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| Irv Gotti was present at the 2022 BET Awards, held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on June 26, 2022. Prince Williams/ Getty Images |
Irv Gotti, the celebrated music producer, industry executive, and TV creator, passed away at the age of 54, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. The reason for his death remains undisclosed.
The influential hip-hop icon, whose real name was Irving Lorenzo, passed after reportedly experiencing what his representatives described as a “minor stroke” earlier in 2024. At that time, they mentioned he had altered his eating habits and had "successfully made a full recovery."
Gotti, who hailed from Hollis, Queens, co-established Murder Inc. Records, a prominent rap label in the early 2000s that featured multi-platinum artists like Ja Rule and Ashanti. The label achieved global sales of 30 million units through timeless hip-hop and R&B hits such as Ja Rule’s “Always On Time” (featuring Ashanti) and “Livin It Up” (featuring Case), as well as Ashanti’s “Foolish” and “Rock With U (Awww Baby).”
While working in A&R at Def Jam, Lorenzo played a crucial role in the label’s resurgence during the late Nineties, aiding Jay-Z and the late DMX in securing deals. He produced “Can I Live” for Jay-Z’s 1996 debut album *Reasonable Doubt* and served as the executive producer for DMX’s 1998 album *It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot*, which sold four million copies and cemented the Yonkers rapper as a dominant figure in hip-hop. These artists, alongside Ja Rule, were instrumental in restoring Def Jam to cultural prominence, reportedly increasing its value by over 100 million dollars in 1998.
Their achievements enabled Lorenzo to launch Murder Inc. as a subsidiary of Def Jam, opening doors for collaborations with stars like Jennifer Lopez (“I’m Real” and the “Ain’t It Funny” remix), Eve, and Alicia Keys (“Gangsta Lovin”). In 2003, he earned a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album for his role as the executive producer of Ashanti’s self-titled debut album.
In 2005, Irv and his brother Chris Lorenzo (also known as Chris Gotti) faced charges of money laundering and conspiracy to launder money brought by the FBI. In one of the first high-profile cases involving rap in court, federal agents alleged that the Lorenzo brothers funneled drug money from Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, a reputed drug kingpin from Queens, into Murder Inc. They were acquitted of all charges in December of the same year.
Following the trial, Lorenzo’s musical endeavors slowed, and he transitioned into television. From 2007 to 2009, he starred in VH1’s reality show *Gotti’s Way*, and in 2017, he developed *Tales* for BET, a fictional series where each episode was inspired by a rap song. He also executive produced *The Murder Inc. Story*, a five-part docuseries released in 2022 that chronicled the label’s history.
The documentary stirred controversy when Lorenzo revealed that he had been romantically involved with Ashanti during his marriage, tarnishing his reputation, particularly among younger rap fans unfamiliar with his contributions to music. In 2022, Ashanti addressed the situation, stating, “We dealt with each other, but was Irv my boyfriend? Was I his girlfriend? Never.” Last year, he was sued by a Jane Doe, who claimed she endured an abusive relationship with him from 2020 to 2022, including allegations of sexual assault. (Lorenzo “categorically denied” the accusations.)
Despite the controversies that marked the end of his life, his influence on hip-hop and R&B remains undeniable. In 2017, while reflecting on his career during an appearance on the TV show *Drink Champs*, host and industry peer Nore referred to him as a “legendary” hip-hop figure, suggesting that his impact was so profound that “if he would’ve been in the game [currently], mumble rap wouldn’t exist.”
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