Irv Gotti, music executive deceased at 54

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Irv Gotti, music executive who created Murder Inc. Records, dies at 54

Irv Gotti, a music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records and was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists, has died. He was 54.

apnews.com

Irv Gotti is best known for working with stars like Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez and Ashanti in the late 1990s to early 2000's.

Gotti, whose real name was Irving Lorenzo, created the iconic hip-hop and R&B imprint with his brother in the late 1990s, with the label gaining worldwide prominence through platinum-selling artists Ashanti and Ja Rule. Gotti also worked with some of rap’s most legendary artists like Jay-Z, Nas and DMX, among other huge names in the genre.

“His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide,” the statement from Def Jam read.Murder Inc.’s blazing run in the early 2000s produced some of music’s biggest crossover records, usually involving his two biggest stars, like Ja Rule and Ashanti’s “Always On Time,” “I’m Real” by Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule, “Foolish” by Ashanti and “What’s Luv” by Fat Joe featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti.