the news broke.
Fat Joe shared a photo of the producer on Instagram, thanking him for “everything you did for hip-hop”.
The Meek Mill rapper posted a photo of Gotti on his Instagram stories, saying that he had expanded his prayers to Gotti’s family.
Tina Davis, a music executive director who runs the Empire record label and worked with Gotti in the Def Jama, shared Tribute Producer on Instagram, calling it a “creative genius” and saying “You went home too soon!
Russell Simmons, Record CEO and co-founder Def JAM, emphasized the need for blacks and women to make sure their health in the emotional post that reacted to Gotti’s death.
“Rest in peace Irv, you are such a beautiful soul, but too soon,” wrote.
Lyor Cohen, former Director Def Jam, who is now a global music chief on YouTube and Google, said: “Def Jam lost one of his most creative soldiers.”
“He was a hip-hop, and when we were on the bent knee, he brought the heat and saved our ass. He comes from a very narrow, beautiful family from Queens and is honor and privilege you knew him. Irv, you, you will miss “Cohen said in a statement.
