Prolific music producer and record executive Irv Gotti has died.
On Wednesday, editors at The Hollywood Reporter reported that the co-founder of Murder Inc. Records had passed away. He was 54.
Born Irving Lorenzo Jr., Gotti launched his career in the music business when he signed Ruff Ryders artist DMX to Def Jam in 1997.
He went on to executive produce DMX's first studio album, 1998's It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, and started the Murder Inc. Records label under Def Jam alongside his brother Chris Gotti that year.
In the early 2000s, Gotti influenced the rise of rap and R&B crossover hits such as Jennifer Lopez's 2001 track I'm Real featuring Ja Rule, as well as the rapper's smash collaboration with Ashanti, Always on Time.
Meanwhile, the New York City native also produced Ashanti's self-titled debut studio album in 2002, which included the single Foolish, and worked with artists including 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.
Gotti is survived by his three children: Angie, Sonny, and JJ.
