The prolific music producer and record executive, Irv Gotti, has passed away at the age of 54, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Gotti, born Irving Lorenzo Jr., began his career in the music industry by signing DMX to Def Jam in 1997, later executive producing DMX’s first album and co-founding Murder Inc. Records with his brother Chris Gotti.
Throughout the early 2000s, Irv Gotti played a significant role in producing hit songs like Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Real” and collaborating with artists such as Ashanti, Kanye West, Fat Joe, Jay-Z, and Eve.
Following the sad news, a representative for Def Jam posted a tribute on Instagram in which they described Gotti as a “creative genius”.
“Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives and employees, are deeply saddened at the loss of Irv Gotti,” they wrote. “His contributions at Def Jam, as both an A&R executive and in partnership with Murder Inc., helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers, a force that reshaped the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B. His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.”
Meanwhile, controversial rapper West – who worked with Gotti on the 2019 song Brothers, posted a photo of the producer on his Instagram page and simply added a dove emoji.
Irv Gotti is survived by his three children: Angie, Sonny, and JJ.