Irv Gotti, Founder of Murder Inc Records Known for Ashanti and Ja Rule Hits, Passes Away at 54 | Entertainment News
American music producer Irv Gotti has passed away at the age of 54.
The founder of the hip-hop label Murder Inc Records, Gotti was behind nearly 30 Hot 100 hits in the US charts, working with artists such as Ashanti, Ja Rule, Ye, DMX, Fat Joe, Mary J. Blige, and Jay-Z.
His children – Angie, Sonny, and JJ – confirmed his death via his official Instagram account, stating he died on February 5 “surrounded by his family and friends”.
They described their father as an “incredible man” and “true visionary,” noting that he will “leave behind a legacy that will forever resonate in the hearts of those who knew him and the countless lives he touched”.
“During this challenging time, we kindly ask for privacy as we mourn the loss of our dad, son, brother, uncle, and friend. We find solace in knowing that his spirit will endure in his music and the love he shared with all of us,” the family statement expressed.
The cause of Gotti’s death has not yet been disclosed.
After launching Murder Inc in 1998, Gotti signed Ashanti and Ja Rule as the label’s inaugural artists.
Gotti with singer Ashanti in 2003. Pic: Reuters
Ja Rule achieved his first top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Holla Holla” from his 1999 debut album, “Venni Vetti Vecci,” while “Always On Time,” featuring both him and Ashanti, became his highest-charting single.
Ashanti’s debut single, “Foolish,” released in 2002, made her only the second artist to hold spots in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 concurrently with her first three singles.
Murder Inc’s success soared, with Ja Rule securing a total of 17 Hot 100 hits between 1999 and 2005.
Gotti and Busta Rhymes. Pic: Startraks Photo/Shutterstock
Leading the tributes to Gotti, Def Jam Recordings – another Universal Music Group label – expressed their sorrow on social media, noting that Gotti’s work “reshaped the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B.”
“Def Jam Recordings and the larger Def Jam family of artists, executives, and employees, mourns the loss of Irv Gotti,” they stated.
“His contributions at Def Jam, both as an A&R executive and in collaboration with Murder Inc, laid the groundwork for future artists and producers, reshaping the landscape of hip-hop and R&B.”
“His creative brilliance and steadfast commitment to the culture behind numerous hits defined an era of music that continues to resonate with fans around the globe.”
Read more from Sky News:
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal battle explained
Steve Coogan avoids driving ban
Irv Gotti photographed in New York in 2007. Pic: AP
Ja Rule also shared two images, one of them together, with the message: “Love you.”
50 Cent, who seemed to allude to his long-standing feud with Gotti, also paid tribute by posting a photo of himself smoking beside a gravestone that read RIP.
