Irv Gotti, the boisterous, smiley music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records and was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists, has died. He was 54.Def Jam Recordings, which was the parent company of Murder Inc.

Irv Gotti, who founded Murder Inc. Records and produced albums for Ja Rule, Ashanti, and DMX, has died. He was 54. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news on February 5. Def Jam Recordings also confirmed Gotti’s death,

Before launching Murder Inc. in New York City in 1998, Gotti worked as an A&R at Def Jam, where he helped bring DMX, Jay-Z and Ja Rule to the label. Under the moniker DJ Irv, he produced the song “Can I Live” from Jay-Z’s 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt.

In 2000, a brawl took place at Hit Factory Studio in New York between the G-Unit and Murder Inc. crews that resulted in 50 Cent being stabbed. Black Child, a rapper signed to Gotti’s label, claims he’s the one who stabbed the Queens rapper.

Music mogul Irv Gotti — who cofounded Murder Inc. and worked with Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, and Kanye West — has died. He was 54.

As per TMZ, record producer and executive Irv Gotti passed away on Wednesday, February 5, at 54 years old. Although the cause of his death wasn’t revealed, Gotti has been dealing with health issues since he suffered a stroke in August 2024.